Today's Entrepreneur: Amanda Brief

Mitos Suson · April 13, 2016 · Short URL: https://vator.tv/n/44b0

No. 1 Mistake: Thinking that just because you have a good idea, you're all set

Today's Entrepreneur is Amanda Karen Brief, Co-founder and CEO of my.flow. my.Flow Inc. is a women's health analytics company, working on a first-of-its-kind tampon monitor. Their product alerts its user as to the saturation level of her tampon via a notification on her phone. It takes the physical form of a small clip that the user can discreetly attach to her belt or undergarments, and insert her tampon string into.

Brief is ecstatic to be in a position where she is lucky enough to combine constant stimulation and problem solving with her deep passion of helping underserved populations - in this case, women! Last year she completed her Master of Engineering (MEng) degree at the University of California, Berkeley.

my.Flow self-categorizes in these areas: Analytics, Applications (Apps), Crowd-sourced innovation, Healthtech, Medical, Medical Devices, Mobile appsreal time analytics, Wearables Women.

Here's a little about Brief:

I am a(n): Entrepreneur

Companies I've founded or co-founded: my.Flow

Companies I work or worked for: 3Q, Columbia University, GE, Big City Tutoring, Beth Israel Medical Center, Cornell University,AABR, Big Apple Day Program

Achievements (products built, personal awards won):
I started out my nerdy adventure as a mathelete, in national honors society, and winning science fairs. I will be speaking at OMICS Health Analytics Conference in New Orleans in June about my.Flow!

If you are an entrepreneur, why? I want to change the world.

My favorite startups: Cotopaxi, HabitAware, Kindara

What's most frustrating and rewarding about entrepreneurship/innovation? 
Probably the same thing - how intensely fast everything moves!

What's the No. 1 mistake entrepreneurs make?
Thinking that just because you have a good idea, you're all set. It takes time, commitment, risk, brains, and luck too!

What are the top three lessons you've learned as an entrepreneur?
The hours are flexible -- you can choose any 24 hours per day that you'd like to work!
Leave your frustration and impatience at the door.
Persevere.

How can you spin the constant risk of founding a startup as a good thing?
It is NEVER BORING! Fascination constantly bombarding the mind.

Full bio

I recently cofounded my.Flow, Inc., a health analytics company focused on women's health. I am constantly utilizing the applied cross-disciplinary skills that my diverse academic background has cultivated. Last year I completed my Master of Engineering (MEng) degree at the University of California, Berkeley, which is a professional degree that combines business development and leadership with quantitative analysis.

When I'm not optimizing something or other, I enjoy singing a cappella, rock climbing, playing guitar, backpacking, camping, and playing board games. I am happy to provide references, discuss the reasoning behind my field switch, and help you out with any opportunities you are seeking through my connections.

 
my.Flow is competing in the Splash Spring. The top eight of the competition will compete live on stage at Splash Spring on May 12 at Scottish Rite Center, Oakland. Register here.

*Want to be included in our Today's Entrepreneur series? Email me: mitos@vator.tv

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Mitos Suson

I produce Vator Events and enjoy the challenge. I am learning and growing a lot, being involved with Vator and loving every moment of it!

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my.Flow

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All you have to do is take a look at the the latest Newsweek ("There Will be Blood - Get Over It," The New York Times ("Tampon of the Future,"), and The Guardian ("Fitbit for Your Period) and the Huffington Post ("This Company Wants You to Have Sex on Your Period") just within the past couple of weeks to know that there is at least one pressing pain point today that is underaddressed. Period. 

From latest Newsweek: “In today’s world, if there’s nobody dying it’s not on anyone’s agenda,” says Venkatraman Chandra-Mouli, a WHO scientist who’s worked in adolescent health for the past 20 years. “Menstrual problems don’t kill anyone, but for me, they are still an extremely important issue because they affect how girls view themselves, and they affect confidence, and confidence is the key to everything.”

We're here to help.

my.Flow Inc. is a women's health analytics company, working on a first-of-its-kind tampon monitor. Our product alerts its user as to the saturation level of her tampon via a notification on her phone. It takes the physical form of a small clip that the user can discreetly attach to her belt or undergarments, and insert her tampon string into. The vast majority of women we've talked to wish this product already existed and in fact are surprised it doesn't!

While many people might not know it, this solves a huge market gap. Although it may seem like a "nice to have" rather than a "must have" product, most women stain their clothes monthly - because of the taboo nature of the period, we're just really good at hiding it. 
Menstrual innovation is embarrassingly lagging, and it’s about time women had a smart device to prevent both staining/leakage, and infection related to leaving their tampons in too long. Although nearly all of us have mortifying tales about leaking through our clothing at some point since puberty, most of us don't talk about it. We are aiming to obliterate the inevitable shame and anxiety that half the world's population experiences monthly.
The user experience aim is convenience – currently, you can’t check the level of your tampon as it’s inside you, so many women err on the side of taking their tampon out prematurely, which is not only wasteful, both environmentally and economically, but also quite physically uncomfortable.

We have excellent customer validation - in both survey and in-person form -that an automated way to help prevent leakage and Toxic Shock Syndrome is something that women are ready to invest in for their personal menstrual health.
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Amanda Brief

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As a Cofounder and the CEO of my.Flow, Amanda is ecstatic to be in a position where she is lucky enough to combine constant stimulation and problem solving with her deep passion of helping underserved populations - in this case, women!