Yoni

As reported by a BMC Public Health finding in 2019, more than 3/4th of the population in Bangalore (a city in Karnataka, India) is below the poverty line (BPL) and half of that population comprises people who identify as women. Most of them do not have access to their required healthcare and information needs with regard to SRHR and face numerous problems, regardless of their social status. This is due to generations of patriarchy causing even talking about issues relating to a woman’s body to be considered taboo. Through our solution we would like to address some of these concerns, such as:

• High rate of spread of STIs, urinary infections, pelvic diseases like Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), and lack of preventative resources and diagnostic testing devices.

• Lack of and/or low access to knowledge in rural areas - often individuals are not even aware that they have a particular disease, so treatment is delayed.

• Due to underlying taboos, teenagers do not have access to good, safe treatment or information, with regard to SRHR.

• In extremely rural areas, men are dominating in all aspects, making it difficult for a woman who is not financially independent to go out and avail of quality healthcare. If she is seen buying a standalone pregnancy test, the consequences will be dire. Men refuse to use contraceptives or to allow their partners to use birth control, leaving the woman pregnant every time she engages in sexual activity.

• In simple words, our solution is an at-home use kit that can be used by those identifying as women for swabs and urine testing. This cost-effective kit will help them take charge of their body and perform simple disease/pregnancy tests with ease.

• The product will consist of two devices, packaged in a box made of polyethylene furanoate, a 100% biodegradable bioplastic.

• One of the devices is a simple swab which comprises two components- the applicator made of completely sterilized, recycled foam and the swab made of polyamide fibers. A detecting device (similar to one used in COVID-19 antigen testing) is used to detect the presence of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), STIs including gonorrhea and chlamydia, and pelvic diseases as these are known to have a high incidence rate in India.

• Since so many diseases must be incorporated into a single device, our device uses multiplex PCR tests through lab-on-a-chip (LOC) and microfluidic technology.

• The other device is a urine-based pregnancy testing device which uses paper as the absorbent material and has a cardboard casing, completely eliminating the need for plastics.

• Both these tests can provide results within a few seconds to a few minutes and are highly efficient.

• To improve user experience, the box will also contain a guide manual (101 on how to use the devices) and a brief description of the possible results that the test can provide to help people understand how to read it (for example, two lines on the pregnancy test is indicative of positive results). This manual is made of completely recycled paper and is written in both English and Kannada (the local language of Bangalore, Karnataka). Each statement is supported with pictures too, to help those who cannot read to understand the instructions.

• This kit is linked with a web application that can be used for a more thorough understanding of the results provided by those who have access to the internet. This is also used as a platform to spread awareness by sharing stories of trans-women, teenage mothers, pregnancies due to abuse, those suffering from HIV, etc to normalize these concepts in a society that still has not completely accepted them. 

• Our solution serves anyone who identifies as a woman and wants to test for pregnancy, STIs, and other pelvic diseases. However, our main target is women in rural areas and teenage girls, trans-women, or anyone with minimal access to existing healthcare and SRHR resources.

• Through our solution, we hope to provide these individuals with a simple, easy-to-understand, pocket-friendly, and cost-effective method to identify a wide range of diseases and conditions in their reproductive system thus enabling those who do not otherwise have access to quality healthcare and/or internet resources to stay informed.

• It will provide them access to a better lifestyle and quality of living, relieving them of fear, and anxiety related to such issues, thus in turn, also having an impact on the overall mental health of the population. 

• Being based on a very simple mechanism, they will not need to rely on anyone else to perform these tests and can learn about mitigation strategies too.

• All in all, this device will increase their quality of life and liberate them from the closed walls they have been subjected to.

• Having lived in Bangalore, India (the main focus area of the product) for more than 10 years now, we are aware of the type of products that the women around us would require.

• Our work with Girl Up Bengaluru (A United Nations Foundation organisation) in our community has given us the platform to interact with different people from different backgrounds and socio-economic statuses. This has equipped us with a clear understanding of the exact type of products they need and also a preliminary target audience to focus our efforts on. As part of Girl Up, we have collaborated with multiple local organisations, NGOs and orphanages, giving us the understanding and (at least some) expertise on how to go about the solution.

• Owing to the fact that both members of the team are Biotechnology students, we have a thorough understanding of the science behind SRHR-based conditions.

• Before beginning the prototype, our thorough literature review and sessions with industry experts have equipped us to develop a reliable product- we have spoken to key opinion leaders (KOLs) such as doctors, ML engineers, environmentalists, and business graduates to understand where we lie and how to improve our model.

• Through a preliminary prototype design and validation study, we have equipped ourselves to start demoing the product in the next few months.

• The solution can be delivered and reach our target audience through connections built at various networking and volunteering events.

We have built a model of the device. We are yet to test it on humans as of now as we do not have the required permissions at hand. We have made a rough sketch of how the model looks for a better understanding.

