Hello 👋. You may have noticed that we've kind of, sort of, swapped out one of our co-founders. Natalie replaces Nick. Natalie has a very similar background to Nick, having been an early stage employee at both WhereIsMyTransport and Root (where she met Kiaan), has similar interests and even studied the same degree in the same year. She has also been with Stitch since the beginning, we just didn't know it yet. A fun fact about Natalie is that she is transgender.

It was certainly interesting navigating the social and emotional impact of my transition in the middle of a fund raise. It is something I could definitely not have managed without having the support of friends, family, team, mentors, and investors. I feel extremely privileged to live in circles where being transgender is not a pathology but a source of joy, and a coming out is something to be celebrated.

Transitioning is a long-term roadmap item for me, but I already feel that the progress so far has been invaluable to my journey as a co-founder. I feel that acknowledging my own emotions has allowed me to be more emotionally available to my team. And a better understanding of myself, along with therapy, has improved my decision-making.

I’m excited and optimistic about what the future holds not only for Stitch but for me personally. I can foresee that as Stitch gains visibility, my identity as a trans person will gain visibility. Being a visible transgender co-founder of a startup, particularly in Africa, would put me in rarerified company. Because of this, I feel some responsibility to be open and honest about my experiences. Acting as an implicit representative of the transgender community will be a daunting challenge, but one I won’t shy away from.

Coming out I don't think would have been possible if we hadn't from day one cultivated an open, caring culture. It continues to be our strong belief that it is ultimately the only way to get the best out of a team. My growth and the confidence I've developed since helping start Stitch probably didn't hurt either.

Thanks (officially for the first time),

Natalie P.S. My new email is [email protected]