Business

Work Hard and Parent Happy with Mirza

Published

4 years ago

November 3, 2021

Being a parent can be immeasurably rewarding. Who doesn’t love watching their child grow into a fun, productive member of society? Parenting doesn’t happen in a vacuum, however. It takes a lot of time and hard work. Parenting is a full-time, unpaid gig. Rewarding? Sure. Mortgage paying? Nope. Few people understand this as intimately as Siran Cao, CEO and co-founder of Mirza.

“I’m an immigrant and raised by a single mom. My mom was one of the many women whose career took a backseat when I arrived, so when my dad left, I grew up watching my mom rebuild entirely in a new country.

“That’s shaped my worldview and what matters to me most–women’s economic empowerment and independence.”

Whether we like it or not, parenting most often falls to the women. That isn’t exactly fair, but it’s what usually ends up happening. Some of that is due to how we’ve evolved as a species, but it has lingered due to unfair gender roles and expectations. So, when it comes to deciding who has to leave work to parent the children, it most often falls to women.

Women In The Workplace

Women were on track to match, even overtake, men in the workplace. In 2019, women made up 47% of the workforce. Since the onset of the pandemic, more than 2.3 million women have left the workforce, making women’s participation in the workforce the lowest it has been since 1988.

Though they couldn’t have known the pandemic was about to exacerbate the gender pay gap, Siran Cao and Mel Faxon, COO, founded Mirza as a means to correct that gap for good.

Choosing between work and parenting shouldn’t be a difficult choice. In a perfect world, a parent should be able to do both. That takes a lot of meticulous planning and budgeting that can be incredibly intimidating.

I’ll let Siran and Mel do most of the talking here:

How Mirza Works

“The lion’s share of the wage gap is driven by the “motherhood penalty,” and the critical element here is childcare. With families spending a third of their incomes on childcare, it forces this trade-off of one person’s salary against cost of care.

“That person, usually mom, due to a whole slew of reasons from no paid leave, to gender norms onwards. But just one year out of the workforce means losing 39% of lifetime earnings due to the missed acceleration (promotions, being mommy tracked, etc.) and lost compounding retirement savings.

“So how Mirza works, we tackle that acute pain point. Our tech reframes that decision for parents and aspiring parents in larger family goals and financial health view, to anticipate upcoming costs and understand tradeoffs, and be better equipped to make fully informed decisions.

“We then layer in funding for childcare so we can fundamentally change that math of income vs cost of care. At the core, we want to make sure parents (women!) have true CHOICE.”

The Math of Parenting

Mel Faxon, COO and co-founder, adds insight:

“For us, tackling childcare as one of the core contributors to the motherhood penalty/gender pay gap isn’t just about helping people afford the (often exorbitant) cost of childcare, but changing how they do the math around it.

“The visibility our product provides into the long-term implications of taking unpaid leave, of having one parent drop out of the workforce entirely for a few years – it’s not a frame through which we normally think about having kids.

“It’s much easier/more instinctual to think right now, present day, we’d “save” money if one of us stays home rather than pay for childcare – and we’re here to show you why that’s not really the case.

“We’re currently in a milestone situation politically, where programs like paid family and medical leave and universal childcare are being seriously considered as part of national policy moving forward.”

A New Type Of Working Parent

Mel Faxon continues:

“It could not be more apparent that single-income breadwinner families are no longer the norm. Families need and want dual incomes – and we need to structure work to support that. Care – childcare, eldercare – is something that we all have to do at one point or another, and our workplaces need to acknowledge that.

“While our product is geared towards the individual, it’s always been fundamental that we work with employers to see that childcare is healthcare, childcare is wellness, it is financial health, and it is the future of work.”

It has unfortunately been drilled into the minds of managers and higher-level executives that in order to be a good worker you need to be 100% dedicated to the company at all times with no question. Your home life, your health, your family’s happiness is secondary to the wellbeing of the business.