• Our solution is directly in line with SDG 3, good health and well-being, and advocates for SDG 5, gender equality. 

• It is made of completely biodegradable material and is 100% sustainable, in line with SDG 13.

• Our kit is a one-of-a-kind device. While each of these devices might already be in the market separately, one that is so concise, easy-to-use, and built on the principle of multiplexing is unknown. This is our USP.

• Our goal is to provide comprehensive diagnostics- to make at-home testing safe and accessible.

• Our solution comes with a booklet containing instructions and diagnosis parameters for a set of conditions trained by our model. This is written in English, the regional language (Kannada), and demonstrated in pictures to make it easy for/cater to even those who are not literate. We consider this to be important because the main gap in the transfer of information is language. Some cannot understand English, while others cannot read at all. This takes a more holistic and inclusive approach.

• Since our idea is only at the prototype stage, our immediate goal is to create one model and test it on a small group of women and non-binary individuals to understand shortcomings and develop the model thoroughly.

• After a few months, we plan on spreading the sales out to women in Bangalore, targeting collaborations with retail stores, pharmacies, government hospitals, care centers, etc.

• With an initial seed fund, we plan on deploying 50 devices. We hope to break even in around 3 years' time and start generating a steady revenue.

• Over time, we also hope to have multiple iterations of the product, constantly evolving and growing over time. Our constant goal will always be to remain sustainable and eco-friendly and cater to the needs of our customers.

• Over the next 5 years, we hope to expand our market presence to different regions within India.

• We also hope to build a diverse team of at least 30 individuals, comprising women and the underrepresented.

• We aim to transform industries, streamline processes, and solve the pressing problem at hand.

We are a team of two. Once we start manufacturing and deploying the device, we will work on building a core team with varied expertise and strengths to optimize the device.

• The first time we had a ‘period talk’ in school was in seventh grade. Even then, the gap in knowledge was so evident that all the girls were taken to a separate room to talk about menstruation and “periods” behind closed doors. 

• We realized how SRHR knowledge is very limited in India, with ‘sex education’ being a non-existent term in Indian schools and colleges even today.

• Since then, we wanted to formulate a solution to the same. 

• However, we have been working on this concept for a little less than a year now.

• Our solution targets not only women but also non-binary and other individuals who identify as a woman.

• Inclusivity is very important to our team and we hope to include information regarding the LGBTQIA+ community to bridge the gap that exists amongst the people in India regarding the same.

• Further, the solution targets a diverse set of problems through a simple mechanism, making sure that no level of education is needed to use the device.

Quarter 1:

Product Sales:

The primary revenue stream will come from selling the self-usable swab kits to individual consumers, healthcare facilities, and possibly even governmental organizations.

Per product cost: 70/-

Expected product sales: 10 (per month, setting a 20+ addition on a monthly basis)

Expenditure:

Production Costs (for first 100 units): 5000/-

Per product cost: 500/-

Warehouse/machinery cost:

Including electricity, water, machinery and the lab equipment: 1,00,000/-

This includes manufacturing, packaging, and QC of the swab kits.

Employees wages:

10,000 per month, total of 20 employees including R&D.

Research and Development (R&D) (included in production). Expenses related to ongoing development, improvement, and validation of the product.

Marketing and Promotion:

Costs associated with advertising, promotions, and marketing campaigns to create awareness and drive sales.

Social media: 5,000/-

Direct marketing, sales people directly to clinics (included in employee salary)

Every quarter, this figure will get doubled, we will start adding new sources of income and we will also need to spend money on various other requirements like:

Sources of income from quarter 2:

B2B Partnerships:

Establish partnerships with healthcare providers, clinics, or hospitals. Offer bulk purchase discounts or licensing agreements for using the technology. Offer specialized kits for specific diseases or infections based on customer demand. These could be sold at a premium.

Data Analysis Services:

Linking users to healthcare providers for follow-up.

Bulk Discounts and Partnerships:

Provide incentives for bulk purchases, especially for healthcare facilities or organizations that may need a large quantity of kits.

Licensing and Intellectual Property:

Consider licensing your technology to other companies or research institutions for specific applications or regions.

Recurring Revenue from Consumables:

Creating an ongoing revenue stream for consumables by making them available separately (swabs, devices, etc.)

Potential further expenses:

Customer Support and Service:

Investment in customer service, support, and possibly a helpline for assistance with using the swab kits.

Distribution and Logistics:

Expenses for warehousing, shipping, and handling to ensure timely delivery of the swab kits.

Regulatory Compliance and Certification:

Costs associated with obtaining and maintaining necessary certifications and approvals for the product.

Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Marketing:

Invest in marketing and advertising campaigns to reach potential customers directly, especially through digital channels, social media, and content marketing.

Overheads and Administrative Costs:

This includes manufacturing spaces, utilities, salaries, and other general expenses.