Egal raises $4m Series A for 'period pads on a roll' concept
Egal is bringing its solution to airport bathrooms in the U.S and the U.K
Egal, a start-up that produces period pads on a roll and dispenses for public spaces, has announced a $4 million Series A investment round.
Alongside the funding announcement, Egal has announced it is bringing its pads on a roll and dispenser solution to airport bathrooms in the United States and the United Kingdom.
The Bauer Family Office's Technology for Humanity led Egal's $4 million Series A, with the Slater Technology Fund, the Catalytic Impact Foundation, and Princeton Alumni Angels and others participating.
Penelope Finnie, co-founder and CEO of Egal, the company behind Pads on A Roll said:
"Period products could -- and should -- be delivered as reliably and conveniently as toilet paper. It's high time we made this much easier for people on the move."
As easily available as toilet paper
Unexpected periods occur away from home all the time. The absence of period products in bathrooms means women have been forced to opt out of life's activities or detour from their priorities and commitments. From missed flights, skipped sports practices, embarrassing accidents to rushing to find a store, the impact on anyone who gets a period is meaningful.
The goal of Egal is to install its patented Pads On A Roll in every public or shared bathroom. To achieve this ambition, Finnie and her team designed the product to mirror the logistics of stocking toilet paper in bathrooms, using the same distributors, including Staples, Grainger, and HD Supply.
All pads are individually wrapped and separate at a perforation. There is no extra packaging, saving over 80% in materials, and there are 40 pads per roll. Free period products are becoming more available and accessible and Egal estimates that the predicted annual cost is 10% of a provider’s toilet paper budget.
What started as a mandate in half of US states to provide period products for students has now evolved into a movement to put products in every restroom away from home. Today, Egal's Pads on a Roll are in more than 1,700 schools, as well as libraries, museums, zoos, parks, and most recently, airports and stadiums in both the U.S. and the U.K. The product is also sold across the Canada, Australia, Germany, Poland, South Africa and soon in the UAE.
The company now plans to use the funds to hire new talent, share their solution with more people and organizations, and continue their global growth plans.
Egal pads head to airports
Airports are a natural fit for Egal Pads on a roll, with thousands of travelers daily and access to period products often overlooked.
"Many airports are undergoing major renovations to improve the customer experience right now," said Finnie. "We are proud to be part of their enhancement plans so travelers and airport professionals can manage their periods with dignity, privacy and ease."
Egal's products are now in bathroom stalls throughout the largest concourse of Denver Airport, as well as in all bathrooms for the airport's 40,000 employees. One Denver International traveler commented: "This is so thoughtful and innovative. Providing free period products in restrooms should be standard everywhere."
Additional U.S. airport and Egal partnerships will be announced in 2025.
In the U.K., Egal pads are available for employees at the London Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, and Newcastle Airports. After positive feedback from airport staff, plans are underway to expand to public bathrooms for travelers.