"With the impending SCOTUS decision to repeal Roe V. Wade, there is even more urgency to ensure women have access to contraception and quality maternal health care," says Elizabeth Bailey, Managing Director of RH Capital. "It has always been our position that reproductive and maternal care are essential health care. Now, the private sector - and startups in particular - will have an even greater role in ensuring health equity for women."
Included in the investments in Planera, a London, U.K.-based personal hygiene company which has created a flushable and biodegradable sanitary pad—a move expected to positively impact the level of waste the industry produces and fails to dispose of each year. Planera's pads have been successfully and independently tested in accordance with WIS 4-02-06, the water industry specification for flushability testing. The pad breaks down in two parts. First, with the hydraulic action of the toilet flush pulls the layers of the pad apart allowing it to start making its way down the drain line. Then, the 3mm cellulose fibres loosen and break apart. These steps ensure that the sanitary pad disintegrates by the time it reaches the wastewater treatment plant and can be treated along with toilet paper and sewage.
Planera was founded by CEO Olivia Ahn and engineer Aaron Koshy who were frustrated with companies forcing their responsibility of waste onto consumers – Planera believes that it is the companies’ responsibility to create disposables for use and disuse.
“Planera was created as both myself and Aaron were immensely frustrated at the volume of landfill waste that sanitary pads generate each year." Ahn says. "Corporations who produce hygiene products should be taking greater responsibility for how their products are disposed of – putting any hygiene waste in a bin is not the end of its impact on the environment. Sanitary pads are an essential part of people’s monthly healthcare routine - at Planera we are helping everyday be easier."
RH Capital also closed an investment in Planera's $9.5 million Seed round, led by Valo Ventures.
Led by Seae Ventures and Kapor Capital, RH Capital also joined a $12 million Series A financing for Cayaba Care, which provides comprehensive and holistic maternity services to underserved communities, helping to address health inequities in the US for BIPOC and low-income populations.
RH Capital also invested in Cirqle Biomedical, a Danish-based company developing an effective, non-hormonal contraceptive that meets the needs of women looking to avoid the side effects of hormonal methods. "We are thrilled to partner with RH Capital, with its deep domain expertise in contraceptive innovation and women's health. Their support will help us bring to market a new and needed contraceptive offering for women around the world," mentioned CEO Frederik PerturssonMadsen.
"RH Capital is proud to partner with Cayaba, Cirqle, Planera, and all of our portfolio companies that share our commitment to ushering in the next generation of innovations that will improve the health and wellbeing of women in the US," adds Stasia Obemskey, managing director.
