DITTO raises €5.2 million to tackle menstrual health gaps with research and targeted supplements
DITTO, the scientist-founded menstrual health company, today announced a €5.2 million ($6 million) Seed round to accelerate its research projects, expand its science-led supplement range and increase its reach.
The round was led by FoodLabs, with support from returning investor EKA Ventures and a group of angel investors.
Alice van der Schoot, co-founder and Chief Scientist of DITTO, said, “Too many women are told their concerns are normal, or that they’re being dramatic, and sent away without answers. Until DITTO, there was nowhere for women to find research about what they were going through, or science-led solutions built for the reality of what they were living.
“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. 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.”
Founded in 2024 by neuroscientist and nutrition scientist Alice van der Schoot and ex- Brand Director at L’Oréal Adam Kugler, DITTO claims to be building an evidence-based menstrual health brand at the intersection of research, community and targeted solutions. The company states that its supplement combines clinical trials with advanced nutrient delivery biotechnology. It also translates emerging research for a community of over 300k.
According to the company, 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 challenges women face around their menstrual cycle arise from pathways that involve both the body and brain. PMS, 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, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, is far more severe and less recognised, where mood symptoms become intense enough to significantly disrupt daily life,” the company explains.
DITTO’s first product, Premenstrual Daily, is a supplement for women living with menstrual cycle-related challenges. The company states that it’s designed to work proactively, helping the body and brain build up resilience to the impact of hormone shifts before symptoms can take hold, rather than only addressing them once they arrive.
It further notes that the ingredients are selected for the strength of evidence behind them, then encapsulated using innovative nutrient delivery technology for maximum absorption.
DITTO reports that it has completed clinical trials on the finished formulation, in which 88% of women had significantly reduced symptoms.
The company has completed an initial clinical trial and is beginning to share results from it. 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.
Flo Breiner, Operating Partner at FoodLabs, said, “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.”
