Manchester-based parenting app, My First Five Years, which is due to launch in January 2022, has been selected as one of the regional winners in this week’s (6 December) Tech Nation’s Rising Stars competition.

The nationwide initiative selects companies that are identified as being the ‘brightest and best’ early-stage tech start-ups.

My First Five Years is a new child development app for parents which gives bespoke, personalised daily information designed to empower parents with the knowledge they need to give their children the best foundation in life.

With a focus on supporting children’s development through creative play, it contains information that has been backed up by the latest scientific data on child development and supported by industry experts. Founders and renowned childcare experts, Jennie Johnson and Alistair Bryce-Clegg, launched the new venture in January 2021 and have over 50 years’ experience in childcare and early years between them.

Esme Caulfield, competitions lead at Tech Nation, said:

‘It is amazing to see so many inspiring companies innovating to change our world for the better. This year’s regional winners represent the brightest and the best of UK tech and talent, and I’m excited to see what they do next.’

Jennie Johnson, former chief exec of award-winning childcare group, Kids Allowed, and who was awarded an MBE for services to apprenticeships in 2016, said:

‘We are delighted to be named as one of only five winners in the North West for technical innovation. It’s testimony to our drive and passion to support parents through the personalised development journey of their child’s first five years – and the app is the ideal medium to do this through.

‘The child development space is full of apps that regard all children and their ages and stages of development to be one-size-fits-all. That’s not the reality. Each child is unique and develops at their own pace. We’re on a mission to give parents timely, impactful nuggets of knowledge that will help them notice and celebrate the little things that build up to the key achievements that become the building blocks for a child’s lifelong learning journey.’

Over 1,200 parents and early years educators have been testing the app for the past few months and the feedback has been extremely positive.

Early years expert, Alistair Bryce-Clegg, who has also written over 20 books and is well-known for his role in Channel 4’s critically-acclaimed series, Old People’s Home for 4 Years Olds, said:

‘My First Five Years provides a safe and informed learning space for parents to support their child’s unique development. We are basically giving parents bite-sized chunks of easily-digestible information that we, as childcare experts, use with children every day. We are committed to help them see the significant things that their children are doing on a daily basis and how they link to the significant milestones of child development.’

Sign up to be the first to know when the app launches at www.mffy.com