Be Girl

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.

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

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

• Reusable menstrual products
• Menstrual hygiene solutions
• Period underwear
• Menstrual cups
• Feminine hygiene products

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Girl Sponsorship Program: Individuals can sponsor a girl who cannot afford menstrual products. Each sponsorship provides two PeriodPanties offering two years of period protection.
4. Distributor/Reseller Network: Partnerships with vendors and sales distributors interested in selling Be Girl products in their markets through distributor interest forms.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional partnership for menstrual health programs. Collaborated on impact studies in Angola, Egypt, and Mozambique. Supported national curricula development and education initiatives.
• World BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional client partnership for menstrual health solutions. Collaborated on impact studies and program implementation in emerging markets.
• WaterAidcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional partnership for menstrual health programs, combining Be Girl products with water and sanitation access initiatives.
• PSI (Population Services International)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership 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 ChildrenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional partnership for child and maternal health programs including menstrual health initiatives.
• CAREmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for gender equality and menstrual health programs. Collaborated on MENA pilot report and Egypt menstrual health initiative.
• Global CommunitiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational development organization partner for community health programs including menstrual health.
• Plan InternationalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChild rights organization partnership for menstrual health and girls' education programs.
• World VisionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChristian development organization partnership for menstrual health initiatives.
• FHI 360majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational development organization research partner for menstrual health impact studies.
• UNICEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN agency partnership for children and youth health programs including menstrual health education.
• WFP (World Food Programme)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN hunger relief agency partnership for health programs in developing regions.
• Miller Center for Social EntrepreneurshipmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSanta Clara University social enterprise accelerator. Named Be Girl founder alumni of Global Social Benefit Institute in 2017.
• HalcyonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial enterprise incubator. Selected Be Girl founder for First Cohort of Fellows in 2014.
• DeloitteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional services firm providing pro bono support or consulting services.
• Reproductive Health Supplies CoalitionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal partnership working to ensure access to reproductive health supplies including menstrual products.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct 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

• Facebookfacebook.com/begirl.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/be-girl
• Instagraminstagram.com/begirlorg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Be Girl