CLUELESS

As for those investors who didn’t get it? “They don’t understand the need for it,” she says, drawing out the eeee’s in need. Unless you’re a working mom, “it’s hard to understand the need.”

Thiers, the founder, came to baby-sitting naturally as the oldest in a family of seven children. Now 27, she put herself through Boston College baby-sitting for more than 30 families. Even with her busy sitting schedule, she received more requests than she could possibly handle.

She started matching inquiring parents with other students looking to make extra cash, and an idea was born.

While baby-sitting agencies charge hundreds of dollars — and nanny agencies charge thousands — Sittercity.com costs parents $39.99 the first month and $5 a month after that.

Baby sitters can leave profiles for free. The site includes a sitter’s references that parents can check, feedback on both parents and sitters, and tips on how to interview a prospective baby sitter. There’s also a link to backgroundchecks.com, which searches criminal records nationwide (postings are limited to sitters over age 17).

Thiers figures the success of her site has capitalized on two key business trends: The do-it-yourself culture spawned by the Internet, and the rise of women into managerial positions which makes them confident enough to check references and do background checks themselves instead of relying on a costly agency.

Sittercity.com’s business is currently concentrated in four cities — Boston, New York, Chicago and Los Angeles — but Thiers figures there are 34 million moms who need her service. “We’re working on getting to all of them.”