We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashley Mooneyham, Founder and CEO of Momease Solutions, and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
As a PhD student, I studied ovarian cancer chemoresistance because I’ve always been passionate about scientific discovery that could impact women’s health. After graduating with my PhD, I became Director of Grants at a medical writing company called Superior Medical Experts where I help startups secure non-dilutive grant funding to jumpstart their own healthcare innovations. Through this experience I gained knowledge on translating compelling scientific ideas into clinically impactful business opportunities.

This passion and knowledge became the foundation of my business, Momease Solutions. I founded Momease Solutions in 2021 after I struggled to pump enough breast milk for my baby despite having no trouble nursing. The inability to pump milk was devastating and unexpected, but I learned I’m not alone. Over 1200 women responded to our customer discovery survey in less than 24 hours to passionately share the same pain points: long, uncomfortable, and low-yield pumping sessions. We have to do better, and women-led companies are the key to change.

Why are pumps failing women? Infants use a combination of suction, warmth, and pressure while nursing, so the suction-only mechanism of breast pumps falls short. Scientific studies confirm manually applying warmth or massage while pumping produces dramatically more milk in less time, but shockingly no product on the market today offers both. The Momease mission is to introduce a hands-free, pump-enhancing bra with built-in warmth and massage that empowers mothers to comfortably collect more milk in less time. We are a company founded by a mother, for mothers and you can track progress toward product launch on Facebook, Instagram, and our website (www.momeasesolutions.com).

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Momease Solutions is an early-stage women’s health startup on a mission to dramatically improve the breast pump experience in terms of comfort, yield, and efficiency with our innovative pump-enhancing bra. The Momease warming and massaging bra introduces techniques scientifically proven to boost lactation in a convenient and comfortable manner because it was designed by a mother with a mother’s needs in mind.

Like many startups, the biggest challenge we face is raising money to fund research and development efforts to create the best product possible ahead of market launch. This challenge is compounded by being a female founder in the women’s health arena. In 2022, women founders took home just 2.1% of all venture capital dollars in the U.S, so it’s important to stay persistent and get creative.

To overcome this challenge, Momease Solutions has pursued grant opportunities and pitch competitions to secure non-dilutive capital. Early successes have funded this year’s research and development efforts toward a minimum viable prototype. To maintain momentum, we opened a pre-seed raise to fund advanced product development next year, which is currently ongoing. If you would like to learn more, please reach out to momease.solutions@gmail.com.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
One of my best and eternally trendy friends, Dr. Colette Nix, lives in Denver, Colorado and loves every minute of it. Whenever I visit, we are certain to grab brunch at Sassafras American Eatery. Their menu is full of Southern flavor and unique choices, and the colorful house setting provides a fun atmosphere. Just make sure to get there early! Beyond that, I would encourage everyone to get outside and enjoy the mountain hikes nearby – no matter your fitness level, there’s a path for everyone.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Momease Solutions wouldn’t exist without immense support from mentors, peers, and organizations. I appreciate everyone who heard my idea in its earliest form and gave me the confidence to pursue it. My peers in business have been invaluable in offering companionship in the startup journey, sharing wisdom from their own experiences, and directing me toward resources that helped Momease Solutions grow. My home state of Minnesota deserves credit for its supportive small business infrastructure that provided crucial grants, prize money, and networking opportunities to get Momease Solutions off the ground. I appreciate my Co-Founders, Jared Hutar and Jennie Lynch, for taking this leap with me and dedicating their time and expertise to helping Momease succeed. And finally, a huge shout out to all the women who encouraged me to pursue this idea and never give up. The Momease bra is inspired from a collective need, and the overwhelming support from women drives us forward.

Website: https://www.momeasesolutions.com/

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/momease_solutions/

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/company/momeasesolutions/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MomeaseSolutionsInc/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr4FtiGbb5I

Image Credits
Professional photography – Charlie & Violet Photography by Nicole Klein

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