From where I stand: “A woman brings added value to business because she focuses on social responsibility”

Victoria Danila is a 34-year-old entrepreneur from Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, who designs clothes and other products tailored to the needs of premature babies with her brand Davitex Neo. Each is carefully designed in consultation with neonatologists, and with consideration for the medical procedures that these babies must endure. She participated in the Start-up Academy, an initiative by Moldovan Association of ICT Companies, in partnership with UN Women, that aims to identify, stimulate and multiply the innovative and business potential of young entrepreneurs from Moldova, with special focus on women in technology. In 2016, Danila gained a patent for her products and won 11 gold medals at international exhibitions.  

"When I first saw my baby, who weighed only 1,800 grams, and she touched my finger, that gave me the strength to fight for her and to create something beautiful for all the babies who are born prematurely. Holding her in my arms, I decided to create [smart] clothes for these little “fighters” [premature babies] in 2013.

I came up with the idea of ​​my business because of a necessity in the Moldovan market, namely, lack of clothes for premature babies, especially for those who are in an incubator, or are exposed to medical equipment and medical consultations quite often.

What we have on our market for premature babies can be uncomfortable when the doctor is consulting the baby, or if the baby is connected to a medical device. I tried to design ergonomic and accessible clothes, which are trimmed conveniently for premature babies and adapted to the requirements of various medical devices.

My family supported my idea, but my husband wasn’t encouraging to turn this into a business. In the end, I have divorced. I believe that if a person doesn’t support you, you don’t have to stay nearby.

I attended many seminars, trainings and workshops that gave me the opportunity to know more about how to develop a business, about management, sales and other business processes.

While at the Start-up Academy, I initiated the work on a transmitter, a small device that can be inserted on babies’ clothes which can provide vital information about their health, such as how and when they’re breathing, pulse rate and so on. Ideally, this information will be transmitted to doctors’ phones. Now, I’m collaborating with colleagues from biomedicine and wish to test the first prototype at the end of May and launch the product in September.

A woman brings added value to business because she focuses on social responsibility. Income is important, but so is the well-being of the people she works with. A business for a woman is like her child. She grows it with care and love.”

Victoria Danila, 34, participated at UN Women’s Start-up Academy in Moldova, financed by Sweden, which aimed to encourage women to become innovative entrepreneurs in technology. Together with 200 women, she received business management skills and exchanged experience with successful business leaders, specifically in information and technology. Danila wants for her products to be accessible not only in Moldova but internationally. She aims to export to the Romanian market, where 18,000 babies are born prematurely every year. Her story relates to the Sustainable Development Goals on promoting decent work and productive employment for all (SDG 8); as well as SDG 3, which aims to ensure health and wellbeing for all at all ages.