Female-Founded Irish Startup Riley Celebrates 12 Months In Business
by Startacus Admin
From a West Cork garage to plans for Europe-wide expansion, Period Product subscription service Riley goes from strength to strength.
When friends Aine Kilkenny, Fiona Parfrey, and Lauren Duggan launched Riley last year from a garage in Schull, West Cork they had no idea of the twelve month whirlwind that lay ahead. Riley, an eco-friendly period product subscription service, was founded on the belief that people deserve a healthy, sustainable solution to their period that also fits their lifestyle. Selling their homes and other businesses to fund the project, the three women went all in and quit full-time jobs to focus on Riley.
During their first year in business, Riley has served over 10,000 menstrual cycles and saved 612,593 products from ending up in landfill, as their products are compostable breaking down within one year. The founders raised €475k in funding via their Seedrs campaign which we previously highlighted and started growing the team so that they can focus on expanding across Europe. Now with two distribution centres and an office space on Leeson Street in Dublin, it’s a far cry from the garage they launched from just one year ago.
Fiona Parfrey, Riley co-founder has commented: “We see period products as a basic human right but unfortunately many people cannot afford them. Having witnessed first hand the damaging effects of period poverty on young girls in Kenya, specifically when it comes to missing school, we knew fighting this had to be a core part of our business.”
The buisness donates €1 from every sale to fighting period poverty. They have partnered with volunteer-led grassroots initiative Positive Period Ireland to provide sanitary products to homeless shelters and direct provision centres. They have also teamed up with Development Pamoja, an Irish registered charity based in Kenya, to donate products to young girls and to run a menstrual education programme. Since launching last year, Riley has donated 14,501 pads and funded menstrual education of over 1,500 students with doctor-led school visits.
Additionally, the team work with universities and businesses who wish to provide their staff and students with free sanitary products. Co-founder Lauren Duggan noted: “It’s great to see companies of all sizes investing in employee wellness. We’re proudly partnered with Merck, Education Training Boards Ireland and Mark Anthony Brands to name a few, and we’re hoping many more employers see the benefits of making this small step in the near future.”
More recently, Riley was nominated as a finalist for Cork Emerging Company of the Year, the winner of which will be announced at the Cork Chamber Annual Dinner next week. Looking ahead to the next twelve months, Riley has very exciting plans. The company will continue to hire and expand into other markets, as well as focusing on new product development to further improve the lives of their target market.
Subscribe to our newsletter
If you would like to receive our startup themed newsletter, full of the latest startup opportunities, events, news, stories, tips and advice, then sign up here.Got a business in the manufacturing sector? These tips on how you can reduce energy costs while being more sustainable are well worth a read...
Innovative InsurTech startup SureIn announces a €4M Seed round to further its mission of making insurance easy, transparent and hassle-free for SMBs.
Nassia Skoulikariti, Director of IoT Programmes, Mobile Ecosystem Forum shares some insights on how IoT is having a significant impact on all our lives.
Roger James Hamilton, Founder and CEO of Genius Group, a world-leading entrepreneur Edtech and education group, discusses how introducing a globalized curriculum will help better prepare students.
SuperFi, the debt prevention platform, has announced a $1m pre-seed funding round to support people during the cost of living crisis.
41 startups from 13 countries, including the UK, have been selected for the 8th Kickstart Innovation program, one of Europe’s leading innovation platforms.
Personal training platform Another Round has secured £300k in its latest fundraise, including investment from angels and its community.
Thingtrax Secures £4.3M to Empower Manufacturers to Build the Factories of the Future
A measure of inflation relief for small firms sees transport costs fall but service price increases remain elevated
Bedfordshire-based HR tech startup HR DataHub has built a range of tools for HR departments
Published on: 26th April 2022
If you would like to enable commenting via your Startacus account, please enable Disqus functionality in your Account Settings.
- SureIn Secures €4M to Close the SMB Insurance Gap 15th Aug 2023 Innovative InsurTech startup SureIn announces a €4M Seed round to further its mission of making insurance easy, transparent and hassle-free for SMBs.
- SuperFi raises $1M pre-seed funding round 28th Jul 2023 SuperFi, the debt prevention platform, has announced a $1m pre-seed funding round to support people during the cost of living crisis.
- Startups rely on AI & sustainability for new partnerships 27th Jul 2023 41 startups from 13 countries, including the UK, have been selected for the 8th Kickstart Innovation program, one of Europe’s leading innovation platforms.
- Another Round closes £300k Seed round to revolutionise personal training 21st Jul 2023 Personal training platform Another Round has secured £300k in its latest fundraise, including investment from angels and its community.