Working at my.Flow this summer gave me an insight into the dynamic startup environment and helped develop my technical and communication skills. I had quit my position in diagnostic device manufacturing to complete a Masters of Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley to translate my background and interests to a career in medical device development. I met Jacob and Amanda over Skype as they were finishing up HAX, a hardware accelerator in China. I was enthusiastic about the groundbreaking product and their public reception but most importantly I was inspired by their mission to change the dialogue around menstruation.

Within the first hour of meeting Amanda and Jacob, I was giving my feedback on my.Flow’s current product iteration and contributing to the company’s summer plan. I found this efficiency refreshing after 18 months of stifling adherence to protocols and rigid schedules.

After their initial reception my.Flow was looking to iterate on their sensing technology. I investigated various wired and wireless saturation sensing mechanisms. In line with my. Flow’s lean startup methodology, I created a low fidelity prototype to test my design.

I didn’t just contribute to the design of the product, I also worked on various other projects as roles in a startup are fluid. I learned how to pitch to different audiences and conduct market research. I learned a lot observing Amanda pitch at the events, tactfully sidestep questions that could reveal proprietary information and remain composed even when her pitch was followed by snickers in male dominated environments.

In an atmosphere where everyone is vying for a finite amount of capital, competition is inevitable. But at many events, I was pleasantly surprised by the support the startup community provided. We were often given useful feedback, suggested potential user groups and provided fruitful leads. Working at my.flow I not only learned about saturation sensors but I also got a glimpse into the inner workings of a young start up. I look forward to seeing my.Flow succeed and bring peace of mind, period.