Asonele Kotu is addressing period poverty and limited access to reproductive health services for young women in underserved communities through her South African femtech startup – FemConnect.
Initially starting her career with a public relations and marketing background, Kotu noticed a prevalent issue in South African communities, prompting her pivot into entrepreneurship. Girls were missing school because they didn’t have sanitary pads. Access to birth control and reproductive health information was difficult, especially in rural and low-income areas. And the stigma around menstruation and sexual health made things worse.
In 2020, Kotu stepped up and founded FemConnect as a digital solution to these problems.
What FemConnect does
FemConnect is a mobile and web-based platform that tackles the challenges of period poverty and reproductive health inequality from multiple angles. Its primary focus areas are the Western Cape, Gauteng, and KwaZulu-Natal provinces, with high rates of teen pregnancy and period poverty.
First, users can request free sanitary pads directly through the app. These requests are matched with donations from individuals, companies, and organisations, and the products are distributed through schools and community centres. This system has helped over 350 girls access menstrual products without stigma or exposure.
In collaboration with Odity, over 1,000 schoolgirls have received monthly sanitary products through school partnerships.
In addition to menstrual support, FemConnect offers digital access to contraceptives. Women can complete a short medical screening online and, based on that, access birth control through partnered clinics and pharmacies. This eliminates long waiting times, reduces travel expenses, and offers much-needed privacy, especially for young women who might avoid clinics out of fear or shame.
The platform also includes a built-in menstrual cycle tracker, allowing users to monitor their reproductive health more easily. Beyond physical health, FemConnect provides mentorship and educational resources on sexual and reproductive health and mental health support tailored to girls aged 16 to 24.
To ensure the platform reaches even those in rural or digitally excluded areas, FemConnect works closely with grassroots organisations, schools, and youth ambassadors. They also use WhatsApp and in-person visits to connect with users with limited internet access.
There is also a commerce component, a web-based store allowing users to buy, donate, or gift feminine hygiene and wellness products. Many of these products come from local women entrepreneurs, helping to support small businesses.
Recognition and awards
In 2021, Asonele Kotu was named on the Meaningful Business 100, a global list honouring social entrepreneurs working toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals. She is also a Mandela Washington Fellow, a prestigious U.S. government leadership initiative for African changemakers.
In 2022, she received the Youth Trailblazer Award at the International Conference on Family Planning. Her work also won the Apps for Africa contest in 2019. Additionally, Asonele Kotu is a Youth Lead Ambassador for South Africa, promoting youth voices in international development and public health conversations.
What’s next for FemConnect
Looking ahead, Kotu wants to expand FemConnect’s reach to other African countries and integrate support for gender-based violence (GBV) into the platform. There are also plans to collaborate more closely with public healthcare systems to scale telehealth services and bring them into government-supported clinics.
