Anna-Mi Widman is the founder of Ickly, a community health platform that helps parents see what illnesses are going around their kids' schools and neighborhoods. A Chicago parent herself, she started Ickly after one too many surprise sick days.
“Parents deserve to know what is going around before it walks in the door. That is why I built Ickly.”
Articles by Anna-Mi
SchoolsHow to print an Ickly poster for your school or daycare
School directors, class parents, and PTO representatives can download a free, school-specific Ickly poster in English, Spanish, or Ukrainian, then place it where families will see it.
September 29, 2026 · 6 min read
What's new on IcklyIckly is coming to Android, and I need 12 of you
The Android app is built and ready for its first real-world test. Here is what is in it for you, and exactly how to sign up as a beta tester.
September 24, 2026 · 4 min read
Founder & CommunityWhy I built Ickly: a Chicago mom's story
Anna-Mi Widman became a mom during the pandemic, lived every version of sick season, and got tired of guessing. In her own words, here is why Ickly exists.
September 20, 2026 · 5 min read
Founder & Community"Solutions do not come from the top": Annie Pecoraro on parents building for parents
The owner of Le Village Cowork Lakeview on anonymous reporting, shared missions, and why the best answers for working parents come from other working parents.
September 16, 2026 · 4 min read
Founder & CommunityWhat parents told us at the Mitchell Back to School Bash
A playground conversation at Ellen Mitchell Elementary showed exactly why local, parent-powered health information matters as Chicago families head back to school.
August 30, 2026 · 4 min
Founder & CommunityNetwork effects start with 135 parents, not a million users
Network effects do not start with millions of users. They start with 135 parents in Chicago, 86 schools, and the moment three families at the same school start logging symptoms.
August 24, 2026 · 5 min read
Founder & CommunityMoms Build It: An Evening for Moms Who Want to Build Something Real
Ickly is teaming up with Code Your Dreams and Le Village Cowork Lakeview to host an evening for moms who want to turn ideas into real websites, apps, and digital tools.
August 12, 2026 · 3 min read
Founder & CommunityA personal thank you from Ickly’s founder
Ickly’s founder Anna-Mi Widman writes to the first 120 families who signed up, why the math of modern parenting feels broken, and what is coming next for Chicago parents.
August 5, 2026 · 4 min read
What's new on Ickly100 Registered Users on Ickly: How We Got Here and Why It Matters
Ickly just crossed 100 registered users. Here's how a small Chicago experiment turned into a community-powered early warning layer for childhood illness.
July 29, 2026 · 4 min read