helen siwak, portfolioyvr, vancouver, bc, yvr, business, entrepreneurs, industry magazine

Engilla Loo: Lightening the Mental Load of Parenting with Envia Technologies

Engilla Loo is a mother of two, entrepreneur, and Co-Founder of Envia Technologies, a startup built to lighten the mental load of parenting. With over 15 years of product management experience across multiple tech industries, she brings deep expertise in building thoughtful, user-centred solutions.

As a full-time working mom balancing her daughters’ high-level sports, a career, and caregiving for aging parents, Engilla deeply understands the overwhelming pressures families face. These experiences inspired her to create Envia, a family management app that consolidates activities, streamlines communication, and leverages predictive AI to anticipate needs, resolve conflicts, and recommend opportunities aligned with a family’s interests.

Envia is designed to serve families directly while also partnering with employers, schools, and organizations through a B2B2C model, helping communities support parents in more meaningful ways. With its beta launch in North America planned for 2025, Envia is on track to become the go-to AI-powered platform for family organization and well-being.

As the eldest daughter of immigrant parents, Engilla grew up helping her parents and caring for her younger siblings. Those experiences instilled in her responsibility, accountability, and resilience—values she now channels into her mission to help families reclaim time, reduce stress, and focus on what matters most.

helen siwak, portfolioyvr, vancouver, bc, yvr, business, entrepreneurs, industry magazine

THE BUSINESS.

Envia is dedicated to creating innovative technology solutions that simplify the lives of modern families. Recognizing the increasing demands on parents’ time and energy, Envia leverages the power of artificial intelligence to streamline organization and communication. With predictive AI, Envia thinks ahead, anticipating needs, and making personalized recommendations by fostering a more connected, balanced, and less stressful family environment.

THE MISSION.

Parenting can feel like a whirlwind—juggling work, school drop-offs, birthday parties, doctor’s appointments, and the never-ending stream of emails. In the middle of it all, it is easy to wonder if you have lost track of your mind or simply buried it under a pile of to-dos. Envia was born out of that exact moment at the kitchen table: the realization that there had to be a better way to manage family life. What began as a simple idea has grown into a smarter, more intuitive way to keep everything organized. Envia’s mission is simple: to give parents back their most precious resource—time—and, with it, a little more peace of mind. Because every parent deserves the chance to feel less overwhelmed and more present with the people who matter most.

helen siwak, portfolioyvr, vancouver, bc, yvr, business, entrepreneurs, industry magazine

IN HER WORDS.

“When I think about when I first recognized my entrepreneurial spirit, I realize there was never one defining moment. It has always felt like part of me. In every job I have held, I naturally approached things from a bigger-picture perspective. I never limited myself to my job description; I was always looking for ways to improve systems and make a greater impact.

Life took me in different directions for a while, but over the past two years that drive has grown stronger. I realized that I want to be a role model for my daughters. If I am telling them they can do anything they set their minds to, then I need to follow my own words and show them that it is possible.

The inspiration for my first big idea came directly from my own life—juggling a full-time career, managing a household, raising kids, and caring for aging parents. I saw so many other parents facing the same challenges.

One day, while my partner and I were working through an endless list of kid-related tasks, I said, “I wish there was a solution for this.” He replied, “Why do you not build it?” That idea stayed with me until I finally took a leap of faith, with his encouragement, and began building it.

My upbringing also played a significant role in shaping this drive. As the eldest daughter of immigrant parents, I watched them struggle while working tirelessly to provide for us. I was given more responsibilities, whether it was helping them or caring for my younger siblings. Those experiences taught me responsibility, accountability, and pride in my work. They also instilled in me a hunger to always do and be more.

A memorable early business experience that stands out is the day I received my first credit card. The moment I got it, I maxed it out without a second thought about the consequences. When the bill arrived, reality hit me hard. That summer, I struggled to find a job, and the stress of making those payments was very real. It was a crash course in money management that taught me about credit, financial planning, and the dangers of debt. While I can laugh about it now, at the time it was a tough but formative lesson.

Looking at how my entrepreneurial journey has evolved, I see how much I have learned. In hindsight, I wish I had expanded my network earlier, as that would have made the path smoother. Key opportunities, however, have shaped my journey in powerful ways. For instance, Leroy Faure from The Fit Dad Lifestyle believed in our mission and vision. He understood the invisible impact our solution can have on parents every day, and he committed to helping us reach millions.

