From grief to global impact

When most people think of innovation, they imagine shiny labs, big conferences, or sleek startup hubs. But in our world, the ideas that truly change lives don’t come from those places. They’re born in hospital waiting rooms, through late-night internet rabbit holes, and in quiet moments of desperation when you realize you have to figure it out yourself because no one else will.

FiNiFox was born from those moments.

It’s not just a platform. It’s a lifeline. A safe space. A shared mission. A place where families like ours, raising children with special needs, can finally find answers, community, and hope.

Two mothers, one mission

We’re Connie and Janine, two moms who met because our daughters shared the same rare neurological disorder, CDKL5. But our connection went far beyond a diagnosis.

We were both navigating complex systems that didn’t work for us. We were tired of the dead ends, the guesswork, and the exhausting feeling of always being one step behind when it came to the care and tools our children needed.

At times, it felt like we were walking blindfolded through a maze, searching for the right aids and devices that could make our daughters’ lives a little easier, and too often, coming up short. Not because we weren’t trying hard enough, but because the information we needed simply wasn’t out there in one place.

Connie remembers a moment at a CDKL5 family gathering when she saw another child in a stroller that moved effortlessly over gravel and grass, exactly what she had been dreaming of. Meanwhile, her daughter’s insurance-funded stroller struggled with anything that wasn’t flat pavement.

When she asked if there was an upgrade, the answer was gutting: “That doesn’t exist for your stroller.” The only option? Buy a completely new one. But how would she even know what else was out there?

It felt like trying to buy a car by only visiting one brand,” Connie said. “You walk into Ford and ask, ‘Is there a better option?’ and they’ll never tell you about Volkswagen. That’s what the medical aid world felt like.

For Janine, it was discovering a fantastic seating aid from a brand abroad, completely by accident. When she asked her supplier, they said they could order it, but they’d never suggested it before. Why? It wasn’t in their usual catalog.

That’s when it hit me: families are only being offered what the supplier knows about. That means we’re missing out on better solutions we don’t even know exist.”

That’s when we asked ourselves:

What if there was a central place, like TripAdvisor, but for special needs aids, where families could compare, review, and discover what's available?

And that’s when FiNiFox started to take shape.

A platform with a purpose
 

The name FiNiFox holds a deep meaning. It’s a tribute to Finja Janine’s beautiful daughter whose spirit lives on in everything we do.  And Nike, Connie’s daughter, whose smile lights up Connie's world, daily.

This platform didn’t start as a business plan or a sleek tech pitch. It started with love. And a fierce need to make the journey a little easier for other families.

While juggling her demanding job as Global PR & Social Media Manager at GF Piping Systems, Connie started taking notes and photos of every helpful device she saw during therapy visits. Slowly, she built a growing library of knowledge. Weekends, holidays, and late nights were quietly dedicated to FiNiFox.

Janine’s path was shaped by unimaginable loss. In 2019, she lost her daughter Finja. The routines of caregiving disappeared overnight. But instead of giving up, she poured her grief into something that gave her purpose.

FiNiFox gave me a reason to get out of bed,” Janine says. “It gave my love somewhere to go”.

Today, Janine runs FiNiFox full-time, often working over 50 hours a week. And not because she has to, but because she believes in it.

Different strengths, one vision
 

We’re very different people. And that’s our superpower.

Connie brings her background in digital platforms, having worked at HolidayCheck.com, one of Europe’s biggest travel review sites. She knows how to build something people trust.

Families should be able to choose the best medical aid the way you’d choose a hotel or restaurant, with real, honest reviews,” Connie says.

Janine is the creative heart of FiNiFox. A former designer and constant tinkerer, she’s always learning, building, imagining. Her old boss once jokingly called her an “eierlegende Wollmilchsau” a mythical creature that does everything. It stuck. And it fits.

Together, we balance tech and heart, structure and soul.

So what is FiNiFox?

FiNiFox is about empowerment.

It’s a free, global platform where:

Families share real reviews of medical aids they’ve used.

You can discover products suppliers may never mention.

You make informed decisions based on real experiences.

You save time, and stress, and avoid heartbreaking mistakes.

We’re not here to impress with fancy tools,” Connie says. “We’re here to help families find what works, what brings quality of life to their children.

Doing it scared (or not at all)

People often ask us if we were scared to launch this. Honestly? No.

When you’re a special needs parent, you’ve already walked through fire,” Connie says. “This felt like hope.”

Janine adds, “Losing Finja changed my view of life completely. I live in the present. I don’t fear failure anymore. FiNiFox isn’t about me. It’s for the families who need it. They’re our reason.”

Proof that it’s working

FiNiFox may have started as a tiny idea between two tired moms, but today, it’s already helping families around the world.

Connie remembers reading the first Google reviews and crying.

They weren’t reviews. They were love letters. People telling us, ‘You made it easier. You made me feel seen.

At REHACARE 2023,  the world’s biggest assistive aid expo, people recognized us. That blew us away. It meant we were being heard.

And Janine? She lights up when families walk up to her with stories, hugs, and tears. “Even after losing Finja,” she says, “These moments tell me I’m still a mom. I’m still helping. We’re in this together.”

Built from love, made to last

FiNiFox isn’t a tech company. It’s a love letter. It’s our daughters’ legacy. And it’s our way of making sure no family ever has to feel as lost as we once did.

We created FiNiFox so families could finally say yes:

Yes to better tools

Yes to less stress

Yes to real support

Yes to being seen and heard

Whether you're a parent just starting your journey, a therapist looking for options, or simply someone who wants to understand what families like ours face, FiNiFox is here for you.

It’s not just a platform. It’s the guide we wish we had.

And thanks to a global community of families, it’s only just getting started.