Alice Williams is the founder of Ovira, the world’s first safe, effective period pain device.
Alice experienced debilitating endometriosis, and after years of looking for a natural, safe solution that wasn’t a cocktail of medication making her eyes yellow, she discovered TENS technology – commonly used during childbirth – which sends signals to the brain through little vibrations that turns your pain receptors off. She then set about making the technology discreet and wearable for everyday use.
Today, Ovira is not only Australia’s most followed brand on TikTok, but is also trusted by thousands of women and medical professionals around the world.
Tell us about Ovira.
Ovira is a period care company which offers safe, instant and drug-free period pain relief through a discreet wearable device. Our device uses pulse therapy, or TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) technology, to stop pain signals travelling to the brain, giving anyone who suffers period pain instant relief from period cramps without side effects.
We’re on a mission to make periods less painful and easier to manage, and better the health of women around the world through education and solutions that are safe and effective.
What inspired you to start Ovira?
From my very first period as a teenager I suffered really severe period pain. Vomiting, blacking out and spending days on end in bed impacted every aspect of my life, from school and work to relationships and confidence.
At the time, endometriosis awareness was scarce and medical professionals knew hardly anything about it. I was prescribed heavy pain killers, put on the contraceptive pill, and told that I had chronic fatigue and depression. I tried everything from dietary supplements, infrared saunas, Chinese medicine, chiropractors and hours of mindfulness, but nothing worked.
At age 21 I was finally given an endometriosis diagnosis, so I started spending my time in pain productively, reading medical journals to try and find a natural and drug-free alternative to the cocktail of medication I was on. I started reading about electrotherapy and realised I’d stumbled across a solution to period pain, and a bloody good one too.
Tell us about your career and background.
Before running Ovira, I worked in film and television production. I had no formal business background but gained a lot of organisation, editing and communications skills.
When I stumbled upon the idea for Ovira, I knew I owed it to the 90% of women who experience period pain to make safe electrotherapy accessible to everyone, so I took a risk, quit my job, sought out investment and started the business!
Now, I’m the founder of Ovira and work across all parts of the business from product development and finance to supply chain, with my biggest focus on maximising our impact and helping as many women as we can all over the world.
Describe a typical work day for you.
I start my day with a very full inbox from the day before, so the first thing I like to do when I start work is a big email clean up. Then I sit down with our growth team and chat through our Facebook ad account, any optimisations that we’d like to make and brainstorm new ad creative that we’d like to test. We’re in the process of getting a bunch of new products on the market at the moment, so then I jump on calls with our manufacturers to chat through all the things that are involved in product development. I stop for lunch at 12pm on the dot and head out of the office for some fresh air.
After lunch I get back into growth marketing and chat with our social team about the content we have in the works for TikTok and our website. We chat through what’s working, what isn’t and what we can do to make things better. Social media has been pivotal to Ovira’s success so far, so we spend a lot of time on this!
Towards the end of the day I get back into my emails and tie up any loose ends, before I head home and take my dog Soko for a walk to unwind for the day.
What advice do you have for those wanting to start a business?
Don’t wait for permission and don’t be afraid of failure. Asking for permission can often be a barrier to action, and can hold you back from taking the steps necessary to get your business off the ground. Instead of seeking approval or validation from others, trust your own instincts and abilities. Be confident in your vision and believe in yourself.
Failing is also a natural part of the entrepreneurial process. No business is successful on its first try, and it’s important to learn from your mistakes and use them as opportunities for growth. Don’t be afraid to take risks and try new things. Even if you fail, you’ll have gained valuable experience and knowledge that can help you improve and move forward.
What’s next for you, and Ovira?
There are so many exciting things coming up in 2023, and I’ll be putting my all into working on them. The Ovira team and I are working on a bunch of new and exciting products that will help women through different aspects of menstruation, so keep your eyes peeled!
In the meantime, to learn more about our original period pain device, and better educate yourself about menstruation, ovulation, endometriosis and everything in between, visit ovira.com.au.