Founder story
Built from lived experience.
BitzaHugs was not created in a boardroom.
It was created in the middle of real family life — the kind with routines that do not always go as planned, hard transitions, sensory overwhelm, appointment reminders, emotional exhaustion, and the quiet hope that tomorrow might feel a little easier.
My name is Amanda Benavidez, and I am the founder of BitzaHugs. I am also a mother and caregiver who understands how heavy the invisible parts of caregiving can become.
My son, Zachariah, is the heart behind this app.
Parenting a child with autism and behavioral challenges has taught me that caregiving is not just about schedules, appointments, and routines. It is about learning how to stay calm when your child is overwhelmed. It is about trying to understand what they need when they may not be able to tell you. It is about carrying the mental list of triggers, comfort items, sensory needs, school notes, therapy details, and all the little things that help your child feel safe.
And it is about doing all of that while you, the caregiver, are tired too.
There were many moments when I searched for tools that could help my family feel more supported. I wanted something gentle. Something simple. Something I could open during a hard moment and not feel judged, overstimulated, or like I was failing.
But so many apps felt too clinical, too complicated, too productivity-focused, or too disconnected from what caregiving actually feels like.
That need became BitzaHugs.
BitzaHugs was built to support all families, while being especially mindful of neurodivergent and special needs households. It brings together calming tools, routines, emotional check-ins, printable supports, caregiver encouragement, community connection, and gentle guidance for overwhelming moments.
Every feature was created with intention: to help families feel more organized, more supported, and less alone.
As a solo female founder balancing caregiving, school, and app development, building BitzaHugs has been deeply personal. It has stretched me, challenged me, and reminded me over and over why this work matters.
What began as something I wished existed for my own family has grown into a larger mission: to create a trusted support platform for caregivers, children, and the people who help care for them.