I have also had the privilege of collaborating with podcasts like Quiet and Strong, Llarn, and Peaceful Parenting. Of course, setbacks have happened, but I approach them by pausing, reflecting, and asking myself how I could have responded differently.”

engilla loo, envia technologies, family planning, parenting app,

“To me, the greatest entrepreneurial skill is learning agility—the ability to learn and unlearn at the same time, reinventing yourself as the journey unfolds. Although Envia is my first official venture, my career has spanned early-stage startups and large enterprises at various stages of growth. Each experience was a masterclass in business, finance, and strategy.

I made it a point not only to observe what was working well but to act on what could be improved, even if my perspective was not always immediately welcomed. These roles taught me that a business succeeds through clear strategy, financial discipline, and a willingness to address gaps head-on. All of those lessons are now shaping how I build Envia. As my confidence in the vision grew, the most important step I took to elevate Envia was embracing the fact that we are solving a real problem.

Every time I share my story, parents immediately recognize the challenges—the invisible load, the stress, the constant juggling. That validation, whether in personal conversations or through social media, has reinforced that we are building the right solution at the right time.

This knowledge has given me the confidence to scale through strategic partnerships in the family and wellness space. For me, success is as simple as helping one busy parent reclaim thirty minutes of their day. If Envia can do that, one family at a time, then we are making a difference.

The sacrifices along this journey have been very real. I have missed my daughters’ rugby, lacrosse, and swim meets, as well as weekends and evenings with family.

I left my job, walked away from a second source of income, and bootstrapped Envia myself. On top of that, my father is battling cancer, and not spending as much time with him has been one of the hardest sacrifices.

Balance is still a work in progress, but my partner’s support has made this journey possible. These sacrifices, though difficult, fuel my perseverance, because I know I am building something that truly matters.

Defining the moment when I knew my business would succeed is difficult, because I believe time will ultimately tell. Still, the moments that reassure me are the conversations with parents and strategic partners who immediately see the value in Envia. Their validation reminds me why I took this leap and gives me confidence that success will come.

Mentorship has played a tremendous role in my journey. I have been fortunate to find a mentor in Giles Crouch, whose support, honest feedback, and fresh perspectives have been invaluable.

Equally important is the community of entrepreneurs here in Vancouver, who have been generous with their time, advice, and encouragement. People like Priya Tron, Guita Yazdani, and Mayumi Rollings have been integral to my growth, offering camaraderie and shared wisdom that makes this journey less solitary.

As Envia has grown, so has my leadership style. Early on, I believed I had to have all the answers, but I have learned that true leadership is about listening, trusting your team, and staying aligned with your values.

My teammates share my passion and vision, and together we challenge each other to make the company stronger. Whenever I feel caught up in the chaos, I return to my purpose: to lighten the invisible load on parents and give families more time together. That clarity keeps me grounded.

Advice I share with aspiring entrepreneurs is simple: success does not have to be huge to matter. Celebrate the small wins, let the data guide you, and be willing to learn and adapt. I am still learning myself, but I know success is about progress, resilience, and the impact you make, even in small ways.

At the heart of Envia is a simple mission: to lighten the mental load for modern parents. We use automation and predictive insights to bring everything into one place, organizing activities, flagging conflicts, and nudging parents at the right time.

When parents feel less stressed and more connected, children thrive too. We are not just building software—we are helping families reclaim time and reduce stress so they can focus on what really matters. To continue growing, we are looking for investors, strategic partners, and champions who share our vision.

Looking ahead to 2025 and 2026, my vision is for Envia to become the go-to AI-powered family support platform across North America. We aim to evolve into a trusted family intelligence system that not only organizes but anticipates needs and recommends opportunities. By then, we will have expanded our B2B2C partnerships with employers, schools, and insurers, while serving families directly through a powerful web app.

The legacy I hope to leave is simple: to ease the invisible load parents carry and to redefine what family tech looks like—not just another calendar, but an empathetic system designed to strengthen family well-being.”

Author Profile

Helen Siwak, Collaborator: This story is created in collaboration between Helen Siwak and the featured subject. As the founder and publisher of Portfolio.YVR Business & Entrepreneurs Magazine, Helen works closely with entrepreneurs to share their paths of innovation, resilience, and growth. Each story in this series is co-developed through interviews and first-person insights, blending authentic voices with Helen’s editorial expertise to highlight the remarkable individuals shaping British Columbia’s business landscape.