Be Girl
Be Girl is a women-led social enterprise that designs and distributes patented reusable menstrual hygiene products — including period underwear, pads, cups, and a cycle tracker — primarily for adolescent girls in emerging markets, sold via institutional NGO partnerships and direct-to-consumer e-commerce.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersWashington, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Be Girl does
Be Girl, Inc. is a women-led social enterprise founded in 2014 by industrial designer Diana Sierra in Washington, D.C., that designs and distributes reusable menstrual hygiene products for girls and women, with primary impact focus on adolescent girls in emerging markets. The product portfolio centers on four core items: the PeriodPanty Sport (patented leak-proof menstrual underwear with a universal pocket that accommodates any absorbent insert), the FlexiPad (reusable 4-layer pocket pad), the FitCup (FDA-compliant medical-grade silicone menstrual cup with sanitizing case, manufactured in the U.S.), and the SmartCycle (a mechanical menstrual cycle tracker available in 7 languages). The company is differentiated by three granted U.S. patents and a design philosophy that prioritizes adaptability to local contexts and durability of 2+ years per product.
Be Girl monetizes through a hybrid revenue model: direct-to-consumer e-commerce via begirl.org (shipping to all 50 U.S. states, D.C., Puerto Rico, APO/FPO, and Canada); institutional B2B sales to 60+ development-sector clients including UNFPA, World Bank, UNICEF, WFP, WaterAid, PSI, Save the Children, and CARE; a Girl Sponsorship Program where individuals fund PeriodPanties for girls in need; and a distributor/reseller network for regional markets. Products are designed in Washington, D.C., with FitCup manufactured in the U.S. and other products manufactured at ISO 9001/14001-certified facilities in China. The company reports cumulative distribution of over 1 million sustainable menstrual products, education reach of more than 500,000 young people, training of 1,000+ teachers and health workers, and integration into national menstrual health curricula in Mozambique and Angola.
Commercially, Be Girl operates a 'radical access' pricing model — premium-quality products offered at affordable prices globally — and supplements commercial revenue with impact-aligned capital from investors including Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, The Case for Her, Beneficial Returns, Grand Challenges Canada, and Open Value Foundation. The go-to-market is community-led, anchored on institutional partnerships and NGO distribution networks in sub-Saharan Africa and MENA, layered with a global DTC e-commerce storefront. The company is a private, for-profit corporation governed under New York law, headquartered at 3400 Prospect Street NW, Washington, D.C., with a disclosed headcount of 1-10.
Be Girl firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Be Girl
- Legal name
- Be Girl, Inc.
- Website
- https://begirl.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Be Girl is a women-led social enterprise that designs and distributes patented reusable menstrual hygiene products — including period underwear, pads, cups, and a cycle tracker — primarily for adolescent girls in emerging markets, sold via institutional NGO partnerships and direct-to-consumer e-commerce.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Be Girl industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Menstrual Hygiene Products
- NAICS
- Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing (3159)
- SIC
- Apparel & Other Finishd Prods Of Fabrics & Similar Matl (2300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Menstrual Pads (Reusable/Cloth) (CRABAIAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Feminine Care Applicators & Accessories (CRABAIAO)
Keywords
Where Be Girl is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Washington
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Be Girl business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Product Sales (B2C): Direct-to-consumer sales of reusable menstrual products (PeriodPanty, FlexiPad, FitCup, SmartCycle, towel inserts) through the online e-commerce store. Products are sold at premium quality with affordable pricing strategy for global accessibility.
- Institutional/NGO Partnerships: B2B partnerships with institutional clients including UNFPA, World Bank, WaterAid, PSI, Save the Children, CARE and others to supply products and education programs at scale in emerging markets.
- Girl Sponsorship Program: Individuals can sponsor a girl who cannot afford menstrual products. Each sponsorship provides two PeriodPanties offering two years of period protection.
