The Rise of Famtech: Can Apps Solve Parenting Overload?

American families are under immense pressure, juggling work, school, caregiving, and daily household management. Surveys reveal that nearly half of parents feel “completely overwhelmed” most days. Mothers, in particular, shoulder a disproportionate share of this invisible labor—handling 71% of household mental tasks and 79% of daily caregiving.

This mounting stress has fueled the growth of a $650 billion care economy, with a new wave of technology called famtech at its center. Famtech promises to ease the “mental load” by transforming homes into digital command centers.

Skylight and Maple Lead the Charge

Two major platforms dominate the space:

• Skylight Calendar – A kitchen-mounted 27-inch touchscreen (up to $600) that syncs with digital calendars, gamifies chores, integrates meal planning, and even uses AI to scan flyers into events.
• Maple App – A mobile-first solution ($40/year) that syncs calendars, auto-converts emails into tasks, and integrates meal planning with Instacart for grocery delivery.

These tools aim to simplify family scheduling, communication, and chores—turning chaos into structure.

The Promise vs. Reality

While helpful, experts caution that apps don’t address root causes. As Brigid Schulte of New America notes, “At most they’re Band-Aids.” Managing apps can even create new work, from training family members to keeping data synced.

Privacy concerns add another layer, with both Skylight and Maple reserving the right to share personal family data with third parties.

The Bigger Picture

Famtech reflects a systemic gap in U.S. policies. Unlike other developed nations, America lacks universal childcare, paid family leave, and flexible work protections—leaving families to manage survival with software. Gender inequality also persists, with women carrying most of the cognitive load regardless of household type.

Should Families Invest?

Famtech can be worth it for tech-savvy households juggling complex logistics. But families wary of data privacy, subscription costs, or added complexity may prefer DIY solutions like Slack, Trello, or Notion.

Ultimately, famtech offers short-term relief—but real solutions require policy change and cultural shifts in valuing care work. Until then, apps like Skylight and Maple may be the lifeline parents need to stay afloat.