Amy Kiska

Co-Founder & CEO

ABOUT Amy Kiska

Amy Kiska is the co-founder and CEO of Recess, the children's activity marketplace she launched with co-founder Molly Morse after the two met on the expansion team of a fast-moving startup during the pandemic and promised each other they would one day build something of their own. Originally from Detroit and a graduate of Parsons School of Design, she began her career with brand-building roles at fashion houses including Oscar de la Renta and Dior before moving into startup operations and business development, including a role at the biotech company Biomilq.

After both founders became mothers and hit the same wall trying to find and book great programs for their kids, Kiska drew on her experience in global business development and venture scaling to build Recess around the real needs of parents: less stress, more trust, and stronger community. She built the company while in her third trimester and closed its $1.75 million pre-seed funding round shortly after giving birth, launching booking in Austin with plans for national expansion.

PROFESSIONAL SUPERPOWER

About Recess

Recess is a kids' activities marketplace that helps families discover and book camps, classes, after-school programs, and enrichment activities in one trusted place. Often described as the Airbnb or OpenTable of children's activities, the platform replaces the fragmented mix of websites, emails, and spreadsheets parents typically juggle, spanning categories like art, dance, music, sports, STEM, tutoring, and after-school care. Launched in Austin and expanding across Texas with national ambitions, Recess is designed to ease the mental load for parents while helping quality providers reach the families who need them.