Imagine posting up in Silicon Valley for a year to soak up the entrepreneurial ecosystem while while waiting for inspiration for a startup idea.  Sounds artsy, but from a business perspective it can be incredibly helpful to sort through various uses of technology and the business modes that get them to market.  Fresh off a career in private equity and a short stint studying medicine, Chris Bennett took this exact approach.  With a passion for using technology to improve the quality of human life, he has built Wonderschool to improve the quality and access to childcare.   Founder Bio: Chris Bennett is a Silicon Valley-based entrepreneur and early childhood education advocate passionate about the power of the Internet and using it for social good.   Chris is the co-founder and CEO of Wonderschool, an all-in-one online platform that helps families seeking childcare and microschools to find available options near them and supports those who provide that care and education. Born out of Chris’s realization that early childhood education is what enabled him to be the first member of his family to go to college.   Since its start in 2016, Wonderschool has expanded its offerings and partnerships, pivoting to meet the unique needs of today’s families and providers. Recognized by Fast Company as one of the most innovative companies, Wonderschool has been funded by Andreessen Horowitz, First Round Capital, Imaginable Futures, Cross Culture Ventures, Uncork Capital, Rethink Education, Edelweiss, Lerer Ventures, 500 Startups, FundersClub, and others.   Timestamps: 1:54 How his uncle’s experience as a black doctor in Honduras influenced a passion for entrepreneurship 7:24 Life at Wharton (Undergrad) | Struggling as a student, but thriving as an entrepreneur 10:00  Exploring the right early career fit – private equity, medicine, and then to Silicon Valley 11:55  The origins of Wonderschool 15:18  Strategy for validating market demand before building tech 17:56  Raising $2mm to build engineering team to build product 18:30  Wonderschool described – platform, functionality, and value prop within childcare 22:40  Matching supply and demand in a marketplace 27:30  Chris receiving his first investment via NewMe accelerator (and 500 Startups) 30:30  Benefits of joining and accelerator 34:33  What help investors can provide…not including funding 38:35  Taking the team remote and moving to a global talent strategy