Jennifer Siripong Mandel and Anika Chabra

A family’s legacy is woven from stories passed down from generation to generation. If those stories are absent, the sense of loss can feel profound.

Jennifer Siripong Mandel and Anika Chabra understand that loss well. It inspired them to launch Root & Seed, a Toronto startup which developed an online platform to record and preserve family stories in one place. To help start conversations, loved ones can answer the questions supplied, covering everything from favourite family recipes to birthday traditions. Root & Seed also offers several themed card decks around topics like genealogy and holiday celebrations to prompt sharing and storytelling.

Both co-founders Mandel and Chabra wanted to offer a way to capture everyday stories for future generations for different reasons. “Jenn and I embarked on personal journeys to understand our families better,” explains Chabra, who has a South Asian background from India.

“I was compelled by the sudden loss of my mom, who was 72. ln an instant, I was promoted to being the matriarch who was supposed to know how our family did things. I felt I missed my opportunity to get all the answers to their questions.”

Mandel knew little about her heritage—only that her father left Thailand to come to the United States at age 22. He married an Irish woman, lived in Boston to raise a family and assimilated into local American culture, leaving much of his own behind. “For 40 years, there was a void in my understanding of my Asian heritage,” says Mandel.

“I realized I didn’t know half of who I am at all. I wanted to reclaim and celebrate my Asian culture. I was able to do that by asking my father questions we’ve avoided. Our relationship grew stronger because of it.”

Indeed, the physical and digital tools are ideal for connecting families and facilitating meaningful intergenerational conversations, the co-founders say. Retirement and long-term care homes have also been using the tools for their ability to ease social isolation and loneliness, and build connections.

The company made headlines with a big win in the Community category of the AGE-WELL National Impact Challenge 2023 – Bold Innovations for Living, powered by AGE-WELL and SE Health. Root & Seed also picked up the People’s Choice Award (Community category) for which hundreds of votes were cast online before and during the event in Toronto.

“We really didn’t think we had a chance,” says Mandel. “We were up against people who were helping to save lives, improve mobility and treat diseases. We’re happy AGE-WELL recognizes social health as an integral part of healthy aging. With our win, we’ve been able to augment our technology and optimize it for our elder Canadian population. So many doors have opened for us and we’ve been invited into a dynamic community. The mentorship and networking through AGE-WELL has been so valuable.”

Whether it’s in business or within families, what Root & Seed values most is empowering connections. As Chabra notes, “The benefits to all generations are clear. Everyone has a story and we want to help shine a light on all of them.”