The Unofficial Shopify Podcast The Period Brand That Won $1.5M in Pitch Contests
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Jan 13, 2026 Dr. Monica Williams, a physician and co-founder of Scarlet by RedDrop, and Dana Roberts, a former teacher and co-founder, share their journey of creating a period-care brand tailored for school-age girls. They discuss the challenges of tackling an antiquated industry, how personal experiences ignited their mission, and the brutal realities of bootstrapping a startup. Their breakthrough moment came when they won a $1 million pitch from Pharrell Williams. They also explore smart marketing strategies to destigmatize periods, product innovations, and their rapid rebrand for retail success.
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Idea Sat Dormant Until Reality Hit
- Dana first pitched the idea years earlier while helping pack orders for Monica's pacifier business and was politely brushed off.
- Monica couldn't imagine her baby growing up until signs of puberty made the problem real and reignited the project.
Validate Fast With Low-Cost MVPs
- Validate product ideas with low-cost MVPs and direct conversations before heavy investment.
- Ask customers what they'd pay and iterate packaging and price based on real feedback.
Messaging Beats Price For First-Period Kits
- Customer interviews revealed buyers cared most about sizing and preparation, not just price or convenience.
- Shifting messaging to reflect that insight unlocked scalable customer acquisition.