Business of the V

Unbound Breaks Down the Barriers of Discussing Women’s Sexual Wellness

This episode highlights the huge progress we’re seeing (at long last!) in the sextech industry. Dr. Dweck and Rachel invite their guest Polly Rodriguez to share the journey of Unbound, the sexual wellness company she initially founded to fill a market gap – only to discover its super-power: Breaking open the silence around women’s sexual health and wellness.

Diagnosed at 21 years old with Stage 3 colorectal cancer, Polly was thrown into premature menopause, with all its ancillary challenges. She was no more willing to accept being “put sexually out to pasture” than she was willing to succumb to cancer. “When you go through something like a cancer diagnosis, you feel like you have no connection with your body. I felt like I wanted to reclaim it,” says Polly. And thus Unbound was conceived as a direct-to-customer platform that makes body safe vibrators, lubricants and accessories.

The company’s product-level focus is on supporting women who – for whatever reason – want to explore sex-related products like lubricant and vibrators. It has been a very successful entrepreneurial venture of which Polly is rightfully proud, but she is just as proud of her larger contribution to advancing sex education and sextech as an industry deserving of a voice in the marketplace.

You’ll learn about The Women of Sextech, a group Polly helped found in an effort to break barriers to advertising and ensure equal access to capital funding and social media platforms.  It’s exciting to explore yet one more example of sextech leaders coming together, working collaboratively and changing business as usual in “very fem, non-binary ways.” As a bonus, Dr. Dweck and Rachel weigh in with information about the status of sex education nationally, marketplace trends in sextech and femtech advertising as well as the causes of and new approaches to early and premature menopause.

You can subscribe or listen to previous episodes of the Busine$$ of the V podcast by clicking here.

The Center for Intimacy Justice is Tackling Facebook’s Censorship of Health Ads

This episode of the Busine$$ of the V features Jackie Rotman, CEO and founder of the Center for Intimacy Justice (CIJ), a social change organization committed to equity and wellbeing in people’s intimate lives. You’ll learn about how CIJ is helping to rewrite the rules in tech companies' ad policies to allow ads for female sexual health and wellness – which are systematically censored today. She also shares the story of her journey to advocacy in the “sextech” space and the results of a compelling new study.

Among other things, CIJ's recent study reveals that 100% of 60 companies with a female sexual wellness focus were denied the right to advertise on Facebook. Jackie explains how such discrimination impacts educators and economics alike, a subject about which both Dr. Dweck and Rachel have thoughts. The conversation also highlights long-standing assumptions about – and the more recent medicalization of – women’s sexual wellness and levels of sexual satisfaction.

 

You’ll hear an interesting anecdote about the censorship Dr. Dweck herself experienced when she was promoting her book, "V is for Vagina: Your A to Z Guide to Periods, Piercings, Pleasures, and so much more," due to its plain-spoken title and language. Activists like Jackie have been critical to opening up discussion and bringing pressure to bear around sexual intimacy justice and the myriad related issues CIJ plans to take on. Visit this link if you’d like to request a copy of CIJ’s fascinating report, donate or find out more about their work.

You can subscribe or listen to previous episodes of the Busine$$ of the V podcast by clicking here.

Womaness Creates Modern Menopause Products

On this episode of the Busine$$ of the V, hosts Dr. Dweck and Rachel ramp up a conversation that has burst forth in recent years. No more is menopause a whispered word, suitable only for the gynecologist’s office. With some 20 percent of women in the U.S. at some stage of menopause — many of them in the workforce — it was time to break the silence, which is just what Michelle Jacobs and Sally Mueller, the co-founders of Womaness, have done.

As CEO and COO respectively, Sally and Michelle are all about taking the “pause” out of menopause. Their Womaness platform was developed specifically to provide modern, innovative products, essential information and unlimited inspiration to women transitioning through this stage. The overarching goal is to spark a radiant, dynamic outlook based on treatment options and education. They call it “menopositivity.”

