This Startup Just Raised $6 Million to Solve a Problem 300,000 Women Face

Jan de Vries · 2026-07-28

A women's health startup is rewriting the rules on how we tackle menstrual health, and it just secured a significant seed round to prove its approach works. DITTO, a scientist-founded company specializing in menstrual health, announced a $6 million Seed round today. The funding will accelerate its research projects, expand its science-led supplement line, and grow its community. The round was led by FoodLabs, with support from returning investor EKA Ventures and a group of angel investors. ### Why This Matters For too long, women have been told their symptoms are "normal" or that they're overreacting. Alice van der Schoot, co-founder and Chief Scientist at DITTO, put it bluntly: "Too many women are told their concerns are normal, or that they're being dramatic, and sent away without answers." Until DITTO came along, there was no central place for women to find research or science-backed solutions tailored to their real experiences. "We do the research ourselves, decode the studies explaining what women are dismissed for, and combine neuroscience and nutrition to build products grounded in evidence," van der Schoot said. "That's why our community has grown the way it has. Women finally feel heard, are equipped with information to advocate for themselves, and they've found something that works." ### The Science Behind the Solution Founded in 2024 by neuroscientist and nutrition scientist Alice van der Schoot and former L'Oreal Brand Director Adam Kugler, DITTO is building an evidence-based menstrual health brand that sits at the intersection of research, community, and targeted solutions. The company's supplement combines clinical trials with advanced nutrient delivery technology. It also translates emerging research for a community of over 300,000 women. Menstrual cycle and hormone-related symptoms have long been under-researched and under-discussed. Too many women are met with vague guidance, little reliable information, and walk away after their symptoms aren't taken seriously. The company explains that challenges women face around their menstrual cycle arise from pathways involving both the body and brain. PMS, or premenstrual syndrome, is the mix of physical and emotional symptoms many women experience in the days before their period, from cramps and bloating to fatigue and low mood. PMDD, or premenstrual dysphoric disorder, is far more severe and less recognized, where mood symptoms become intense enough to significantly disrupt daily life. ### The Product: Premenstrual Daily DITTO's first product, Premenstrual Daily, is a supplement for women living with menstrual cycle-related challenges. It's designed to work proactively, helping the body and brain build resilience to the impact of hormone shifts before symptoms can take hold, rather than only addressing them once they arrive. - The ingredients are selected for the strength of evidence behind them. - They are then encapsulated using innovative nutrient delivery technology for maximum absorption. - DITTO completed clinical trials on the finished formulation, where 88% of women had significantly reduced symptoms. The company has completed an initial clinical trial and is beginning to share results. A larger trial and a real-world evidence study are now in process. DITTO's research extends beyond its supplement too, addressing historically overlooked areas that affect its community, including a systematic review into the links between PMDD and ADHD. ### What Investors See Flo Breiner, Operating Partner at FoodLabs, summed it up: "DITTO is a research platform that develops and sells products. In the market of menstrual health, clinical evidence is becoming the price of entry, and the first company to set that standard is the one everyone else gets measured against. With proprietary delivery technology, a community of 300,000 women, and a loyal customer base with strong retention, DITTO is that company." This funding round signals a shift in how women's health is approached. Instead of relying on vague advice or one-size-fits-all solutions, DITTO is betting on hard science and community-driven insights. For the 300,000 women already in its network, that bet is already paying off.