In this episode, HBW Insight chats with women’s health start-up The SABI about the power of herbal medicine for hormonal wellness. “Inspired by a series of painfully honest conversations they had about their hormonal and emotional challenges,” The SABI markets a range of herbal infusions aimed at alleviating some of the impacts of painful periods and hormonal imbalances, such as digestive discomfort, sleep disruption and anxiety. The SABI founders Hilary Metcalfe and Anna Cave-Bigley also reveal the difficulties of being a woman-led, women’s health startup in a male dominated world, especially when it comes to funding and research. We also discuss the importance of getting the message right, both in terms of connecting women to their hormonal health but also distinguishing The SABI from less credible women’s wellness brands.

Timestamps:

2:00 Introductions

5:00 The power of herbs

11:45 The challenges of being a women’s health startup

17:30 The demand for natural women’s health products

24:50 Controversies surrounding natural women’s health alternatives

32:45 What’s next for The SABI

Biographies

Anna Cave-Bigley is CEO at The SABI, leading sales and strategy “with her signature drive and keen insight on everything from motherhood, hormone balance and mental health to strategy, sales and global operations.” From being a founding member of the international practice for a leading London communication consultancy to spearheading international investment initiatives for the British Government, Anna has honed her operational business expertise over 13 years. She is mother to Lorenzo and Alfie, who “inspired her to co-found The SABI after her devastating experience with clinical postpartum depression.”

Co-founder Hilary Metcalfe is a Harvard graduate and accomplished business strategist, who dedicated 12 years to impact investment, sustainability, and management consulting before her health intervened. “Conventional medicine offered only a lifetime of medication for chronic migraines and my then-undiagnosed endometriosis. Determined to find a more natural approach, I became a certified holistic nutritionist, product developer and chef, building and selling a successful plant-based food startup in Amsterdam.” During this time Hilary began formulating the remedies and products that would become The SABI’s core collection.