Updated Apr 23, 2020
Redefining Periods with Be Girl's PeriodPanty & SmartCycle
https://www.begirl.org/
Be girl Hello@begirl.org
Be Girl is disrupting the status quo for menstruation through our innovative, sustainable, high-quality products designed with and for girls to understand manage menstruation safely and comfortably.
Be Girl's PeriodPanty and FlexiPad have a revolutionary patented design: a leakproof base with a mesh pocket that holds a washable absorbent towel, initially designed as a pad that attaches to underwear: the FlexiPad. Disposable toilet tissue or cloths may be inserted in place of the towel for users with very low water access. Through piloting the FlexiPadTM, we learned that many girls who stru...
SEE ALLStage 4: Transition to Scale
Be Girl has received a utility patent and fully developed and field-tested our period products. In Mozambique, we are testing a sustainable markets-based approach to create affordable access to our premium period products for all womankind.
27
Countries Implemented In
31,000
Customers
5
Employees
$1,738,000
Funds Raised to Date
Verified Funding
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Problem
Adolescent girls in low-resource settings are ill-prepared for menstruation because they lack information and products to manage their menses. Menstruation is steeped in taboo, and too often disposables are unavailable and unaffordable and reusables are low-quality and unsanitary. Difficulties in managing periods with normalcy and dignity is an obstacle to gender equality and negatively impacts women’s human rights to education, health, and work.
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Solution
Be Girl leads long-term transformative change by making innovative, environmentally sustainable, and durable menstrual products accessible so that being a girl is not a barrier to health, dignity, and success. Lack of access to menstrual products is a market failure and solutions need to be environmentally sustainable because disposable products generate a massive amount of refuse that will add to current waste crises in many developing countries.
Target Beneficiaries
Be Girl makes period protection radically accessible to women and girls, with a special focus on those living in poverty and at the base of the economic pyramid. We reach the former through collaborations with relief and development nonprofits. The second group currently purchases sanitary products, albeit with difficulty. We serve them through a sustainable, markets-based methodology currently undergoing proof of concept in Mozambique.
Mission and Vision
Be Girl seeks to eliminate menstruation as a barrier to opportunity, empowering women and girls to access their rights to education, health, and equitable participation in society. We are fierce advocates for girls and envision a world where being a girl does not stand in the way of health, dignity, and success. For this reason, we create access to our sustainable, high-performing, and cost effective menstrual products, redefining period protection as it stands.
Competitive Advantage
Be Girl's design-centered approach positions us a disrupter in the MHM space. We patented a
design solution to address the negative outcomes from a lack of affordable, effective, and hygienic menstrual protection.
Compared to existing alternatives, our PeriodPanty is more durable (lasts two years or longer), affordable (saves money compared to the monthly cost of disposables), and comfortable and user-centered (stain-proof and can be washed with a 70% less water than traditional alternatives). They dry indoors within an hour, protecting the user’s privacy, while also discouraging mildew or other bacterial growth.
Our SmartCycle tool and methodology take complex information and package it in a user-friendly, age-appropriate manner. As a physical tool, it does not rely upon smartphone access (as required by a period tracker app). Compared to the bead method, the SmartCycle is easier to understand, especially for younger users, and more discreet.
Planned Goals and Milestones
Be Girl is growing and scaling our impact. Building on learning from our 2018 pilot and 2020 learning study in Mozambique, we seek to position Be Girl as a top choice for sustainable feminine care products, making it a competitive alternative to disposables in emerging economies.
Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, we will continue providing vital sustainable supplies and menstrual health workshops to girls and women globally. It's more important than ever to have access to high-quality products.
| Funding Goal | 800,000 | |
| Projected Cumulative Lives Impacted | 500,000 | |
| New Implemented Countries | Colombia, Angola, Mozambique, South Africa | |
| New Feature | Disrupt the feminine care market to make durable, high-performance menstrual products accessible to the bottom of the pyramid. |
The Team Behind the Innovation
CEO and co-founder Diana Sierra (F) has 10+ years' experience in industrial design with a focus on products designed specifically for women’s use. COO Audrey Anderson (F) is a specialist in adolescent girl-centered programming with 10 years' experience in international education and development. CFO Amy Kelly (F) has 10+ years of experience in bookkeeping, financial planning, and public policy. VP of Operations Tatiana Reyes Jové (F) brings experience in data analysis, M&E, and project design.
EXECUTIVE TEAM INCLUDES WOMEN
Milestone
Jan 2020
Apr 2019
Date Unknown
New Country Implemented In
Solomon Islands
Date Unknown
New Country Implemented In
Somalia
Date Unknown
New Country Implemented In
Tanzania