- Distributor/Reseller Network: Partnerships with vendors and sales distributors interested in selling Be Girl products in their markets through distributor interest forms.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Direct consumer pricing not publicly listed |
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Girl Sponsorship Program |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Be Girl product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Be Girl designs, manufactures, and distributes a portfolio of reusable menstrual hygiene products — PeriodPanty Sport menstrual underwear, FlexiPad reusable pads, FitCup medical-grade silicone menstrual cups, SmartCycle mechanical menstrual trackers, and replacement towel inserts. The company sells directly to consumers through its online store and through institutional partnerships with NGOs, UN agencies, and governments for development programs, combining physical products with education curricula and impact studies.
Product overview
Be Girl is a menstrual health social enterprise offering a portfolio of reusable, sustainable period products. The core product line includes PeriodPanty™ Sport (leak-proof menstrual underwear), FlexiPad™ (reusable pad), FitCup® Menstrual Kit (medical-grade silicone menstrual cup with sanitizing case), and SmartCycle® (educational menstrual tracker). All products feature patented universal pocket technology and are designed for 2+ years of use. Additional Towel Inserts serve as replacement consumables for the PeriodPanty and FlexiPad. The company operates on a 'radical access' model, offering premium products at affordable prices globally.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- PeriodPanty Sport Reusable menstrual underwear with patented universal pocket that holds reusable or disposable absorbent inserts; leak-proof ripstop nylon barrier with moisture-wicking mesh; designed for 2+ years of use. For women and girls seeking sustainable period protection.
- FlexiPad Reusable menstrual pad with patented 4-layer pocket technology that accommodates microfiber inserts or custom absorbent materials; quick-drying, stain-resistant; available in Regular (30ml) and Large (50ml). Designed for 2+ years of use.
- FitCup Menstrual Kit Reusable menstrual cup made of medical-grade FDA-compliant silicone with a unique sanitizing case for on-the-go cleaning and storage. Available in Mini (25ml) and Standard (32ml). Designed for 5+ years of use. Manufactured in the USA.
- SmartCycle Mechanical disk calendar that tracks menstrual cycle by linking numbered days with phase icons (menstruation, ovulation, preparation); wearable necklace design; includes multilingual menstrual guide in 7 languages. For body literacy and menstrual education, especially in low-tech/low-resource contexts.
- Additional Towel Inserts Reusable microfiber towel inserts compatible with PeriodPanty and FlexiPad (Regular size); highly absorbent and stain-resistant; designed to last 2+ years. Sold as replacement consumables for the core reusable products.
Quantifiable outcome
- 1 million+ sustainable menstrual products distributed globally
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Be Girl
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Be Girl technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Be Girl partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund)coreInstitutional partnership for menstrual health programs. Collaborated on impact studies in Angola, Egypt, and Mozambique. Supported national curricula development and education initiatives.
- World BankcoreInstitutional client partnership for menstrual health solutions. Collaborated on impact studies and program implementation in emerging markets.
- WaterAidcoreInstitutional partnership for menstrual health programs, combining Be Girl products with water and sanitation access initiatives.
- PSI (Population Services International)corePartnership with international non-profit marketing organization. Collaborated on menstrual health management studies including 2026 Côte d'Ivoire impact study. Quote from PSI: 'Working with Be Girl has been such an opportunity... We have all learned so much.'
- Save the ChildrenmajorInstitutional partnership for child and maternal health programs including menstrual health initiatives.
- CAREmajorPartnership for gender equality and menstrual health programs. Collaborated on MENA pilot report and Egypt menstrual health initiative.
- Global CommunitiesmajorInternational development organization partner for community health programs including menstrual health.
- Plan InternationalmajorChild rights organization partnership for menstrual health and girls' education programs.
- World VisionmajorChristian development organization partnership for menstrual health initiatives.
- FHI 360majorInternational development organization research partner for menstrual health impact studies.
- UNICEFcoreUN agency partnership for children and youth health programs including menstrual health education.