Womaness’ complement of products zeroes in on a range of menopausal issues because every woman’s journey is different. They believe symptoms like hot flashes, brain fog, fine lines, vaginal dryness, low libido, and bladder leaks should not slow anyone down. Their products are carefully vetted, backed by clinical data and made of clean ingredients. The centerpiece of this vision is the role that community has to play. They want Womaness to be a “first line of defense” for women in search of science-based, cutting-age information. Their platform is built not just to sell products (which are also available online and at a variety of retail outlets, like GNC and Target), but also to advance discussion through Facebook meetups, a newsletter, social media posts and Q&A’s hosted by trusted medical authorities.

It’s been a major leap for Sally and Michelle, whose careers were previously within traditional corporate environments. Hear all about their wild entrepreneurial ride and the in-the-trenches camaraderie that has kept their team going strong. You can learn more about their products and take their W Quiz here.

 

You can also subscribe and/or listen to previous episodes of the Busine$$ of the V podcast by clicking here.

Pulse Transforms Personal Intimate Wellness Into A Warm & Luxurious Experience

It’s not often that we associate menopause-related products with high-end retail outlets like Nordstrom’s and Bloomingdale’s but that’s the feat achieved by Amy Buckalter, the visionary featured on this episode of the Busine$$ of the V. Hosts Dr. Dweck and Rachel get the full rundown on her burgeoning company Pulse, which has developed a bespoke dispenser for lubricants that is drawing fans well beyond its originally intended target audience.

“Gone are the days of cheap plastic tubes that look like they belong in the drugstore,” says Amy, who is founder and CEO of the Seattle-based business. “(Lubricants today) are in shapes, sizes, colors and materials that really feel like a beauty product.”

Pulse is revolutionizing the consumer experience in personal care and beauty with an innovative, hygienic new dispensing technology for liquid formulations including oils, lotions, creams, and gels. Using recyclable Pulse Pods, it’s an easy, touchless dispenser that is not only esthetically pleasing but adaptable to uses beyond the bedroom. Think convenient, mess-free, touchless access to your favorite formulations, whether in the kitchen, bathroom or nursery.

Best of all, Pulse products are designed with only premium ingredients – no harsh chemicals or irritating fillers. You’ll learn about how Amy has lofted her personal health care product squarely into the beauty and self-care space, and what lies ahead for Pulse’s bounds-breaking business model!

You can subscribe or listen to previous episodes of the Busine$$ of the V podcast by clicking here.

This is How Aspira Women’s Health is Detecting the Risk of Ovarian Cancer Early

With its lack of early diagnostics and greater than 50% mortality rate, ovarian cancer impacts enormous costs to women and society as a whole. But there is light at the end of the tunnel, thanks to Valerie Palmieri, a force to be reckoned with and the featured guest on this episode of Busine$$ of the V. As President and CEO at Aspira Women’s Health, she is not only overseeing the development of blood-based solutions that will improve gynecologic health outcomes, she is also fighting mightily to ensure that these non-invasive blood based risk assessment tools are available to women across the socio-economic spectrum.

Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common gender-specific cancer and, says Valerie, the most grueling of them all. But Aspira’s FDA-cleared bio-informatics products are able to detect with a high level of accuracy,  the risk for malignancy in pelvic masses – a breakthrough compared with the limited ovarian cancer diagnostics available to date. The company has also recently launched Aspira GenetiXSM testing, which offers both targeted and comprehensive genetic testing options. The trick is to predict personalized risk of this evasive cancer as early as possible.

Valerie shares her journey both personally, as a scientist and executive in the startup diagnostic space, and as a vigorous advocate for equal access to ovarian cancer diagnostics. A formidable leader, she is driving awareness for Aspira, building a niche for the company within the life sciences sector and fighting to save lives (along with enormous private and governmental insurance expense). She offers advice for up-and-coming life sciences entrepreneurs and a glimpse of a future in which genetic markers will play a big role in ensuring women’s health. As Rachel notes after reviewing Aspira’s study results: “The numbers are life-changing!”

