On November 17, 2021, seven finalists will compete for $22,500 in awards in the Fall 2021 Skandalaris Venture Competition. In anticipation of the SVC finals, we are publishing a Q&A series with the finalists. Today’s featured team is Vulvopedia.

Vulvopedia is a web-based patient education tool that teaches women how to adopt diets that prevent BV. Our 12-month program provides weekly step-by-step guidance to prepare three meals each week. For 52 weeks, women receive modules that contain low cost of groceries, preparation time, recipe steps, and interactive games aiming to encourage behavior change. To prevent barriers to adoption, users have the option to attend virtual studio recordings and participate in synchronous Q&A, receive perks to purchase produce, and submit requests for recipe adaptations due to allergens or sensitivities. Our vision for Vulvopedia is to operate as an evidence-based patient education tool. As a patient education tool, Vulvopedia helps Ob/Gyns provide access to the only patient education tool developed to improve the vaginal microbiome by improving diet.

The Vulvopedia Team includes: Najjuwah Walden (Ph.D Candidate, Public Health Sciences ’23)

What problem are you solving?

As a behavioral counselor at an STD clinic, I would see women come to receive testing, thinking they had an STD, but be diagnosed with a yeast infection or bacterial vaginosis. It was all day, and I never received training on yeast or BV. You talk about condoms with STDs, but yeast and BV could be caused by so much. I discussed body products, water intake, and questioned how many other women received this information. After talking to clinicians and women, we realized a need to scale counseling.

What do the next 3-6 months look like for you?

For the next 3-6 months, I plan to continue working with women, scientists, and Ob/Gyns to develop Vulvopedia’s curricula for our virtual counseling courses. After interviewing 46 women in 2021, we understand what causes most vulvovaginal infections and have defined our educational focus: stress, diet, personal hygiene, and sexual partner hygiene. We’re currently developing our counseling curricula using this knowledge.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned since starting your venture?

The most important lesson I’ve learned is to not skip steps.

What do you love about being an entrepreneur?

What I love the most about being an entrepreneur is the opportunity to operationalize where my passions and needs meet.

What words of advice do you have for those starting a business?

My advice to current and considering entrepreneurs is to take care of yourself. The job of treating your business as a business, often without salary or validation, will cause mental strain. But having healthy habits that reinforce consistency and discipline is as helpful as knowing your business and your market.

What activities, student groups, professors, or classes had the biggest impact on you during your time at WashU?

My first mentor at WashU, Professor Jack Kirkland, has had the most significant impact on me. I study health outcomes because I see the connection between people’s lives, limited choices, and why consequences disproportionately impact Black people. This collection of understanding is my primary area of study, developed by Professor Kirkland.