Black Women in Business
MEET THE BLACK WOMAN WHO IS DOMINATING THE FEMTECH INDUSTRY WITH PANTYPROP
Black women are known for being the ultimate problem-solvers. That could explain part of the reason why they are leading the charge in entrepreneurship. After one too many leak malfunctions with feminine hygiene products during “that time of the month,” Crystal Etienne, founder and CEO of PantyProp, decided that enough was enough and she began to design leak-proof undergarments. And over the last two and a half years, she has grown her company with her patented technology and collection of what she has coined as “health leisure” wear on her online store.
“When I came up with the idea, it was really out of frustration. I was lying on my bed watching Wendy Williams, and I was so frustrated with my sanitary pad sticking out. I thought, in this day and age, I couldn’t understand why it’s still like that. I am not the biggest innovation person, and I do everything so old school, but that moment I thought, ‘If I can send my sister an immediate message across the States, there’s no reason that my sanitary napkin should be sticking out!” says Etienne.
And from that moment, she was determined to find a solution to help women feel less uncomfortable and embarrassed during periods of menstruation and for those who struggle with incontinence. So, she began to do her research.
“When I first started, I went to the Garment District with an idea that I had and found someone …