A Brisbane startup has secured $1.7 million in seed funding to roll out a national network of free period product dispensers, funded entirely by advertising rather than government subsidies or venue budgets.
The model, developed by startup On the House, aims to address a significant gap in public infrastructure where women are frequently caught without essential health items.
While toilet paper is a standard, free expectation in all public facilities, period products remain largely absent or locked behind unreliable paid dispensers. This lack of access forces many women into “period inequity.”
According to recent data, three in five Australian women report having to use makeshift solutions—such as toilet paper or socks—when caught out in workplaces, universities, and shopping centres.
On the House was founded by Remy Tucker, a 26-year-old former student midwife turned marketer who witnessed the issue firsthand in clinical settings. Her solution installs digital dispensers that provide free, organic, and biodegradable products, with the cost covered by brands displaying advertisements on the machines.
“Period care is a basic need, but access in public spaces is inconsistent,” Tucker said. “This isn’t about affordability, it’s about design. If toilet paper can be standard, period products should be too.”
The company argues that relying on charity or government programs subjects women’s health to funding cycles and budget cuts. Instead, they are redirecting existing corporate advertising spend into essential infrastructure.
“Making period care visible and accessible changes how communities support women,” Tucker said. “It becomes normal, expected and part of the space. But there’s still a long way to go to make that standard everywhere.”
The concept has attracted significant private capital. The $1.7 million seed round was led by Purpose Ventures, alongside the UniQuest Extension Fund and accelerator Startmate.
The capital injection will allow the company to expand from a pilot of five dispensers to a national network in high-traffic locations like gyms, offices, and university precincts. For venue operators, the service is provided at no cost.
Tucker believes the shift is overdue.
“This is period inequity, and it affects women across all communities,” she said.
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