What was the catalyst for launching FlowSense?
I witnessed firsthand how visually impaired women struggled with menstrual care—relying on sighted peers for support—and knew there had to be a way to empower them with independence and dignity.
Tell us about the business – what it is, what it aims to achieve, who you work with, how you reach customers and so on.
FlowSense is developing the world’s first patented period blood detection device designed for visually impaired women. Our mission is to revolutionise menstrual care through accessible, user-centric technology. We work closely with design engineers, accessibility experts, and community organisations, and we engage our target audience through digital marketing, strategic partnerships, and grassroots community outreach.
How has the business evolved since its launch?
We launched FlowSense in early 2024 as a passion project span out of university and quickly evolved into an early-stage startup. Since then, we’ve advanced from initial concept and prototype testing to securing approximately £250K in non-dilutive funding and building a waitlist of over 700 potential users.
Tell us about the working culture at FlowSense?
At FlowSense, we cultivate a culture of innovation, inclusivity, and relentless perseverance. Our small, dynamic team values every idea and is driven by a shared commitment to empower women through technology. We believe in the power of inclusive design not just as a product feature but as a core operational ethos. This means we're committed to creating an environment where different perspectives are not only heard but actively sought. We regularly engage with our community of users to ensure our designs meet their real-world needs, and we adapt based on their feedback.
How are you funded?
We’ve raised roughly £250K in non-dilutive funding—primarily through Innovate UK grants, the Mayor of London’s Entrepreneur Award, and crowdfunding.
What has been your biggest challenge so far and how have you overcome this?
The biggest challenge has been navigating the funding landscape for women’s health innovation. By rigorously validating our product through user testing and forming strategic partnerships, we’ve proven our concept’s viability and secured critical funding despite these obstacles.
How does FlowSense answer an unmet need?
FlowSense fills a critical gap by providing a self-sufficient solution for menstrual management—empowering visually impaired women to independently monitor their menstrual health, reducing anxiety and dependency on others.
What’s in store for the future?
We plan to scale FlowSense globally, expand our product’s features with integrated health insights, and form new partnerships to broaden our social impact. Our vision includes evolving our device into a comprehensive health monitoring tool that further empowers women.
What one piece of advice would you give other founders or future founders?
Embrace challenges as opportunities, remain relentlessly resilient, and always keep your users at the centre of your innovation.
And finally, what’s your daily routine and the rules you’re living by at the moment?
I start early with a focused morning routine that includes meditation and goal-setting. My day is a balance of strategic planning, hands-on product development, and team collaboration. I live by staying agile, learning from every setback, and celebrating each small victory on our journey to create meaningful impact.