Enjoy this hopeful conversation with a stand-out femtech pioneer! Visit https://businessofthev.com for more episodes, show notes and more.

Fem Foundry Connects Women Who Lead

What if women around the world had a single platform through which to support and “upscale” each other? That’s the goal for Dr. Dweck’s and Rachel’s guest on this episode of Busine$$ of the V. Amy Williams is Founder and CEO at Fem Foundry, a one-of-a-kind online resource of the sort she wished were available when she was navigating a lonely, challenging life passage.

 

Some 74% of women globally report that they have no role models from whom to draw inspiration – a troubling gap that Fem Foundry aims to fill with its free app, which is easily accessible to the 94% of women worldwide who own a mobile phone. Fem Foundry members convene at the intersection between community, learning and networking.

 

Amy shares a bit of her story and the series “of unfortunate events” that inspired her to create what she needed but could not locate on the web: a safe space for women to exchange support, ideas and learning. Fem Foundry is based around the pillars of health central its members’ lives: physical, mental, financial, social and spiritual. Learn how Amy marshaled her digital business skills to create an authentic, female-friendly platform on which information of all kinds is readily accessible to women in all circumstances.

 

With an entrepreneurial vision that’s expanding daily, Amy talks about her business model as well as the leading-edge, original research in which Fem Foundry’s conversations, classes and events are rooted. The women talk about role models as well as some breaking news regarding the reported impacts of Covid-19 vaccines on women’s menstrual cycles. There’s also a HOT FLASH report that will resonate with anyone who has felt down or anxious (and who hasn’t?) since the advent of pandemic.

You can subscribe or listen to previous episodes of the Busine$$ of the V podcast by clicking here.

This Website is a Judgement Free Zone for Sex Ed

How is it that so many of us are more sure of what we want on a sandwich than in our sexual pleasure? On this episode of Busine$$ of the V, Dr. Alyssa Dweck and Rachel Braun Scherl take on this question along with their guest, Andrea Barrica. Her sexual education platform, the O.School, has carved out a niche by providing a safe place for people in search of science-based and accessible information. Over the past five years Andrea’s team at O.School have compiled a treasure trove of data and insights about the predilections, fears and curiosity among a wide range of people who are sexually active – or would like to be!

 

Part of the magic at O.School has been creating a resource that offers judgment-free information and language that is not only familiar but inclusive. As a result, many other sites have introduced similarly candid conversation around sexual health and wellness. Andrea finds that the video content, polling and data analysis her platform provides creates a sense of community and tremendous engagement among people who find comfort (and shed shame) around a variety of behaviors.

 

The O.School’s “Orgasm Order Form” is a great point of entry for many first-time website visitors. The result of an “aha” moment while waiting in line to place a sandwich order at Whole Foods, Andrea and her team have put together a series of questions to help us figure out what we do – or do not – appreciate sexually at least as well as we know whether we want mustard and pickles! Enjoy this frank, fun conversation about the important work Andrea is doing and how O.School is poised to partner with reproductive- and sexual health-related businesses and provide data and access to voices in this quickly evolving space.

 

If you’d like to try out O.School’s sexual pleasure order form, just click here.

 

Click here to subscribe or listen to previous episodes of the Busine$$ of the V podcast with Rachel Braun Scherl and Dr. Alyssa Dweck.

This Device Offers a Pain Free Solution to Incontinence

This episode of Busine$$ of the V features a game-changing new FemTech response to urinary incontinence, a very common and largely unseen condition often linked to pregnancy, childbirth and menopause. As Dr. Dweck knows from her own practice, Kegel exercises can be very effective in restoring pelvic floor muscle strength, but many busy women aren’t able to make the commitment of time and intention required. That’s where Elitone comes in. It’s the brainchild of Gloria Kolb, CEO at Elidah, Inc., who dug into the research after herself experiencing the physiological impacts of delivering three large babies.

