FLOW
Overview
Menstrual cups are one of the most sustainable period care options out there, but many menstruators are still hesitant to make the switch. Why? They get bloody, they’re a pain to empty in public restrooms, and they have the potential to introduce germs into users’ bodies if dropped or not properly cleaned. The FLOW is a device that combines rotational energy and UV light to wash, dry, and sanitize menstrual cups for everyday use on the go and at home. The FLOW will eliminate the stress of cleaning cups in public spaces and the need to boil cups in kitchen pots each month.
Timeline
Capstone: 10 months
Startup: July 2020 - Present
Team
Angela C., Andrew P., Taya V.
Roles
Co-founder, Product Engineer, User Researcher, Project Manager, Website Manager, Marketing Coordinator
Tools
SolidWorks, Machining, Google Workspace, Journey Maps, Squarespace, Canva, iMovie, Instagram, TikTok
Objective
We initially developed the FLOW as part of our senior design capstone project at Columbia University. To continue our work and bring FLOW to the world, Taya, Andrew, and I formed FLOW Period, LLC, a startup devoted to sustainable period care. Our goal is to empower menstruators to make the switch to reusable menstrual cups and ultimately give rise to more financially and environmentally sustainable period care.
Initial Design Opportunity
Menstrual cups are medical-grade silicone cups that collect blood, tissue, and other menstrual fluids during menstruation. Cups can be inserted for up to 12 hrs and reused for up to 10 years. They can significantly cut down on waste and overall costs associated with single-use period care products such as pads and tampons. Yet, menstruators are hesitant to make the switch. The most common fear that was expressed to our team in our initial interviews with menstruators who did not use a cup was the fear of cleaning the cup in public. Thus, we set out to create a portable menstrual cup washer.
More on the design process for FLOW coming soon.
Want to learn more about FLOW as a product?
The FLOW is still a work in progress. You can find more information about this product and our startup on our website linked below. If you’d like to support our goal of getting FLOW to market, we’d greatly appreciate any donation you can provide.