Molly Williams. Photo courtesy Wild Minds website.

BY JOSH DAVISNorth Country This Week

CANTON— Canton’s Molly Williams is taking to fast-paced New York City to help people slow down with her mobile app Wild Minds, which is being recognized at a global event dedicated to tech developers. 

Williams has been selected as one of 300 app founders from around the world for NY App Week, taking place Oct. 13 – 16. The event brings together innovative app creators and industry leaders to celebrate entrepreneurship, creativity, and technology.

Williams, who built the Wild Minds manifestation and meditation app from the ground up entirely self-funded and without any coding background, is also in the running for “Solo Founder of the Year,” a recognition that honors independent developers making a significant impact in the app space.

“We’re living in a world that constantly pushes us to go faster - Wild Minds is an invitation to do the opposite. It’s an app that asks you to slow down, to find meaning in everyday life, and to connect with people who support you for who you are - not just for your accomplishments or accolades. I think so many of us are craving a sense of belonging and the feeling that “it’s enough,” and that’s exactly what Wild Minds offers its community members.”

“I started Wild Minds from my spare bedroom in Canton,” Williams said. “It’s surreal to now be invited among some of the biggest names in the app industry and to represent small-town creativity on a global stage.”

She said that living in Canton has been conducive to helping her develop the app. 

“I think when I was younger, I had a lot of dreams about moving to California or a bigger city and creating a company there, but life kept bringing me back home to Canton,” Williams said.  She described the Canton area as “such an incredible asset in my ability to grow and evolve. The pace, the culture, the landscape, and the environment here made developing my app that much easier,” Williams noted. 

Wild Minds, which blends daily meditation, moon cycle insights, manifestation practices, and community connection, has grown into a thriving international platform with users in more than 30 countries. The app recently reached a valuation of $4 million, a milestone that highlights the power of grassroots innovation.

“I’m not influenced by other tech companies or caught in that Silicon Valley bubble,” Williams said. 

“I can walk the Partridge Trail every morning to center myself, connect with other small business owners and be inspired,” she continued. 

Williams also credited Canton’s Economic Development Office and Director Leigh Rodriguez for helping her business get started. 

As part of NY App Week, Williams has also been invited to host a special event for female app founders, offering space for collaboration, conversation, and empowerment among women in technology, a subject close to her heart.

“I want to show that there’s no single mold for a tech founder, you can lead with creativity, intuition, and compassion, and still build something successful and scalable. I hated high school, my undergraduate degree was in biology, and I barely made it through my technical science courses, but here I am. My hope is to make more space for women to see themselves in this industry, especially those who might not come from traditional tech or investment backgrounds. Through Wild Minds, I also hope to create a ripple effect, empowering women to trust their voice, their vision, and to know that their ideas are worthy of being built.”

 Williams continues to live in Canton with her husband and two young children, balancing family life with her work as a manifestation guide, meditation teacher, and entrepreneur.

“I love that I get to build something meaningful from right here at home,” she shared. “Wild Minds is proof that you don’t have to be in Silicon Valley to create something world-changing.”

NY App Week will feature panels, networking sessions, and awards honoring excellence in innovation and design. Winners of the App Awards, including “Solo Founder of the Year,” will be announced on October 15 in Manhattan.

“This will be the first time I’m being recognized by the larger tech industry. I’m looking forward to meeting other founders and, of course, other women in the tech space. I’ll be bringing my two small kids with me, and I’m excited to show them what’s possible - growing up in a small town doesn’t have to be a barrier or limit us from reaching our dreams.”

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