In the Beginning…
I’m Kelly Cody, co-founder of Periodic, and this journey began in 2018 during a late night in my biophysics lab. Deep in the middle of an experiment, I was caught off guard when my period arrived unexpectedly. I needed to act quickly to get back to my work, so I rushed to the restroom, hoping to find a pad or tampon on hand.
Instead, what I found was one of those outdated, coin-operated machines—the kind that makes you wonder if it’s been stocked since the '90s. To make things worse, I didn’t have a quarter. Standing there, without a product in sight, I resorted to what many of us have done in desperate moments: I wadded up some flimsy toilet paper and used it as a makeshift solution. And that’s when it struck me—while I had to scramble for period care, the toilet paper was free.
On my way back to the lab, something else caught my eye: a row of sleek vending machines filled with candy bars. The irony was glaring. We can access snacks in seconds, but essential period products are locked behind a paywall? It felt unjust. The idea to do something about it planted itself in my mind that day. But, like many things in life, it got pushed to the back burner while I finished my degree. I had no business background—how could I possibly turn this frustration into a real solution?
A few years later, I crossed paths with Austin, my co-founder, at a debate tournament. We’re both huge debate nerds (high school debaters unite), and while we weren’t competing ourselves, we were running the event together. Somewhere between rounds, I shared my idea with him, and his reaction was exactly what I needed. With his background in sales, Austin saw the potential right away and gave me the confidence to take the leap. Together, we turned that long-ignored idea into a reality.
Today, our team has grown beyond just the two of us. We now have the privilege of working alongside Kallie Collins, Frances Tang, and Megan De Vizio—each of them bringing incredible talent and energy to what we do.
At Periodic, we’ve entered the dispenser space with one goal in mind: to make period products as accessible and free as they should be. No more coin-operated frustrations or awkward moments. Just modern, thoughtfully designed dispensers providing essential care when it’s needed.
What started as a small spark of frustration has grown into a mission we’re deeply proud of. We believe that period care should be accessible, reliable, and free—because nobody should have to choose between their dignity and a product they need.
And we’re just getting started.
