Period Parity: Egal on a Mission to Make Menstrual Products Readily Available in Public Restrooms
Founded in 2019 by serial entrepreneur Tom Devlin and led by CEO Penelope Finnie, Egal Pads on a Roll began with a simple question–why not put menstrual pads on a roll and implement them in restrooms across the globe? What seemed to be a strikingly simple and obvious idea, proved to be one that historically few had taken on the task of tackling.
After patenting the idea, Tom asked Penelope Finnie, his colleague who had years of experience in brand building and fundraising, including developing the character of Jeeves, from "Ask Jeeves", to lead the new company. And Egal was born.
Egal has three separate patents filed: two if which are variations of sanitary pads on a roll, and one for sanitary pads in a dispenser box, filed in 2019, 2021, and 2022 respectively. But patenting was only one element of the objective. The overall problem being addressed is making menstrual products easily accessible — to anyone who may need them — in public spaces such as schools, businesses, airports, stadiums, and restaurants/bars.
While it may not be surprising to learn that 100% of those who menstruate have been caught by surprise by their period; it is alarming to consider that research shows 62% have left work and 23% of students have left school due to lack of available products. And a staggering 20% of menstruating students miss school altogether because they do not have period products.
Egal aims to change this. With 20 states in the United States and several countries mandating that period products be made free and available in public schools, many are expanding those mandates and requiring them in other public spaces and seeking partners & solutions to implement said mandates. To achieve this, Egal focuses on a few key areas of appeal such as sustainability–minimal packaging, nesting vending components to reduce size and shipping, and plant-based wrappers to reduce waste; and seamless integration into existing restroom infrastructure–Egal Pads on a Roll are compatible with any existing toilet paper dispenser.
How NEMIC Became Involved
In 2022, NEMIC was introduced to the Egal by way of COO Jaye Tyler. Through the combined experience of NEMIC’s industry expertise and Egal’s superb leadership, NEMIC and Egal came together to conduct business analysis, due diligence, and connect Egal with a venture fund for an investment pitch. In 2023, Magpie Ventures, a Rhode Island-based investment group and NEMIC affiliate, invested $56,000 in the revolutionary startup. This strategic investment helped to support Egal in its efforts to transform the feminine hygiene industry, through concept development and distribution strategy. Championing the Egal mission early, NEMIC was among those who connected Egal to Cherrystone Angel Group, which also invested a sum in the company. Today, Egal Pads on a Roll is available for sale on the market, and the company continues to forge onward in its efforts to address period parity. Egal is currently raising up to $3M Series A Equity round, for continued global expansion.