- WFP (World Food Programme)majorUN hunger relief agency partnership for health programs in developing regions.
- Miller Center for Social EntrepreneurshipmajorSanta Clara University social enterprise accelerator. Named Be Girl founder alumni of Global Social Benefit Institute in 2017.
- HalcyonmajorSocial enterprise incubator. Selected Be Girl founder for First Cohort of Fellows in 2014.
- DeloitteminorProfessional services firm providing pro bono support or consulting services.
- Reproductive Health Supplies CoalitionmajorGlobal partnership working to ensure access to reproductive health supplies including menstrual products.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Be Girl competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Lunette: Lunette produces reusable silicone menstrual cups with global distribution, overlapping with Be Girl's FitCup in product type and positioning around sustainability and education.
- Saalt: Saalt sells reusable menstrual cups, period underwear, and discs through D2C e-commerce, competing with Be Girl's PeriodPanty, FlexiPad, and FitCup in the reusable period-care category.
- Ruby Cup: Ruby Cup is a social-impact menstrual cup business selling reusable cups globally with a 'Buy One, Give One' program, directly comparable to Be Girl's social-enterprise model and reusable product positioning.
- AFRIpads: AFRIpads manufactures reusable cloth sanitary pads in Uganda for distribution across sub-Saharan Africa, sharing Be Girl's social enterprise model, emerging-market focus, and reusable pad product category.
- Thinx: Thinx pioneered reusable period underwear and competes directly with Be Girl's PeriodPanty product, though at significantly larger scale and primarily serving a U.S./Western D2C market.
- DivaCup: DivaCup is a leading reusable menstrual cup brand with FDA-cleared medical-grade silicone, directly comparable to Be Girl's FitCup product category in the reusable cup segment.
Emerging players
- LOLA: LOLA sells organic tampons and period care products via D2C subscription, occupying adjacent space in the sustainable feminine hygiene category that overlaps with Be Girl's product mix.
- Cora: Cora sells organic tampons, pads, and reusable period care, sharing Be Girl's focus on sustainable menstrual products though anchored in a broader organic-tampon offering.
- Aunt Flow: Aunt Flow distributes sustainable period products through institutions (schools, businesses, public restrooms) with a 'buy one, give one' model, overlapping with Be Girl's institutional mission channel.
- Mooncup: Mooncup is a UK-based reusable silicone menstrual cup brand with ethical positioning and global reach, comparable to Be Girl's FitCup in the reusable cup category.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Be Girl social profiles
Digital presenceBe Girl financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Be Girl leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Be Girl funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Be Girl M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Be Girl
What does Be Girl do?
Be Girl designs, manufactures, and distributes a portfolio of reusable menstrual hygiene products — PeriodPanty Sport menstrual underwear, FlexiPad reusable pads, FitCup medical-grade silicone menstrual cups, SmartCycle mechanical menstrual trackers, and replacement towel inserts. The company sells directly to consumers through its online store and through institutional partnerships with NGOs, UN agencies, and governments for development programs, combining physical products with education curricula and impact studies.
Is Be Girl a public or private company?
Be Girl is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Be Girl founded?
Be Girl was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Be Girl based?
Be Girl is headquartered in Washington, United States, in the North America region.
How does Be Girl make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Product Sales (B2C) is the primary driver. The others are institutional/NGO Partnerships, girl Sponsorship Program and distributor/Reseller Network.
Who are Be Girl's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Lunette, Saalt, Ruby Cup, AFRIpads, Thinx and DivaCup. Emerging players are LOLA, Cora, Aunt Flow and Mooncup.
Does Be Girl have an API?
No public API is recorded for Be Girl.
What industry is Be Girl in?
Be Girl's product category is Menstrual Hygiene Products. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRABAIAB, Menstrual Pads (Reusable/Cloth), with a secondary code of CRABAIAO, Feminine Care Applicators & Accessories. Its NAICS code is 3159 and its SIC code is 2300.