The Ventures has invested in Libra Health, a menstrual-cycle-tailored supplement brand designed exclusively for female athletes, the Seoul-based venture capital firm announced on August 20.
The Seed funding amount was not disclosed.
Female athletes experience recurring performance fluctuations tied to their monthly cycles. A multi-season study by University College London researchers tracking 26 elite players in the English Women’s Super League found that muscle-injury risk was six times higher in the pre-menstrual phase and five times higher in the early-to-mid luteal phase compared to the menstrual period itself. Despite this physiological reality, existing women’s sports nutrition products have largely remained “pink-washed” versions of men’s formulas—differing only in color and dosage—and fail to account for the hormonal and metabolic shifts that occur throughout the menstrual cycle. Libra Health set out to solve this problem by placing the menstrual cycle at the center of product design.
Founder and CEO Yullee Lee launched Libra Health from her own experience and a deep understanding of the issue. A serial entrepreneur with more than 15 years in marketing and public relations, Lee underwent two bouts with cancer that prompted her to study inflammation and hormonal health in depth. Informed by that research, Libra Health was conceived from the outset for the United States market, where the company is preparing to convert to a U.S. entity this year and has built a regulatory-compliance framework for the American women’s sports segment.
Libra Health’s debut product, “Golden,” takes its name from the Latin corpus luteum—the “yellow body” that gives the luteal phase its name. The brand deliberately reframes this vulnerable window as a Golden opportunity. To eliminate doping and regulatory risk, Golden contains no hormone-modulating ingredients; the company is pursuing Informed-Sport or equivalent doping-safety certification for athlete use. The formulation draws on Korean fermentation expertise, combining kimchi-derived probiotics and plant-based ingredients to address cycle-related performance variability through gut health and inflammation management. Libra Health is currently evaluating U.S.-based production facilities and research partners that meet athlete-supplement certification standards.
The global women’s sports nutrition market is estimated at $23.8 billion in 2026 and is projected to grow to $55.4 billion by 2036. Rather than relying on large marketing budgets, Libra Health has prioritized athlete validation as its primary go-to-market principle. The company is working directly with female athletes in U.S. collegiate and professional leagues to test and refine Golden through community networks, building credibility and lowering customer-acquisition costs in the process. Over the long term, Libra Health aims to expand into the broader recreational and general women’s health segments.
Proceeds from the Seed round will fund product development, certification, initial production runs, and athlete trial programs. The company plans to begin pilot distribution to U.S. college sports teams in the fourth quarter of 2026, followed by a commercial launch in the first quarter of 2027.
