UTD Biotech Alum Launches Startup to Expand Access to Period Care

In the middle of a late-night experiment in her biophysics lab at The University of Texas at Dallas, Kelly Cody BS’18, MS’19 started her period unexpectedly. Scrambling to find a tampon or pad, she rushed to the nearest bathroom, only to face another obstacle: a coin-operated tampon dispenser. No quarters, no tampon. 

“Here I was, stuck in the bathroom, without any access to a pad or tampon. I ended up using toilet paper as a last resort,” Cody said. “And that moment hit me — why do we still have these desperate moments when over half the population menstruates?” 

What began as a frustrating inconvenience sparked an idea that would eventually lead Cody to launch Periodic Vending Solutions (Periodic), a company reshaping how menstrual products are dispensed in public spaces. 

From Necessity to Invention

Period poverty refers to a lack of access to menstrual products, hygiene facilities and associated waste management options. For Cody, Periodic isn’t just a business — it’s part of a broader movement to ensure equal access to these essential items.  

“Businesses supply paper towels, toilet paper, soap and water, but we need to think even beyond that,” Cody said. “Sometimes you get expensive lotion or see a nice leather couch in a restroom. They offer all these amenities that aren’t even necessities, yet more often than not, you don’t see any period care products.” 

Studies show that 89% of employees believe restroom conditions reflect how much their company values them. The same principle applies to schools, where access to menstrual products fosters a more supportive and comfortable environment. For example, the Austin Independent School District found that providing menstrual products costs just $2.48 per student annually. 

“We’re trying to educate people that offering period care products is as necessary and as simple as providing toilet paper or soap in a bathroom.”

Kelly Cody BS’18, MS’19

The global menstrual product vending market is growing rapidly, projected to reach $2.27 billion by 2033. 

“Many businesses fear that free access to pads and tampons will lead to wasteful overuse and increased costs, but research shows people only take what they need,” Cody said. 

Cody’s ultimate goal is to shift the perception of menstrual products from luxury items to essential services. Periodic’s dispensers are designed to accommodate any brand of pad or tampon, with no additional packaging required, making them both user-friendly and sustainable. 

“Traditional dispensers are frustrating for so many reasons — cost is one, but also the lack of options,” Cody explained. “Most are tailored to a specific brand’s packaging and product size, which is a huge constraint for shelters and organizations relying on donations or dealing with multiple vendors.” 

UTD Capstone Paves the Way

Cody, who studied biology and biotechnology in UT Dallas’ School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, didn’t initially see herself as an entrepreneur or business owner. Everything changed when she interned at the university’s Office of Technology Commercialization (OTC), where she was exposed to the world of patents, intellectual property and technology commercialization. 

“Doing my capstone on patenting in biotech really opened my eyes to the business side of innovation, which we don’t hear enough about,” Cody said. “The OTC really went above and beyond to help me land a paid internship, and I’m grateful for how UTD pushed me into research while supporting me in whatever direction I wanted to go.” 

It wasn’t until after graduation, however, that the idea for Periodic truly took shape. In 2019, Cody moved to Boston, where she met her co-founder, Austin Essex, at a debate competition. Essex spent over 10 years in the swimming pool sales industry and had started his own small business prior to Periodic. But he wanted something bigger. 

“I was drawn to the changing market in period care and realized there was a really great business opportunity,” Essex said. “There’s been tens of millions of dollars invested in startups and emerging companies like us. I wanted to leverage my sales background to help realize Kelly’s vision of closing the menstrual care gap by making pads and tampons more accessible.” 

On a Mission to Streamline and Empower

Cody’s aim was to create a system that works on a free-vend model, in the same way toilet paper and paper towels are supplied. On a mission to come up with a solution, she bought a 3D printer and began designing Periodic’s first prototype, The Mini, a spring-loaded tabletop dispenser.  

As they refined their designs, Cody and Essex introduced a tiered product line. The Midi, a gravity-fed steel model, offers a no-battery solution for larger spaces. Their most advanced product to date, The Maxi, features motion-activated vending, adjustable dispensing settings, and real-time alerts when stock is low or a product jams. Each dispenser is compatible with most period products and eliminates the need for repackaging, making it both versatile and eco-friendly. 

Periodic recently installed dispensers at sites in New York, Massachusetts and Dallas. Cody and her team take a hands-on approach to installation, often completing the work themselves to ensure a smooth and efficient process for every installation. 

“It’s essential that Periodic is integrated into spaces where access is crucial,” Cody said. “It’s about meeting people where they are — whether that’s at work, school or in the community.” 

Periodic has since partnered with period care and disposal management companies Saalt, SaniPod and SaniStation. Together, they are working to address the entire lifecycle of menstrual products and ensure safe and sustainable disposal while prioritizing public health. 

Cody also reached out to Edmund Miller BS’18, MS’19, a former UTD classmate, to develop the company’s bill tracker to help people stay informed on menstrual-care legislation. The partnership plays a significant role in the development of the business and its commitment to compliance and advocacy in the menstrual hygiene space. 

Collaborative Solutions Built on Community

As Periodic grows, Cody is focused not only on product development but also on scaling the company’s impact, with plans to address the needs of large-scale facilities. She also is looking to tap into the growing demand for period care in mobile spaces such as pop-up shops, music festivals and farmers markets. 

She is also motivated by the network of innovators and public health advocates that she has connected with through her work. 

“There’s a real sense of collaboration in the community,” she said. “Even if we’re competitors, everyone’s focused on the shared goal of achieving better public access to menstrual health resources.”  

As her company continues to develop its product line and expand its reach, Cody remains focused on breaking down barriers to access and improving awareness around the need for period care in public spaces.  

“We’re trying to educate people that offering period care products is as necessary and as simple as providing toilet paper or soap in a bathroom,” she said.