Olivia Davson’s inspiration struck while sitting in a coffee shop with her eight-week-old son crying nearby. Gazing at a student discount poster on the wall, she wondered why there wasn’t a similar resource catering to new parents.
She immediately called her sister Tanyka, and together they conceived Cubbi – an app described as ‘Unidays for parents.’ Their goal: to help mums and dads save money on everything from baby essentials to food, beauty treatments, and even coffee.
“In that early parenthood phase, finances are often tighter and emotional support is vital,” says Tanyka. “So why didn’t anyone make an app with discounts just for new parents? That question kept coming up.”
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Tanyka jumped into developing the app while Olivia dedicated hours negotiating with brands to join their cause.
In Birmingham alone, where roughly 15,000 babies are born yearly and nearly half the children grow up in poverty, Cubbi aims to ease the financial pressure many families face during pregnancy and the first 18 months of a child’s life.
Launching in February 2024 with over 30 partner brands, Cubbi offers discounts on everything from Mamas & Papas baby gear and Silver Cross prams to popular chains like Pizza Hut, Currys, Cult Beauty, and Crocs.
“It’s about saving money on the things parents need for both their baby and themselves,” explains Tanyka, who also collaborates with Birmingham Women’s Hospital and the West Midlands Combined Authority to reach more families.
“Sometimes parents spend a lot on their baby but hesitate to treat themselves. Even a modest 10 or 20% discount helps reduce that guilt. That’s our mission.”
The app even provides perks like free coffee at Boston Tea Party cafés, recognizing that many new mums are cautious about spending but also benefit from little moments away from home.
Cubbi’s launch quickly caught fire on Instagram, amassing over 5,000 downloads in a single day. Demand was so high that the sisters rebuilt the app to handle the traffic.
Current offers include 20% off Tommee Tippee feeding products, 15% off Momcozy maternity and breastfeeding essentials, plus deals on Adidas, Domino’s (35% off), £5 off Grind Coffee, and free coffee at Boston Tea Party.
Olivia, with two children aged one and three, highlights the financial strains of parental leave: “Income shifts overnight while spending spikes. It’s the everyday costs – coffees, lunches, essentials – that add up. Small consistent savings make this phase more manageable.”
Beyond shopping, Cubbi offers discounts on family attractions like Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures, LEGOLAND Windsor, Madame Tussauds, and the London Eye. It also provides practical checklists and guides covering daily costs of early parenthood, from outings to feeding and routine shopping.
Just before Olivia gave birth to her second child, the sisters appeared on BBC’s Dragon’s Den and won investment from Susie Ma, impressing the panel with their innovative support for parents navigating early parenthood’s financial hurdles.
Looking ahead, Cubbi plans to expand beyond maternity and paternity leave support, aiming to provide tailored discounts for parents with older children.
They also intend to introduce a map feature to highlight local independent businesses offering discounts, beginning trials in Birmingham.
With such promising momentum, Cubbi is set to become indispensable for parents seeking relief during life’s early, challenging stages.