In pursuit of the Silicon Valley dream, I packed up my passion for entrepreneurship and an idea for an ed-tech startup, and moved to California two years ago. Unfortunately, after three months I ran out of money and found myself in poverty and living in my car with two big dogs without any support to get out of it.

A few months later the executive director of Hacker Dojo, the startup community space I was a part of, made an announcement that they’re looking for a volunteer afternoon cleaner to supplement the paid evening cleaning. I stepped up and started volunteering cleaning services in lieu of the monthly membership. Within days other members were approaching me telling me my cleaning was so much better than the evening vendor and I should start my own cleaning business. At first I brushed it off but after eight months of the comments coming I took a look at the market and found opportunity right away.

I learned about the inefficiency and unethical practices prevalent in top cleaning companies. We all know about the low pay and culture of fear janitors work in but I didn’t know how fearful they really had to be until I come across a documentary produced by PBS Frontline called Rape on the Nightshift. I was horrified and determined to make a difference. Thus, I assembled a team of software developers and cleaners to build a more efficient and socially conscious cleaning company.

Currently Squiffy Clean team consists of 5 office staff, 9 cleaners, and one advisor for green cleaning. Only the cleaners are currently getting paid. We are small but mighty, and we hope that you will join us in our mission of cleaning up the cleaning industry.