Episode notes
Dr Olivia Ahn is the co-founder of Fluus, the world's first flushable, microplastic-free period pad. A medical doctor turned entrepreneur, she built the company alongside her partner Aaron Koshy after they met at Imperial College London. What started as a conversation about sustainable guilt and the lack of innovation in period care became a mission to create a product that didn't force consumers to choose between convenience and the planet.
In this episode, Olivia talks about her endometriosis diagnosis and how it sparked her search for better products, the toilet paper moment that led to her eureka idea, and the three technical challenges the industry said were impossible to solve. She explains how COVID forced them to build their own manufacturing machine when the industry shut down, and shares what it's really been like launching into Boots and Tesco as a small player in a market dominated by giants.
We also discuss the emotional rollercoaster of building a business with your partner, learning to manage a team for the first time, and why "sanitary pad" is a banned word at Fluus.
Find Fluus at wearefluus.com or in Boots and Tesco stores nationwide.