That, we now know, is nonsense. “A happy worker is a productive worker” is a bit of a cliche, but it’s true. If an employee has access to healthcare, a comfortably livable wage, and a happy home life, the more productive they will be. It’s a long-term investment.

In a world obsessed with short-term gains, it can be tough to sell long-term investments. But we need to make that sale, or else this will all crumble.

What Do Parents Think Of Mirza?

Mel Faxon shares some of the feedback Mirza has received since the launch of their beta on October 22:

“You’ve really nailed the fundamentals of what we’ve already been thinking about financially when preparing for kids”

“As soon as I signed up and filled in stuff about me, I saw good content right off the bat. I felt like I was being heard!”

“We haven’t really thought about loss in terms of paid time off, I [had] no idea, so it’s great that it’s included in the planning process.”

Things are still early, but the impact is already being felt. Mel shares one particular feedback:

“A really impactful comment we got the other day from one of our users, was not only that she wished she’d had this when she was family planning, but that Mirza has made her realize that she no longer has to just accept the way the world is.

We can actually change the way things work for parents and for women, and she feels like we’re providing the information and ways for that to happen.”

What’s Next For Mirza?

Siran shares where she anticipates Mirza will move in the next 5-10 years.

“We’re tackling the childcare crisis, so that means unlocking affordability for parents first, then we’ve designed our next steps for our financial product to be able to support providers!

“We think of an end-to-end solution to work across the childcare ecosystem: funding care for parents and helping them navigate the available support, providing the platform for providers to access funding resources and increasing earnings ourselves, innovating in care delivery itself.”

Mirza is just getting started. If you’re a new parent or are about to be one, you can create an account right here.

The pandemic stripped away a lot of critical progress. It’s time we work to gain it back and then some. Our children deserve it.

Business

What’s the Best Logo Design Agency in San Francisco?

Published

24 minutes ago

February 12, 2026

Scarlett Holiday

TL;DR: San Francisco is a hub for design innovation, but finding the right partner can be tough. We’ve reviewed the top contenders to help you find a logo design services that blends creativity, strategy, and results.

San Francisco’s not just a hotbed of technological innovation, it’s a hub of creativity where how you design your brand’s engagement with the world matters. From early stage startups in SoMa to established corporations in the Financial District, finding the perfect logo designer is essential for making a great first impression and with a high intensity of competition, you need to make sure your logo counts.

A logo is paramount. 75% of consumers associate a brand with its logo, which makes it the most vital brand image. Your logo is your brand, your promise, your possibility. Finding a logo designer isn’t just an art test. The best logo design agency San Francisco has to offer will get your business the logo it needs for a stellar first impression.

1. Penji

Looking for graphic design services that are not your typical agency? Penji delivers. Penji is a subscription-based graphic design service that offers an agency-level experience without the high price tags or lengthy turnaround times. It’s design as a service, reimagined for the speed of modern business.

What makes Penji the best logo design agency in San Francisco for many businesses is their unique “guided by designers, fueled by AI” approach. You get access to the top 2% of talent who use advanced tools to deliver variations and concepts at lightning speed. You aren’t just getting a logo; you’re getting a scalable creative team that can handle everything from branding to motion graphics.

2. DD.NYC

DD.NYC may have NYC in the name, but they provide global-caliber branding for the San Francisco market. They are an award-winning design studio focused on “unforgettable brands” through strategy and design.

If you want an agency that considers logo design part art, part business, this is a strong choice. They have a diverse portfolio ranging from luxury real estate to innovative technology, proving their adaptability in the branding space. This agency goes beyond logo creation to provide a full visual ecosystem, helping firms win awards and dominate their markets.

3. Ramotion

Ramotion is focused on product and brand. They are the ideal agency for “tech-powered” firms, so they fit right in with San Francisco. Their logo designs feature a contemporary aesthetic with a digital, user-focused element.

With Ramotion, you get more than a logo; you get screen-optimized brand identity design. They target marketing and product leaders who want to create memorable brands. Their clients include Firefox and Stripe, so they are a strong contender in the branding space.