 

Elitone offers women a quick, pain-free treatment modality that has been shown to reduce urinary incontinence in 95% of users – for some in as little as four weeks. Using a comfortable gel pad no bigger than a panty liner, the device uses gentle, low-frequency pulses to tone pelvic floor muscles. The best part? Set the remote control timer and, hands-free, go about your day while the Elitone invisibly does its work.

 

It may be little discussed, but about a third of all women’s quality of life is compromised by either urge or stress urinary incontinence – often but not always as the result of childbirth. Many factors can contribute to this problem. Although there are some lifestyle modifications that can help in a limited way, sufferers still deal constantly with low-level stress over availability of bathroom facilities, odor and curtailed activities. Elitone, which is available direct or at CVS.com, is all about giving women a route back to their most vibrant, worry-free selves.

 

Learn how Gloria has navigated research, development, fundraising, FDA approvals and Covid impacts on the marketplace. Elitone now also offers a new tracking app for your mobile device. Click here to watch videos testimonials and demonstrations.

 

Click here to subscribe or listen to previous episodes of the Busine$$ of the V podcast with Rachel Braun Scherl and Dr. Alyssa Dweck.

This Startup is Creating Better Diagnostic Tools for Endometriosis

This episode of Busine$$ of the V takes on a gynecological affliction that affects a significant number of women, can take years to diagnose and often leaves permanent scarring and even infertility. Dr. Dweck and Rachel welcome Somer Baburek, CEO and President of Hera Biotech, an early-stage women's health company bringing to market a minimally invasive diagnostic for endometriosis. Tens of millions of reproductive-age women and girls globally are affected by the chronic, sometimes immobilizing pain of this disease, which on average takes clinicians seven years to identify. In the meanwhile, a huge percentage of sufferers endure scarring, with from 30 to 50 percent of cases ultimately leading to infertility.

 

This podcast breaks down not only the causes and signs of endometriosis, but also the science behind Hera’s novel genetic approach to diagnosis. A sample of the patient’s endometrium is collected during an in-office procedure, thereby eliminating the need for (and risks associated with) surgical biopsy. In addition to reducing the considerable time patients typically suffer before receiving a diagnosis, Hera will also serve an important data collection and tracking function

 

With a longtime passion for both biotech and femtech, Somer shares insights into Hera’s evolution and roadmap, where the company is with its clinical research and fundraising as well as what’s on the horizon for the company as it prepares to complete its FDA application and head into a soft launch, initially through fertility clinics and potentially as a standard testing option available widely at ob-gyn offices or, conceivably, even as a home test.

 

You can subscribe or listen to previous episodes of the Busine$$ of the V podcast by clicking here.

This is How the Dripstick Went Viral

This episode of Busine$$ of the V features Frances Tang, the forward-thinking founder of Awkward Essentials, a startup devoted to taking the taboo out of post-sex cleanup. It might not be the easiest of entrepreneurial concepts to sell, but with her flair for social media and creative pitching, Frances has turned an intimate personal care challenge into a viable and thriving niche enterprise.

 

Individually packaged and easy to use, the company’s flagship product, the Dripstick, is a super absorbent sponge that makes quick work of cleaning up fluids after sex. With her down-to-earth approach and candid language, Frances has garnered attention not only from investors and the media but also was named a Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas finalist in 2020. Her mission is to normalize and address awkward bodily realities – which she does with a good dose of humor and an eye for products that serve practical needs.

 

You’ll learn about how Awkward Essentials came into being, why it’s important to be fearless in soliciting help and where this innovative “crotch care” company is headed as it develops new products along with new marketing vocabulary to go with them. If you’ve ever had an entrepreneurial idea, this episode will give you a front-row view of Frances’ journey – from her initial thought to incubating a concept to developing a viable business proposition to plans for an emerging suite of “weird” products you’ll wonder how you once did without.

 

You can subscribe or listen to previous episodes of the Busine$$ of the V podcast by clicking here.