We set out to improve the entire clinical pathway from symptom to solution, adding online prescription and digital services, enabling millions to access personalised treatment plans billion people globally suffer from bladder issues. The solutions and products are very limited – on one hand you have Tena pads dominating the market, on the other, you have invasive surgery. There is nothing in between to treat incontinence and overactive bladder. What’s in store for the future? June Angelides MBE from Samos VC said: “Samos is attracted to exceptional founders looking to develop new consumer brands, where the mission is abundantly clear, and which have the potential to disrupt existing industries and upend the incumbents.” Fun, fast and fully informed. It’s hard work but it’s rewarding. Every other minute of our day is translated directly to the impact we see in our customers’ lives. How are you funded? Last but not least, a weak bladder is seen as a normal part of ageing. But it doesn’t have to be. While childbirth and menopause can affect bladder strength, it doesn’t have to be permanent.

You may find it better to take the supplement with food and if you are concerned we would always reccomend speaking with your GP further. Peony Li, founder, Jude said: “Bladder issues impact 1 in 3 women or 14 million people in the U.K. I wanted to break the stigma around bladder care and create a community and brand that makes people feel heard, seen and supported. I know I’ll have succeeded when we all start having conversations about incontinence in the same way we talk about periods and menopause.” Women have oestrogen receptors throughout their bodies, with a higher concentration in the pelvic floor and bladder lining. Oestrogen is crucial for maintaining urinary health and the strength of the pelvic floor, but during menopause, the production of oestrogen reduces, and for many women, this can potentially lead to a weakened bladder and pelvic floor. The catalyst was simply sharing time with and getting inspired by people in their 50s. During the pandemic, I distributed more than 6 million pieces of PPE all across the UK and I got a chance to work with business owners who don’t look like people I usually work with in startups – it’s refreshing. This group of people are so confident, self-assured and vibrant, and this reminds me of my parents.

Peony Li

Utilise our free Bladder Care Handbook: If you haven't already, we highly recommend exploring our Bladder Care Handbook. It contains valuable insights into lifestyle adjustments, diet tips, and pelvic floor exercises that can complement the supplement routine. Some of our customers have found that focusing on their lifestyle has been instrumental in identifying bladder triggers and improving their long-term results. Don’t forget that exercising your pelvic floor muscles doesn’t just mean Kegels - there are many more creative ways that you can add core movement in to support this area! You are always going to be on a learning curve, and you will always feel uncomfortable – so make sure to eat well, exercise regularly and through that you will develop mental discipline and resilience. As well as creating trailblazing bladder care products, the team has put a lot of time and thought into building and developing the Jude community. More than 3,500 women have already joined the Jude and Friends Facebook community, which is a space for you to make friends with like-minded women, ask questions and voice your opinions. Whatever you’re too embarrassed to mention, they’re already talking about. In fact, research indicates that nearly 50% of people aged 60 and older who drank about three cups of coffee daily showed signs of an overactive bladder. In 2016, a study in ‘Current Urology' found that this rate was higher compared to those who consumed less caffeine. Additionally, carbonated beverages, chocolate, citrus fruits, tomatoes, tomato-derived products and sauces (ie. ketchup, passata), and artificial sweeteners can trigger symptoms.

Your business model can change, your products can be different, the vision can be refined, but your belief in what you are creating through your business should never fade away. That’s the one thing that keeps me going! And finally, a more personal question! What’s your daily routine and the rules you’re living by at the moment? Secondly, treatment is too slow. It takes around six months to get an NHS diagnosis and 12 months to start any kind of non-surgical treatment. What are you meant to do in the meantime? We reach customers directly online right now, and will soon be partnering up with major retailers to offer our products on the shelves. How has the business evolved since its launch? During their research into the topic of bladder care, the team at Jude realised that the UK has some major problems. First of all, bladder care is almost non-existent. No one talks about it, no one really knows how to help, and no one realises there are preventative things you can do to stop it happening in the first place. If you are tempted to go for a ‘just in case’ wee, it might be time to stop. When we go to the loo too frequently, that can train our bladder to feel the urge more often than necessary.

With all this in mind, the Jude team is here to table the underlying issues. Working with a team of leading doctors and gynaecologists, they’ve created a range of natural supplements that target the root causes of urge-to-go and accidental leaks.These supplements have been proven to improve bladder strength, and they have been life-changing for thousands of women. They’ve also created a range of environmentally friendly pants, pads and liners that empower women to get on with what they love. My biggest challenge has been finding ways to break the taboo with different stakeholders. Everyone needs a bit of warm up before deep diving into bladder talk. I saw too many jaws dropping when I started talking about “pee”. I overcame it by honing in my pitch and introduction, emphasising the scale of the issue and relatable examples to bring people in. How does Jude answer an unmet need? Fortunately, by incorporating plant-based oestrogen into our diet we can help mitigate this decline, enhancing bladder functionality and overall urinary well-being. Interestingly, studies show that pumpkin seeds are especially beneficial for bladder control. These little seeds are rich in vital nutrients such as magnesium, potassium, and zinc, which collectively aid in naturally relaxing bladder muscles. It’s not something we often think about, but believe it or not, the way you pee matters! By learning how to urinate properly, you have a better chance of fully emptying your bladder, reducing the urgency and frequency of bathroom breaks. Desiree says “Jude has changed my life. I have been taking it for a few months now and I no longer feel uncomfortable about going out for long periods of time. I don’t worry about having an “accident “ either when I’m out or in bed. I feel so much more comfortable.

We appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with Jude, and we're sorry to hear that you haven't experienced the desired results just yet! Everyone's journey is different, and for some people, it can take longer to experience noticeable changes with our Bladder Strength Supplements. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that you need to drink less to avoid the loo trips. It might seem counterintuitive at first, but this can cause dehydration, and lead to concentrated urine which might irritate the bladder lining and cause UTIs. Aim to drink 8 glasses of water a day - sipping frequently rather than gulps!After having invested in men’s hair loss treatments and commercialised pain-relieving tampons for women with endometriosis, the 28-year-old founder of Jude, Peony Li is smashing one of Britain’s biggest taboos to bring bladder care into the mainstream conversation. Launched in January 2022, the platform offers fully biodegradable bladder-care essentials, 100% plant-based liners, pads, and clinically tested supplements. So in general, we strongly advocate for a holistic approach to bladder care, and encourage people to use a variety of lifestyle approaches – exercises, bladder training and implementing lifestyle habits to improve and maintain their bladder health. You can use our free Bladder Care Handbook to help implement lifestyle tweaks besides the supplements, which will help you to experience stronger bladder health on a longer-term basis: https://wearejude.com/ecommerce/products/bladder-care-handbook Ensure that you aren’t doing ‘just in case’ wees, and only go when you genuinely feel the call to pee. Beyond products, we launched a full personalised bladder health plan accessible online and on the phone Let’s be honest, when you are afraid of leaks it can limit the things you want to do. Do you miss running, going on long dog walks, or nipping to the gym because of the fear of needing the loo?