U-M Student Startup Connects Families and Babysitters

Gold Student Sitters provides a platform for University of Michigan students to advertise their childcare services to local Ann Arbor families.

Feb. 23, 2026 at 4:39am

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Business senior Lucy Gold founded Gold Student Sitters in October 2025, a network that connects University of Michigan students seeking babysitting jobs with Ann Arbor families in need of childcare. The service has grown from 20 registered sitters to 70 since its launch, providing an efficient way for students and families to find each other.

Why it matters

Gold Student Sitters fills a gap in the local childcare market, making it easier for U-M students to find babysitting work and Ann Arbor families to access trusted, qualified sitters. The service's focus on connecting university students with families sets it apart from other area babysitting agencies.

The details

Gold Student Sitters requires students to upload a photo of their Mcard to verify their enrollment at the University of Michigan. Families can fill out a form to specify their childcare needs, and the service matches them with suitable sitters. The platform's promptness and professionalism have impressed local parents like Brynn Krause, who says it provides a "no-brainer" way to connect students and families.

  • Gold Student Sitters launched in October 2025.
  • The service has grown from 20 registered sitters to 70 since its launch.

The players

Lucy Gold

A business senior at the University of Michigan who founded Gold Student Sitters in October 2025.

Brynn Krause

An Ann Arbor parent who has been using the Gold Student Sitters platform since its launch.

Emma Macaluso

A public policy senior at the University of Michigan and an executive board member of Gold Student Sitters.

Jack Tirsch

A kinesiology senior at the University of Michigan and an executive board member of Gold Student Sitters.

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What they’re saying

“I babysat a lot in high school, and when I got to (the University of) Michigan, that was my main source of income. I didn't know how to continue it, and the same was for a lot of my friends. We didn't want to just put our faces on Facebook, and there's a lot of families who want to tap into U-M students but don't know how to do it, so I'm like the matchmaker.”

— Lucy Gold, Founder, Gold Student Sitters

“From my experience in the past, there hasn't been an avenue to connect all the students that live in Ann Arbor and all the families that live in Ann Arbor besides word of mouth or the original method of Facebook messaging one individual person that's looking for work. So this is kind of a no-brainer — to have a more formal way to connect students and families that are in need of something similar.”

— Brynn Krause, Ann Arbor parent

“Knowing that these individuals are driven, responsible, self-sufficient enough to get into the University of Michigan to be current students and also be seeking employment, that was a huge factor in and of itself for me. I know that they're going to be honest, trustworthy, reliable individuals.”

— Brynn Krause, Ann Arbor parent

What’s next

Gold Student Sitters plans to continue expanding its network of families and sitters, connecting with more prospective sitters on nearby campuses and growing its client base.

The takeaway

Gold Student Sitters provides a valuable service by making it easier for University of Michigan students to find babysitting work and Ann Arbor families to access trusted, qualified childcare providers, filling a gap in the local market and demonstrating the potential for mission-driven startups to thrive in the community.