Every expectant mother embarks on a journey filled with joy, anticipation, and, understandably, a dash of apprehension. The responsibility of nurturing a new life brings with it a plethora of considerations, chief among them being maternal health. Recognizing this critical aspect, Perelel, a maternal health startup, has pledged a substantial $10 million towards closing the healthcare research gap, underscoring their commitment to maternal well-being.
Designer: Perelel
The journey of Perelel traces back to 2020 when Victoria Thain Gioia, Alex Taylor, and Dr. Banafsheh Bayati co-founded the company with a mission to provide expectant mothers with superior prenatal vitamin options. The inception of Perelel was deeply personal, as Gioia’s experience with her daughter’s cleft lip shed light on the critical link between folic acid deficiency and prenatal health. Meanwhile, Taylor’s own pregnancy journey underscored the challenges of researching and sourcing quality prenatal vitamins. With Dr. Bayati’s expertise as an obstetrician-gynecologist, Perelel formulated a line of prenatal vitamins tailored to each trimester, using high-quality ingredients to optimize maternal and fetal health.
However, Perelel’s vision extended beyond mere commercial success; it was deeply rooted in philanthropy. Today, the company fulfills its promise by announcing a substantial $10 million donation, a testament to its ethos of giving back. This donation will be directed towards two esteemed organizations: Magee-Womens Research Institute, dedicated to pioneering research in women’s health and reproductive biology, and Good+Foundation, which addresses family poverty and supports new mothers.
The significance of this donation extends beyond monetary value. Perelel’s contribution will be distributed over three years as in-kind product donations and grants, ensuring tangible support for vital research initiatives. This announcement comes on the heels of Perelel’s successful fundraising efforts, including a recent $6 million Series A funding from Unilever Ventures, supplemented by $4.7 million in seed funding last year.
For Perelel, giving back is not an afterthought but a fundamental principle. Victoria Thain Gioia emphasizes, “From day one, giving was a very clear line item for us.” The company meticulously integrates giving into its financial models, allocating a percentage of sales toward philanthropic endeavors. Alex Taylor echoes this sentiment, highlighting Perelel’s commitment to scaling its giving as the company expands its reach. “Vitamins keep the lights on,” Taylor affirms, “but we stand for so much more.”
As Perelel continues to scale its operations and influence, its unwavering commitment to bridging healthcare research gaps remains steadfast. With each sale, the company not only illuminates the path to maternal well-being but also catalyzes transformative change in women’s health research. Through their actions, Perelel epitomizes the profound impact that businesses can wield when driven by a sense of purpose and compassion.
In a landscape where niche yet crucial topics like maternal health often go overlooked or insufficiently addressed, Perelel’s compassionate dedication stands out as a beacon of hope. It’s a refreshing sight to witness empathetic individuals recognizing the importance of this sector, and it’s even more inspiring that it’s predominantly led by women, adding an empowering cherry on top to their noble cause, illuminating a path toward a healthier, more equitable future for all mothers and their precious babies.
