This narrative combines insights from an interview with Lily Vittayarukskul, age 30, who is the co-founder and CEO of Waterlily. The following account has been refined for clarity and conciseness.
From a young age, I was captivated by the cosmos and had a deep curiosity about how the world operates. Science taught me valuable lessons: even the most daunting questions could be dismantled and understood, leading to potential solutions.
Growing up with limited resources, I worked in my parents' factory after school. This experience highlighted the diligent efforts families put in to attain stability and the discipline and creativity required to build something from scratch.
At just 11 years old, I participated in a NASA competition with a water rocket I built myself. Winning that competition awarded me a trip to the Kennedy Space Center, and later, I interned at NASA as a teenager. I initially envisioned a future in aerospace engineering.
That trajectory shifted dramatically when my aunt was diagnosed with cancer, altering the course of my family’s life nearly overnight.
Language barriers compounded our challenges, as my mother became the translator at medical appointments due to my aunt's limited English skills. As a family, we quickly discovered unexpected expenses and realized that caring for a loved one with a severe illness extended far beyond regular medical visits.
I was 16 during this difficult time, and rather than recalling specific medical diagnoses or conversations, I remember the silence. Exhausted, my family moved through a relentless cycle of work, doctor visits, and caregiving, rarely pausing to address our emotional struggles.
Witnessing my family unravel profoundly reshaped my understanding of impact.
My mother took on the role of my aunt’s primary caregiver while the rest of us contributed to the family business. I would often stay at the factory until late in the evening, working hard but oblivious to the deeper costs we were incurring.
Eventually, I came to realize the strains on our family relationships and finances had taken a toll far beyond the loss of my aunt, resulting in lingering tension and isolation.
Being part of a first-generation immigrant family taught me the importance of financial stability. My parents’ relentless hard work didn’t always guarantee security; instead, I grasped that creating economic value was essential. This lesson has influenced my decisions ever since.
After my aunt’s passing, I began to reframe my inquiries. Rather than focusing solely on engineering challenges, I started to question why families like mine had to face such trying times with inadequate support.
I recognized a gap in addressing issues related to long-term care.
With a passion for engineering still intact, I pivoted to leverage those skills in a more meaningful way.
I spent nearly ten years in product and engineering leadership roles at various startups, absorbing knowledge about healthcare, financial services, and the needs of underserved populations. I sought to comprehend the fragmented landscape of aging and long-term care planning.
Seeing no one addressing the problem in a way that resonated, I co-founded Waterlily.
The platform harnesses AI to assist individuals in estimating future long-term care needs, expenses, and potential funding sources based on health, financial status, and family dynamics. It offers tailored insights and funding strategies to help families navigate the complexities of aging. Since its inception, Waterlily has successfully raised $9.2 million.
The journey has proven to be far more challenging than I anticipated.
Healthcare and aging intersect multiple sectors, requiring us to navigate the intricacies of healthcare, insurance, and financial services concurrently, each operating under different incentives. Each week presents new complexities.
There were times I questioned our ability to overcome these challenges. Yet, I found motivation in a core question I pondered after my aunt's death: If we don't tackle this issue, who will?
After engaging with countless families, I discovered that my own experience was not as unique as I believed. Many families facing serious long-term care challenges similarly endured financial strains and relational distress. While details may differ, the emotional toll often appears strikingly similar.
The experience of building this company has transformed my perspective on my future.
Launching Waterlily has increased my financial literacy significantly, compelling me to gain proficiency in areas such as insurance, retirement planning, and healthcare. Understanding the aging process means comprehending how various systems and family decisions intertwine.
Moreover, my understanding of responsibility has evolved.
Previously, I defined success as the ability to solve intriguing technical problems. Now, I believe true success lies in creating solutions that empower individuals to regain control during tumultuous times in their lives.
If my aunt were here today, while she might not fixate on the technicalities of our platform, I’m certain she would ask two pivotal questions: Are you making a difference? Is this venture sustainable?
I hope she would be proud of the answers I would provide.
Waterlily also offers a complimentary tool on its website that generates personalized insights, drawing from an extensive database, enabling users to better understand what aging and long-term care may entail.
