Startup Spotlight #172: Maeve
Maeve is an elegant online platform offering titillating audio only to nourish women's sensuality.
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I got the chance to speak with Gertrud Tavernier, founder and CEO of Maeve, about what she’s working on at her startup, and any advice she has for emerging entrepreneurs.
Researching and trial & error-ing health all of her life, Tavernier offers a buffet of health, for you to pick and choose from. Maeve is how she offers you a hands-on tool for healthy sensuality.
She has always pursued the philosophy of 'a healthy mind in a healthy body,' and this is reflected in her lifestyle (active & healthy) and (study) choices.
After obtaining her doctor's degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences in December 2012, Tavernier decided to dive deeper into alternative medicine such as herbal and Chinese medicine as well as Ayurveda, but also in movement studies such as yoga, free movement & dance.
Tavernier inherited the entrepreneurial spirit and she has founded, next to my career as a medical writer, several other projects, including activewear label BoerlinBoerds, Movement & health coaching Go With Gertrud, chocolate with aphrodisiac herbs.
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Startup Spotlight: Maeve
Problem: Even though sexuality is one of the top 5 health priorities (next to nutrition, exercise, sleep, some kind of mindfulness), there are little to no tools or guidance for a healthy exploration and expansion of our sensual/sexual self. On top of that, female sexual pleasure still remains a taboo and knows only one very limited depiction in media & society.
Market: Self-care apps worldwide were booming already before the pandemic and covid lockdowns and restrictions have accelerated that growth even more. This combined with the fact that our zeitgeist truly supports women liberating themselves from societal expectations makes Maeve appealing to all adult women (and their partners).
Solution: Maeve offers an online platform for women with evidence-based audio sessions which guide body and mind to a variety of sensual experiences, sexual awareness and satisfaction. Not merely for pleasure and enhanced intimacy within relationships (Maeve also offers audio sessions to listen to together!), yet also for therapeutic purposes, through healing effects on mental and physical health.
Team: My right hand is Shiree, we met in Bali where we both currently live. She is the brand and marketing manager and joined Maeve at the end of 2021.
Recent Success:
Tavernier: I am a great communicator. Having a smooth and clear communication with all the different contributors (writers, sexologists, relationship therapists, voice-over artists, designers, sound engineers, etc) who all have a different perspective and way of expression, has been gold to get Maeve to fruition.
Recent Struggle:
Tavernier: The development of app & website code. Of all the things involved in running a company like Maeve, this aspect is the one thing I could not control or even fully comprehend. I got fooled, ran into A LOT of unforeseen difficulties, and on top of that, censorship by app stores has limited some of the features we’d wished to create.
Founder Advice:
Tavernier: Don’t wait too long to get help. You can’t do it all by yourself. I had to learn the hard way. Being able to bounce ideas and decisions with someone equally invested in your business is such a game-changer. Help also means talking to lots of people who’ve been through similar situations and are a few steps ahead of you.
Three Cool Founders You Should Know About:
Tavernier: Here are three founders you should check out next!
Jennifer Baum-Minkus, Founder of gitti: gitti’s mission is to make beauty conscious and sustainable.
Geert Houben, Founder of Cubigo: Cubigo is a leading all-in-one software platform for senior living operators, focused on integrating non-clinical and resident-centric services like Dining, Maintenance, Activities, Transportation, Digital Signage, Visitor Management, etc.
Jeen Low, Founder of Projekt Glitter: Projekt Glitter provides eco-friendly glitter fix for consumers.
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