The Flex Co.

FLEX® offers sustainable period products designed to provide comfort during menstruation, including reusable menstrual discs and cups.

High-Level Overview

The Flex Co. (also known as The Flex Company) is a Venice, California-based technology and consumer health company specializing in sustainable period care products, including innovative menstrual discs and cups.[3][5] It builds disposable and reusable menstrual discs designed for comfort, mess-free use during sex, cramp relief, and environmental sustainability, serving menstruators seeking non-toxic alternatives to tampons with features like body-safe materials free from harmful metals, PFAS, and links to Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS).[2][3][5] The company solves real period problems such as cramping, bloating, odor, and waste through "inclusive product design" informed by user feedback from its Uterati community, holding a 43% market share in sustainable period products and selling into over 30,000 U.S. retail stores like Walmart, Target, and CVS.[2][3] With over 150 million discs sold and a run rate nearing 100 million annually, Flex demonstrates strong growth momentum, having raised $7.62M total (latest $3.6M Series B round about 7 years ago) and expanding internationally.[2][3]

Origin Story

Founded in 2015 (with product launch in 2016) by Lauren Schulte Wang, The Flex Co. emerged from her personal struggle with chronic yeast infections caused by organic tampons after 15 years of silent suffering.[3][5] Wang began researching alternatives in 2014, hosting focus group dinners that evolved into the Uterati movement—a community of tens of thousands providing insights on period pain points.[2][5] Discovering menstrual disc technology, she innovated improvements in materials, comfort, and efficacy, launching the disposable Flex Disc in 2016 as a non-toxic, FDA-registered product made in the U.S. and Canada.[3][5] Early traction built through direct consumer engagement, leading to rapid retail expansion and the 2022 introduction of the Flex Reusable Disc after two years of R&D, marking five years of revolutionary growth with a landmark $12M funding round led by CircleUp.[2]

Core Differentiators

• Product Innovation: Sole designer of patented menstrual discs (disposable and reusable) enabling mess-free period sex, cramp relief, and ease of use via features like a notched insertion design and engineered rim; over 150 million units sold with zero TSS cases and lab-verified safety from toxins.[2][3][5]
• Inclusive Design Process: Leverages Uterati community of users for R&D, identifying pain points and testing to push boundaries beyond traditional tampons.[2][5]
• Sustainability and Scale: Leads U.S. market with 43% share in sustainable products, largest retail footprint (30,000+ stores), and eco-friendly manufacturing; only company offering both disposable and reusable discs.[2][3]
• Developer/User Experience: Prioritizes comfort, active lifestyles, and "period freedom" with U.S./Canada production, driving nearly two-thirds of sustainable product transactions at retail.[2]

Role in the Broader Tech Landscape

The Flex Co. rides the sustainable femtech wave, capitalizing on rising demand for innovative, eco-conscious personal health solutions amid growing awareness of tampon risks like TSS and chemicals.[3][5] Timing aligns with post-2020 shifts toward clean beauty and cycle care, as seen in competitors like Rael (organic pads/underwear) and broader wellness trends emphasizing user-led innovation.[3] Market forces favoring Flex include retail giants' embrace of sustainable brands (e.g., Walmart, Target) and international expansion potential, with its tech-infused design—rooted in material science and community data—positioning it to influence femtech by normalizing discs over legacy products and reducing period waste globally.[2][3] This disrupts a stagnant $20B+ menstrual care industry, fostering ecosystem-wide adoption of body-safe, high-efficacy alternatives.

Quick Take & Future Outlook

The Flex Co. is poised for accelerated global dominance, with international expansion targeted in coming years fueled by its manufacturing run rate and retail stronghold.[2] Trends like PFAS bans, femtech investment surges, and reusable product mandates will amplify its edge, potentially doubling scale via new categories like holistic cycle care. Its influence may evolve from U.S. disc leader to worldwide period innovation pioneer, redefining comfort for menstruators everywhere—echoing its origins in solving "real period problems" at unprecedented momentum.