4. Small Projects Bureau

Don’t let the name fool you—Small Projects Bureau brings “Big Brand Experience” to small businesses, nonprofits, and startups. Their team is composed of specialists with Fortune 500 backgrounds who leverage high-level skills to help smaller organizations look like industry giants.

They are an excellent choice if you need logo design services that feel personal yet professional. They focus on creating “attractors”—compelling brands that pull customers in. Whether you are a nonprofit trying to change the world or a niche startup, they apply the same rigorous branding principles used by massive corporations to help you punch above your weight class.

Credit for cover image: Photo by Marek Levak on pexels

Business

The Software As A Service Business Model Explained

Published

6 days ago

February 6, 2026

Chris Blondell

Software-as -a-Service (SaaS) is no longer just a convenient way to access software through the cloud. In 2026, the software-as-a-service business model is now the very backbone of how modern businesses operate and scale. In fact, data tells us that SaaS and enterprise software companies have raised about $4.7 billion in investments in 2024.

In this guide, let’s break down how the SaaS business model works, why it continues to dominate the software industry, and what has changed leading into 2026.

What Is SaaS?

SaaS is a delivery model of centrally hosted software that is licensed to customers via a subscription plan. If a company leases its software through a central, cloud-based system is technically a SaaS company.

These companies maintain responsibility and oversight of servers, databases, and any relevant software that allows people to access and use their products.

Some of the most popular SaaS giants in 2026 include:

Adobe
Google Workspace
Salesforce
Microsoft 365
Notion
Canva
OpenAI
Grammarly

In 2026, SaaS applications are often enhanced by built-in AI capabilities, such as in the cases of OpenAI, Grammarly, and many others.

The way that SaaS companies lease their product is through subscription plans. These plans can vary greatly from company to company. SaaS business models offer different services and different applications within their systems. Different subscription plans give different access to different services. Many offer a regular plan with one or two other plans that offer more access and increased services.

What Is The Software As A Service Business Model?

The software as a service business model includes a number of factors that are unique to it. There are three in particular that are important to take note of.

Recurring Payments

In SaaS, clients do not buy hardware. The software as a service business model involves providing a subscription service for software. Recurring payments typically take the form of Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR), though many SaaS companies now track additional metrics like Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR), Net Revenue Retention (NRR), and expansion revenue.

When your customer signs up and subscribes, you will get some money upfront. It is imperative that this initial cash not be counted as revenue until it’s been properly earned. It is a liability until the terms of service have been completed. A customer can ask for that money back at any point if the service isn’t delivered.

Revenue recognition is one of the most fundamental aspects of running a successful SaaS company. Alongside subscriptions, SaaS companies also monetize through usage-based pricing, AI consumption pricing, or hybrid billing models that combine multiple approaches.

Heightened Customer Retention

All businesses care about customer retention. In SaaS business models, however, it is ten times more important. Customer retention is what keeps SaaS companies afloat. Because you cannot lay claim to all of your customers’ subscription money until the term of service has been completed.

If you sign a customer for one year or twelve months and they leave after two, then you’re without ten months of recurring revenue. As a result, it is critical to put a significant value on cultivating customer relationships and upselling.

An existing SaaS customer spends more money on average than a new one. It is in a SaaS company’s best interest to upkeep and maintain higher-quality customer service. If you don’t, or if the quality of customer service is poor, your customer is very likely to jump to a competitor.

No matter how great the product, poor customer service can break a company.

Consistent Updates

SaaS companies must continuously release updates, security patches, AI model improvements, and new automation capabilities to stay competitive and retain customers. Plenty of companies provide “next-gen” product versions, but SaaS has to continuously update and patch to stay above water.

This is now standard across modern cloud software, where continuous deployment and rapid feature iteration are expected by customers. Software vulnerabilities can put customer information at risk from hackers. Nobody wants that. That’s why continuously assessing and updating security fixes is a top priority in the software as a service business model.

