Comma, a Tennessee-based integrated period care company, has emerged from stealth with a $2 million seed round and the launch of its secure period tracking app, Sara. The funding round was raised with more than 50% of investors being women, including participation from Techstars venture fund.
The company aims to combine software, sustainable period products, and laboratory diagnostics to advance reproductive healthcare. Their flagship product, Sara, is built as a progressive web app (PWA) that users access through a browser rather than an app store, ensuring metadata isn’t tracked.
“People shouldn’t have to choose between a better understanding of their bodies and the threat of surveillance,” said Miller Morris, M.A., M.P.H., founder and CEO of Comma. “That is why we built Comma with security and autonomy at the forefront. Even as policies restricting reproductive rights surface, we remain committed to protecting user data and building community. Consumers deserve better, period.”
The company’s ambitious plans extend beyond period tracking. Comma is developing technology to use menstrual blood in tampons for screening potential reproductive health complications. They’re also working on creating the first biodegradable single-use period product, featuring a compostable plant-based bio-resin applicator and 100% organic cotton. Future plans include a send-back diagnostics service that would redirect period products from landfills to laboratories for menstrual blood biomarker analysis.
“Comma is approaching menstrual health in a holistic way that hasn’t been done before in the consumer products and technology space,” said Trey Bowles, Managing Director of Techstars Physical Health. “We’re proud to invest in a more secure, sustainable future through this partnership.”
The company, which graduated from the Techstars Physical Health accelerator in 2023, developed Sara with a focus on security and privacy. The app implements HIPAA-based best practices as benchmarks for data protection, aiming to provide the same level of security as clinical trial findings or laboratory test results. The platform helps users track patterns in their menstrual cycles and connects them with relevant care partners. Following beta testing, the company added a secure pregnancy tracking mode in response to user priorities.
