From taboos to diagnostics: how tampons can be used to bridge the gender gap in healthcare.
On Oct. 26th, we are thrilled to welcome Valentina Milanova from Daye as she will host ‘Talk at the Square’ to explore how tampons can be used to bridge the gender gap in healthcare.
Valentina’s Talk at the Square promises to change the way we think about menstrual tampons. In this insightful discussion, we will explore how these everyday products hold the key to bridging the gender gap in medical research and innovation. Our conversation will delve into the exciting potential of menstrual tampons, not only as a means of providing localized menstrual pain relief but also as a reliable tool for at-home vaginal health screening. Discover how this dual-purpose innovation can empower women and AFAB individuals to take control of their reproductive health and contribute to a more inclusive and effective healthcare system.
Valentina will also share the details behind how she set up her company, started manufacturing the products, conducted clinical trials, and received regulatory approvals from the MHRA and FDA. Join us for an inspiring dialogue that showcases the untapped potential of menstrual tampons, their role in advancing gynecological healthcare, and how female entrepreneurs are paving the way toward a world where the gender gap in healthcare is a thing of the past.
Program of the day
15:30-16.00 Doors open
16.00-16.10 Introduction to BII and the subject of the day
16.10-16.40 From taboos to diagnostics: how tampons can be used to bridge the gender gap in healthcare.
16.40-17.00 Fireside chat and questions
17.00-17.30 Informal networking and closing reception
About Daye & Valentina Milanova:
Valentina Milanova is the founder of Daye, the gynae health research and development company on a mission to close the gender pain gap and overcome historical gender biases in medical research and product innovation. After years of research and testing, Daye launched its first consumer product in 2020 – the world‘s first and only tampon to fight menstrual cramps. Daye’s central hypothesis is that you can use tampons for a lot more than just soaking up menstrual fluid, which is they have developed tampons for endometriosis; for the detection of STIs and HPV; and for the treatment of common vaginal infections.
Daye’s innovative tampons are produced in-house, breaking a decade-long carbon-neutral monopoly in period care items manufacturing. From the outset, Valentina has baked her core values into the DNA of the company – Daye‘s products are created by women who used to be in the prison system, and their tampons are produced in a fully carbon neutral operation.Born and raised in Bulgaria, Valentina moved to the UK to attend the University of Buckingham.
After starting her career in journalism and public policy, Valentina soon found herself drawn in by the start-up world, working first as a Venture Associate at Techstars and then managing the AI & ML portfolio for Founders Factory (FF). While at FF, she began working on her own idea for a company. After 180 pitches to investors, Valentina managed to raise £4.23 million in seed funding, and in 2018, Daye started changing the face of female health for the better. More recently, Valentina raised Daye’s £10M series A funding. Valentina holds a Bachelor’s in Business, Economics, and Law, and a Master’s of International and Trade Law from the University of Buckingham, as well as a specialization in Food and Drug Law from Harvard Law School.
About the Talks at the Square event series at BioInnovation Institute:
‘Talks at the Square’ is an event series by BII with a key focus on spreading ideas and knowledge in life science entrepreneurship to inspire researchers to bring science out of the lab and into the economy. The events feature high-level international speakers with topics that emphasize innovations and inspirational topics within bioindustrials, health tech, and therapeutics. The Talks at the Square events are hosted by BioInnovation Institute at the Square event space at the BII facilities in Copenhagen Bio Science Park (COBIS) in Copenhagen. Read more at: https://bii.dk/events-and-news/