Since SaaS companies host their own products, they can push updates as needed. They can release new features or enhance prior versions whenever they want. Between consistent updates and quality customer service, SaaS companies have the potential to be highly responsive to customer base feedback.

This is a real-time luxury that most other industries do not have.

How Are SaaS Companies Built?

Generally speaking, there are three critical stages as to how to build and develop a SaaS company: Setup, Growth, Stabilization.

Setup

This is the early stage where the company establishes its foundation. These are fairly typical processes. Founders discover the need for the products they intend to develop, identify their target market, and create the product.

This is also the opportunity to create an effective marketing campaign and sales strategy, consider various customer support plans, and organize finances.

Growth

Once the product has hit the market, it’s time to expand. This is arguably the fun part. Because there is seemingly no limit to how far a SaaS company can expand in its market, it’s possible for a SaaS company to expect new customers. This creates a sudden demand for marketing, sales, and customer service teams.

This is when a company has to act quickly in order to capitalize and secure a loyal customer base. Ideally, this growth will be accompanied by additional revenue. Companies then reinvest the capital back into their products and services. That way, they have the resources necessary to meet their customers’ needs.

Stabilization

Now that the business is beginning to acclimate with a steady incoming stream of customers, that means the company does not have to invest in more overhead. If the SaaS company has wisely invested in customer service software, marketing automation, and consistent product updates, it is on the right track to stabilization.

Why This Business Model Works

The SaaS business model is now a mature and dominant software delivery standard across nearly every industry. You can find the evidence of this in the vast investments in SaaS. How many office spaces use Slack to communicate? How many designers use Adobe? As our technology advances, so does the SaaS industry.

While the SaaS market remains full of opportunity, success in 2026 requires strong differentiation, AI integration, and clear customer value.

Featured Image Credit: Photo by Markus Winkler from Pexels

Business

Top 10 Email Marketing Software Modern Businesses Need Today

Published

6 days ago

February 5, 2026

Kaytie Cayton

For many business owners, video marketing may seem like the best strategy. However, studies show that email remains a powerful channel for promoting your brand. If you want to jump on the bandwagon, you’ll need reliable email marketing software. Fortunately, we compiled a list of the best to help you decide.

1. Brevo

Most email marketing software applications these days have an all-in-one marketing solution, and an example of an all-in-one marketing platform like this is Brevo. Formerly known as Sendinblue, it lets you design emails on its platform using its drag-and-drop features. But if you’re not a designer, don’t fret! You can use templates to create email newsletters. Aside from that, you can personalize their emails by adding your subscribers’ names. Plus, you can also segment emails or A/B test emails to different groups.

No wonder Sendinblue is one of the best email marketing software applications on the market.

Pricing:

Free

Starter – $9/mo

Standard – $18/mo

Professional – $499/mo

Enterprise – Contact sales

2. MailChimp

This top 10 email marketing software list won’t be complete without mentioning MailChimp. After all, MailChimp is one of the original email marketing software platforms. And even though they have been there for a long time, MailChimp’s pricing remains affordable for small businesses. But MailChimp is no longer just an email marketing software application since it expanded its list of features in the last few years. Here’s what to expect when you’re subscribed to MailChimp for your email marketing strategy:

Drag-and-drop email builder
Email templates
Content optimizer
Customer journey builder
Analytics and reports

Pricing

Free: For 250 contacts

Premium: Starts at $175/mo, for 500 contacts

Standard: Starts at $10/mo, for 500 contacts

Essentials: Starts at $6.50/mo, for 500 contacts

3. Salesmate

Salesmate is an amazing CRM and customer journey software. It might be one of your company’s best cost-to-value investments because it can be a beneficial tool for your sales, marketing, and customer experience teams.

Specifically speaking of marketing teams, Salesmate is a potent email marketing CRM that assists you in quickly designing and implementing campaigns.

Email campaigns are created using a drag-and-drop journey builder by Salesmate.

