Meet Tirza Jova | Founder of Milk by Mom

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tirza Jova and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tirza, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I worked for several years as a marketing executive in a major healthcare corporation, juggling the challenges of being a full-time working mom while breastfeeding two infant daughters. When I discovered breast milk freeze drying as an alternative to frozen breast milk storage and transportation, I was amazed by the huge leap in convenience it gave me while preserving all of my milk’s nutritional benefits. Every drop of breast milk is precious. The ability to freeze-dry my breast milk and take the powder pouches anywhere brought me so much relief that I made it my mission to share this service with other moms. My goal became to create a company to make this service widely available to mamas and caregivers across the US, Canada, and Mexico. As the first Milk by Mom customer, I enjoyed firsthand the benefits and convenience of freeze dried breast milk. My hope is that by making this service widely available across North America, Milk by Mom will help empower parents to more easily provide their little ones with the unbeatable goodness of breast milk. By modernizing the way we feed breast-fed babies, we can progressively support working moms who breastfeed and pump regularly. Our society does not consistently support those mothers. In fact, 13% of working mothers report pumping in their cars during a break at work. This gap in support is one reason why only 25.4% of mothers breastfeed exclusively through six months, as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. We hope the convenience our service offers will begin to change these numbers and that more babies are breast fed beyond 6 months.

What should our readers know about your business?
Society does not make breastfeeding easy. That’s why Milk by Mom provides a breast milk freeze-drying service to moms across the U.S. We take frozen breast milk and freeze-dry it into powder, delivering the convenience of formula with all the nutrition benefits of breast milk. With a three-year shelf life and complete portability making travel easy, this healthcare innovation provides moms the ultimate convenience and peace of mind.

Milk by Mom is Latina-founded and dedicated to supporting mothers. Of the four U.S. companies that freeze-dry breast milk, we are the only one focused on the Hispanic Latina market. We are Latina-owned, have an all-Latina staff, and a bilingual website and social media presence. With nearly 1,000 customers served in just under two years and a 20% repeat rate, the demand for Milk by Mom continues to grow, particularly among moms who face challenges with breastfeeding after returning to work.

Having faced my own struggles with breastfeeding while working full-time, I know how precious every drop of breast milk is. Those experiences inspired me to create Milk by Mom, raise awareness of freeze-drying breast milk, and offer this service to the broader mom community. When freeze-drying is the gold standard for breast milk storage and transportation, it’s not just Milk by Mom’s success – fulfilling our mission to bring awareness to this invaluable option will be a victory for moms everywhere.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Some of my favorites spots for food are chop shop and flower child for quick and healthy. For a nicer meal I love Buck & Rider, Steak 44 and Thea. The rooftop at Thea is a beautiful view so a great stop regardless of whether a meal is involved or not! Century Grand is always fun for those who appreciate mixology and the curated immersive experiences are on point.

As long as it’s not summer, a hike is in order. Depending on fitness levels, some of my favorite are Camelback Echo trail, Squaw Peak. and Pinnacle Peak.

Old Town Scottsdale is fun for tourists, Art Walk in downtown is always fun as long as timing lines up!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Lori Harder has been a big inspiration. Not only has she has built such an incredible community and curated rooms that I am lucky to have dialed into. But she is so approachable and authentic, always willing to help. Her events and podcast have been such a amazing resource and helped guide me through my entrepreneurial journey and give me that little bit of inspiration when I need it most.

Website: https://www.milkbymom.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milkbymom/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/milk-by-mom

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Milk-by-Mom/100086180794088/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MilkbyMom

Other: Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@milkbymom

Image Credits
I own the pictures. I own the rights to use them