Dopple

Families spend seven-and-a-half trillion dollars a year, making them the largest economic engine in America.

But countless families need financial support — for food, childcare, clothing, healthcare, and everyday expenses.

Perhaps surprisingly, billions in philanthropic and government aid go unused every year. That’s where Dopple enters the picture.

This financial-tech (“fintech”) startup has created a platform that enables users to build wishlists (diapers, childcare, meals, etc.). Friends, family, and even government/non-profit funding sources can contribute toward these needs.

Dopple is positioned as a modern alternative to traditional gift registries. It’s sort of like crowdfunding aimed at easing financial burdens for families.

This company has achieved notable progress so far. It’s surpassed two million dollars in lifetime revenue. And it’s raised close to five million dollars from professional investors and Jeremy Liew, one of the first investors in Snapchat ($14 billion social-media platform) and Affirm Holdings ($25 billion fintech company).

Dopple was created as a result of a major problem: raising a child is expensive.

In the U.S., costs to raise a child surpass $400,000. Baby registries cover the fun starter items. But families are left to fund the rest.

As mentioned, billions in government funding intended to support parents goes unused. Head Start receives twenty-six billion dollars a year, but is only used by around thirty-five percent of eligible families. Donor-advised funds raise about $250 billion a year. Yet in 2023, just twenty-two percent of this money was actually used.

Dopple’s family-funding platform helps families get the money they desperately need. Here’s how it works:

First, the company aggregates funding sources ranging from government to philanthropic to friends and family. It then offers a simple application process for families who need access to funds.

Families prioritize their needs and create a registry. They can add everything from doulas to diapers to driving lessons. They can also invite loved ones to join their registry.

Dopple’s AI engine matches families with potential funding sources to help them get the things on their registries.

To make money, Dopple charges funder-transaction fees and product subscriptions. It also earns affiliate fees. The company spends $150 to acquire each customer. And its one-year return on investment (ROI) on each one is 12x.

Dopple has supported more than 15,000 families to date. The company is led by CEO Lisa Marino, who took a previous company, social-gaming business RockYou, from sixteen million dollars in revenue to $150 million in revenue in four years.

Team Background

Lisa Marino - Chief Executive Officer

Lisa has more than twenty years of experience in the fintech and e-commerce industries.

Prior to starting Dopple, she was CEO of RockYou, a media & entertainment company. Under her guidance, RockYou went from sixteen million dollars in revenue to $150 million.

Before that, she was a national sales manager with eBay, managing advertising-sales efforts for eBay Motors.

Lisa earned a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from UPenn and a Master’s degree in Latin American Studies from Stanford.

Emily Smith - Chief Resource Officer

Emily is a tech and media executive with expertise in parenting and education.

Most recently, she was Senior VP of Marketing with Crimson Education, an education-tech company recognized by Time as one of the “World’s Top EdTech” companies in 2024. Before that, she was CEO of Wild Sky Media, a portfolio of parenting and community-focused brands.

Earlier, she was Chief Growth Officer with Brit + Co, a lifestyle brand. Before that, she spent three years with Tribune Publishing Company as Senior VP of Digital at the Los Angeles Times newspaper.

Emily began her career spending seven years with Disney as VP of the company’s Family Group. She oversaw multimedia product development for a portfolio of lifestyle, crafts, and parenting websites.

She earned a Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of California, Berkeley.

Josh Grant - Chief Operating Officer

Josh has spent more than twenty years in tech and media. Throughout his career, he has launched, acquired, and managed more than twenty-five digital businesses.

Co-Investors

Jeremy Liew

A retired venture capitalist best known for early investments in Snapchat and Affirm Holdings.