Using different metrics, such as Live Views, Campaign Goals, Automation Logs, etc., you can quickly monitor the effectiveness of your campaigns. You have enough information from that to run A/B tests on campaigns and find the best fit.

Pricing

Basic: $29 per user/ month

Pro: $49 per user/ month

Business: $79 per user/ month

4. Omnisend

Here’s another email marketing software for eCommerce businesses. Omnisend will help you increase sales through campaigns and automated workflows as well. They make it easy and simple for you to create beautiful email designs to send to subscribers.

Plus, creating promotional emails through their drag-and-drop builder and content blocks is faster. In addition, you can also segment emails and optimize them through A/B testing and boosters. And if you want to improve your email marketing efforts, Omnisend lets you access reports and insights, too.

Pricing

Free

Standard: $11.20/mo

Pro: $41.30/mo

Custom: Contact Sales

5. Kit

Kit ensures that your emails don’t get filtered, and your subscribers will read every email you send them. They make it so through their amazing email templates and styling options.

Similar to other email marketing software applications here, you can integrate your email marketing efforts with other strategies, like building a landing page or sign-up forms. Plus, you can also segment your subscribers and automate your email funnel. And if you want to improve your campaigns, Kit presents you with data.

And if you’re a creator, Kit is the BEST email marketing software for you.

Pricing

Newsletter: Free, up to 10,000 subscribers

Creator: $39/mo, for 1,000 subscribers

Pro: $79/mo, for 1,000 subscribers

6. Campaign Monitor

If you want to combine email marketing with your SMS marketing efforts, Campaign Monitor is your best option. Of course, like the others on this list, you can design your emails through their drag-and-drop builder and email templates, personalize emails, and create customer journeys.

Aside from those, one feature that helps Campaign Monitor to stand out from the rest is its Link Review. Before sending your email newsletter, Campaign Monitor will check if there are any dead links.

Pricing

Lite: $12/mo

Essentials: $29/mo

Premier: $159/mo

Enterprise: Contact Sales

7. EmailOctopus

If you want customized email designs, Em a ilOctopus helps you create designs from scratch. Aside from that, you will also find the exact features in any email marketing software, such as landing page creation and data analysis. In addition to that, you can connect EmailOctopus with other apps, such as Shopify, Squarespace, and Gravity Forms.

Pricing

Starter: Free

Pro: $10/mo (500 subscribers, 10,000 emails)

8. Constant Contact

Constant Contact simplifies its features into three categories: do, reach, and engage. With “do”, businesses can create email templates, manage their customer list, automate emails, and know how to improve their campaigns through data.

For reach, you can integrate your email marketing campaigns with Google and social media ads, landing pages, and sign-up forms.

And finally, for engage, you can engage with your target audience by publishing social media posts and surveys or polls.

Pricing

Lite: $9.99/mo

Standard: $35/mo

Premium: $80/mo

9. HubSpot Email Marketing

The reason many love HubSpot is they offer free tools for marketers. That’s the case for their email marketing software. Marketers can use them for free and get access to amazing features, such as a built-in email design editor, personalization, and A/B testing.

HubSpot recommends that you also use their CRM to get more out of your email marketing strategy. But if you need to level up your email marketing efforts, you can subscribe to HubSpot’s Marketing Hub. This gives you access to other marketing features.

Free

Starter: $9/mo/seat

Professional: $800/mo

Enterprise: $3,600/mo

10. Moosend

If your business is part of these industries: eCommerce, travel, publishers, SaaS, and agencies, Moosend is the best option for you. You can rely on Moosend to have the basic features of any email marketing software, such as automated workflows, design, and personalization. Aside from their regular pricing tiers, you can also buy email credits from Moosend if you want to send more newsletters or campaigns to more subscribers.

Pricing

Free Trial (30 days)

Pro: $7/mo

Moosend+: Contact Sales

Enterprise: Contact Sales

Key Thoughts

These software applications have become the most trusted names in email marketing. Not only that, but they are also beginner-friendly software applications to make it easy for you to create and send emails in minutes!