Laura Widman, PhD
Teen Health Research – MICRO Fall 2025
Published January 14, 2026
As part of our ‘Meet Our Founders’ series today, we introduce Laura Widman, PhD, Founder of Let’s Talk Families, a product by Teen Health Research, based in Raleigh, NC. Let’s Talk is a digital platform that helps families talk about puberty, growing up, and relationships—making these big, often cringy topics easier and more fun to talk about.
Q: What problem are you trying to solve and what influenced you to start your company?
A: We’re solving the problem of parents feeling unprepared or overwhelmed when it’s time to talk about the “birds and bees”, including puberty, bodies, and relationships. I started this company after helping my sister navigate these conversations with my niece, Sayla, and realizing that even with my background as a clinical psychologist and sexuality researcher, there were almost no tools to help families actually start these talks in a natural, supportive way. Let’s Talk was created to give families practical, science-based guidance and the confidence they deserve to have meaningful conversations as their kids grow.
Q: What are you most excited about right now? What keeps you up at night?
A: What excites me most right now is seeing how much families want this product. Every time a parent tells us, “I need this right now” or “I wish I had this sooner,” it reinforces that we’re building something meaningful. What keeps me up at night is making sure we have the funding and resources to deliver on that potential and scale in a way that matches the need.
Q: What does the road ahead look like for your company?
A: The road ahead for Let’s Talk is incredibly exciting. We’re finalizing our MVP and expanding early testing with families as we prepare for a 2026 launch. From there, our priority is scaling thoughtfully—staying focused on delivering a high-quality, evidence-based experience for families. Our long-term vision is to support millions of families and become the go-to tool for parents navigating sensitive conversations as their children grow.
Q: What other passions do you have besides your business?
A: I love to travel for work and for fun. Exploring new cities and cultures, trying new foods, and meeting new people fills my cup. I also get some of my best thinking and writing done on airplanes. There’s something so magical about being up in the clouds!
While visiting Raleigh, Laura recommends:
- If someone were visiting Raleigh, I’d suggest taking a walk or bike ride on our greenway system — miles of connected trails that wind through parks, lakes, and beautiful outdoor spaces. Shelley Lake is one of my favorite jogging loops. For food, Sushi Mon, Stanbury, and Northside Bistro are great choices.
Support Teen Health Research and Laura by:
- The best way to support us is to help spread the word. Share our website—www.lets-talk-families.com—with anyone who parents, supports, or champions young people. We’re also looking for partners, early users, and funders who believe in strengthening family communication and improving youth wellbeing. Introductions, insights, and visibility meaningfully accelerate our impact and help us reach more families.