Breaking Barriers in FemTech and Menstrual Health: Enhancing Care for Women

Pitch Please

In this episode of Pitch Please, Mike Thibodeau sits down with Nadia Ladak, co-founder of Marlow, the innovative menstrual care brand known for launching the world’s first lubricated tampon. Nadia shares the journey of taking Marlow from a university capstone project to a Health Canada-approved product now available in Whole Foods, Healthy Planet, and on Amazon. Born out of a need for more comfortable, accessible period care, Marlow is setting a new standard in women’s health.

This episode covers everything from breaking into the femtech space to navigating regulatory challenges and scaling a product-based startup in a market traditionally dominated by legacy brands. Nadia dives into how Marlow is building a supportive community around menstrual health through their TMI Club and social media presence, providing a platform to discuss reproductive health openly.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Innovating in Women’s Health: How Marlow's lubricated tampon addresses gaps in comfort and accessibility.

• Navigating Health Regulations: Nadia shares insights on working with Health Canada to bring a medical-grade product to market.

• Community-Building in Femtech: The importance of creating authentic conversations around menstrual health through initiatives like the TMI Club.

• Lessons in Physical Product Development: Nadia’s key takeaways from developing a consumer product from scratch and securing retail partnerships.

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction to Marlowe and Its Mission

03:01 - The Journey from Capstone Project to Startup

06:01 - Identifying the Problem in Menstrual Health

09:11 - The Role of Innovation in Women's Health Products

12:01 - Navigating Regulatory Challenges

15:13 - Building a Brand in a Competitive Market

18:02 - The Importance of Community and Networking

20:57 - Growth Strategies: From D2C to Amazon and Retail

24:00 - Leveraging Social Media for Brand Awareness

27:02 - Future Plans and Expansion Strategies

29:55 - Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

About Nadia

Nadia Ladak is the co-founder and CEO of Marlow, a FemTech and women’s health startup offering the first lubricated tampon for smoother and more comfortable insertion. Nadia has raised $1.2 million in funding to fuel the brand’s growth and $700,000 in non-dilutive grants, including from the Entrepreneurship World Cup, the Visa She’s Next Grant Program, and Pepsi Co Stacy's Rise Program.

She is a member of the G20 Young Entrepreneur Alliance where she works with government leaders to advocate for policy related to youth entrepreneurship. She is also the program marketing officer at Startup Canada, Canada’s national ecosystem organization supporting early stage entrepreneurs. As a public speaker with the Canadian Youth Speakers Bureau, she has delivered over 100 keynote presentations globally across different universities, high schools, and business conferences.

In 2023, Nadia appeared on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, season 18 of CBC’s Dragon’s Den, and was awarded the YWCA Young Woman of Distinction.

Outside of her work at Marlow, Nadia is the co-chair of the Catalyst Council, the junior board at Holland Bloorview Children’s Hospital and an entrepreneur in residence at her alma mater, the Ivey Business School at Western University.

About Marlow

Marlow is a FemTech brand leading the next wave of menstrual wellness through innovative, sustainable, and comfortable period care, starting with the first lubricated tampon for smoother and more comfortable insertion. The product is sold on Amazon and in over 200 retail locations including Whole Foods. Beyond the product, the team has built a viral following of over 80,000 individuals through their educational social media content called "The TMI Club".

Want to Connect?

⁠https://www.wearemarlow.com/⁠

⁠https://www.instagram.com/marlow/⁠

⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@wearemarlow⁠

⁠Shop Marlow on Amazon⁠

Follow the behind the scenes by subscribing to her weekly newsletter, A Founder's Diary: ⁠https://beacons.ai/nadialadak⁠