Social Enterprise The Monthly Co. Set to Launch
Social Enterprise The Monthly Co. is Set to Launch, Following Entre Win
Last night The Monthly Co. won two awards at the Entre ‘$85k Challenge’, five days before the close of their crowdfunding campaign.
The Monthly Co. is a subscription service for 100% organic cotton tampons: and, for every order, a box of tampons is given to disadvantaged women who do not have safe and affordable access to sanitary products (through a partnership with Aviva). The start-up was an entry in the annual awards competition run by Entre, which is a student-owned company supporting innovation and entrepreneurship within Canterbury, through the University of Canterbury. Past winners have included Anteater and Wireless Guard.
In order to fund their first shipment of tampons to New Zealand, the co-founders have launched a PledgeMe campaign, with the goal of raising $15,000. They have currently met two-thirds of their target and have attracted donations from over 230 people and businesses. Partnerships with Little Yellow Bird, Fill Their Lunchbox and Cakes by Anna have been particularly popular.
The recognition by Entre for The Monthly Co. (including ‘Overall Runner-up’ and ‘Best Business Plan’) is particularly exciting for the co-founders, Isabelle Smith and Josie Milton (both 22). Smith said: “We are thrilled to have been recognised with the awards of Runner-up Winner and Best Business Plan. The Entre competition has given us the platform to realise our business potential.”
With just four days left to run on the Pledgeme, Smith and Milton have big plans for the remainder of the year.
“Our focus has always been to create a real and tangible way for women to help other women. From our first shipment of tampons we will be able to donate more than $20,000 tampons to our charitable partner Aviva. We can’t wait to make The Monthly Co. a reality and begin deliveries nationwide”.
This social enterprise looks set to join other successful subscription models (such as Toothcrush, WineFriend and Smart Ass) which are becoming increasingly popular in New Zealand. There’s still the chance to be a founding member of this particular community, by pledging.
https://www.pledgeme.co.nz/projects/5357-the-monthly-co-a-collective-of-women-supporting-women
ENDS