Lauren Schulte Wang

Yo, check this out. Lauren Schulte Wang is the real deal. She’s the founder and CEO of The Flex Company, which she kicked off back in 2016 after dealing with her own hellish issues like chronic yeast infections from tampons. Basically, she saw a problem that no one was really talking about and decided to do something about it, creating these significant, sustainable period products that are way better for women’s health and the planet. No cap, she crushed it.

But here’s the kicker, Lauren’s process didn’t start in a garage or some startup incubator. She’s got a solid background working for huge brands like Coca-Cola, Upwork, IBM Internet Security Systems, and even freelanced in web design. She’s also been at Autodesk, Samasource, and Lucas Group. So, she’s no stranger to big biz, tech, and consumer stuff. She’s always been about finding ways to innovate and make an impact.

And get this, she’s not just some random founder. She’s a YC alum from the S16 batch, which is a big badge of honor. That means she’s been through the startup grind, got vetted by the best, and came out the other side with a legit company. Her work with The Flex Company has raised over $1.1 million in seed funding from YC and Amplify.LA, and they even bought out a competitor, Softcup, to grow their market share. That’s some smart, gutsy moves right there.

Lauren’s story isn’t just about business. It’s about motivation. She’s driven by her own experience, her health issues, her desire to fix a problem she faced firsthand. That’s what fuels her. She saw a gap, jumped in, and refused to settle for the bullshit status quo. She’s a thought leader in women’s health and entrepreneurship, featured in TechCrunch, WIRED, The New Yorker, NPR, you name it. She’s out here changing the game and inspiring a whole new wave of founders.

She’s more than just about business, she’s all about giving back. Mentoring entrepreneurs through YPO, Y Combinator, and Norrsken Foundation, she’s out here lifting others and pushing boundaries. In 2023, she took home Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year. That’s a serious shoutout to how much she’s crushing it.

Bottom line: Lauren Wang is a boss who turned her own struggles into a movement. She’s proof that if you see a problem, get mad about it, and jump into the shit with everything you’ve got, you can make real change. She’s built a legit company, raised serious money, and keeps pushing boundaries, all while staying true to her mission of making women’s health better. That’s why she’s so important.