5 Questions: Birdhouse's Ben Chutz

Ben Chutz wants to make mobile applications work for special needs parents. The 27-year-old Bloomfield Township techie is working to develop software dedicated to tracking and managing the developmental disorder autism, which is characterized by by impaired social skills and communication, repeated or restricted behavior, and gastrointestinal issues. 

The start-up, called Birdhouse (birdhousehq.com), consisting of Chutz and two others in the local area, hopes to launch with a mobile web application and software later this year. 

1. What have you and your business partners done?

There are a number of variables that parents are encouraged to track to ensure their children receive the best course of treatment (for autism). Every child who has autism requires a unique treatment approach, and an intervention that helps one child to thrive may not help another. ... Oftentimes it’s the parents, and not the child’s doctor, who know most about autism and how their child responds to different interventions, so it’s up to the parents to determine what’s working and what isn’t working. What’s lacking are the tools to help them figure this out. That’s where we’re focused.

2. What are your goals for your business?

The process of identifying what types of information need to be recorded, keeping track of all that information, and then making sense of it represents an enormous challenge for families living with autism. Our number one goal is to alleviate that challenge, thereby improving the lives of both parents and their children, and in doing so contribute to the growing body of autism research for the purposes of better understanding the disorder.

3. Who does what in your business?

We each do a bit of everything, from business development to sales to marketing to web development to design, and have talented partners with whom we work closely on the product’s design and architecture. We each have diverse backgrounds in working for other start-ups as well as building our own companies.

4. How can this help people?

We have a real potential to help parents and children alike with this product. There is a monumental amount of technology-related tools available to children with special needs, but the parents of those children represent a nearly neglected population almost twice the size. They stand to benefit greatly from any company intent on improving their lives. We hope to see more of them out there.

5. How can people help you?

We love talking to any parent who would find this product helpful to get their insights and feedback. We also love being introduced to people who share our vision for helping families living with autism and special needs. At this point, we’re concentrated on building great relationships.

It doesn't have to be a start-up — do you know a business you would like to nominate for 5 Questions? Email your recommendations to tim.rath@patch.com.