# Pump For Joy

Disposable, biodegradable breast milk collection kits for moms on the go.

- Canonical URL: https://wefunder.com/pump.for.joy
- Entity ID: wefunder:company:173329
- Last updated: 2026-06-21T05:01:05Z
- Generated at: 2026-06-21T12:24:27Z

## Quick facts
- North Carolina Micro Grant Recipient
- 1st place in the 2024 53 Ideas Pitch Competition
- Pitched at the Health Innovation Pitch Party
- Patent-pending design & trademark submitted with early demand

## Active fundraises
- wefunder:fundraise:133207: 4(a)(6) successful (USD)
- wefunder:fundraise:133206: 4(a)(6) successful (USD)

## Story
Pumping while parenting isn’t just inconvenient. It’s a constant, invisible labor. Moms must clean and sanitize multiple pump parts several times a day, often in cars, closets, or public bathrooms. The CDC’s recommended cleaning process after each use is hard to follow even in the best conditions. Breastfeeding is encouraged by society, but moms who pump get very little support.Cleaning pump parts is one of the biggest pain points for pumping moms.Every pumping session requires multiple parts to be rinsed, cleaned, air dried, and reassembled several times a day. Moms find themselves scrubbing pieces in office sinks, car cup holders, or cramped public restrooms. It’s time-consuming and usually unsanitary.Pump for Joy eliminates the cleanup. Our patent-pending product includes every single part that comes into contact with milk, made for one-time use and fully biodegradable. Just pump, toss, and get on with your day.Our kits are made from biodegradable materials that break down in months/years, unlike traditional plastic that lingers for 450 years.We’re building a membership-based business model that delivers convenience to moms’ doorsteps. Kits are sold through a subscription membership to ensure consistent supply, engagement, and monthly recurring revenue.We’re raising our first tranche of $100K Pre-Seed to take our prototype to the next critical milestone:Pilot prototypes made of biodegradable materialsAlpha testing and design finalizationFDA prep and regulatory pathway clarityPartnership developmentPay for co-founder and support staffBusiness operations and legal setupForward-looking statements are not guaranteed.Our Partners & Supporters:NC IDEA: A foundation that supports early-stage startups in North Carolina through grants and mentorship. Their programs help entrepreneurs grow and launch their businesses.53 Ideas Pitch Competition: Regional competition where entrepreneurs submit a 53-second pitch. Winners receive funding and coaching. Pump for Joy won 1st place in 2024.LaunchCLT: Charlotte,NC-based network that connects startups with mentors, investors, and resources to help them grow.Advisory5: Strategic advisory group that helps startups with business planning, growth strategy, and operations.Medpoint Consulting: Regulatory consulting firm that helps health and medical product companies meet FDA standards.Dear Supporters,Thank you for taking the time to learn about our journey. Pump for Joy was born from our own lived experiences and the desire to make life easier for moms who give so much every day.We’re excited to share this moment with you. Your support helps us launch a category-defining product that could change the pumping experience for millions.Thank you for investing in our mission. Let’s make breastfeeding easier, together.Erin & Vanessa 💜

## FAQ
1. **Hi - great idea! Is each package only used for 1 pumping session and then all parts are disposed of or do the packages contain parts for multiple pumps throughout the day? I’m just trying to reconcile how much it might cost and a reasonable subscription amount someone might be...**
   - Great question! The current design plan is that each kit would be used for one pumping session and then disposed of. The only reusable pieces would be tiny components like the duckbill valve (easy to carry multiple spares of, unlike a full flange). Most parents would likely use Pump for Joy as a hybrid system: reusable parts at home, single-use kits for on-the-go convenience. This keeps costs reasonable while eliminating the washing and sanitizing burden for the sessions that matter most.
2. **Are these currently available for purchase? If so, where? Also, do you have any competitors who have a biodegradable product? Thank you.**
   - Thanks for asking! Pump for Joy isn’t available for purchase yet: we’re currently in development and raising funds to bring the product to market. At this time, there are no competitors in market offering biodegradable, single-session pump kits. Ameda used to have a hospital-specific single-use pump, but it was by no means biodegradable. There are disposable pump bags and traditional reusable parts on the market, but nothing that combines biodegradability + full session convenience the way we...
3. **great idea! I am an investor in several products centered around babies, therefore, this is intriguing. few questions 1. I noticed that under your use of funds you have 18 percent of the 100k going towards co founder pay. I have my company and an investor in over 150 companies...**
   - Thank you, John, for your comments and questions. I have provided our answers below, and happy to meet or jump on a call to discuss any more questions you may have. 1. Thank you for your question. We appreciate thoughtful engagement.We included a modest allocation for founder compensation intentionally and transparently. At this stage, the work required to move the company forward, product development, regulatory coordination, partnerships, fundraising, and operations, is full-time and highly...
4. **thanks for response! I will be back in NC the 14th of march. have you considered partnering with dopple on here? win win and huge for you!**
   - We hope you had a safe trip. Please reach out to me at vanessa@pumpforjoy.com to schedule a time to meet. We had not heard of Dopple until your message, but it looks like a great partnership. We will reach out.
5. **What is the exit plan (acquisition, IPO, merger, etc.) in which investors will be able to see a ROI?**
   - At this stage, we’re focused on building a strong, scalable company with a product that solves a real and persistent need. Companies in maternal health, consumer health, and baby product categories often grow through acquiring innovative products that complement their existing portfolios. Our goal is to build a product and brand that would be attractive to those types of strategic partners, while also creating a sustainable business with recurring revenue. We remain open to multiple paths as ...

## Team
- Erin Martin (Co-Founder & CEO)
- Vanessa Parker (Co-Founder & COO)

## Recent posts
- Hi everyone! We have just a little over ONE MONTH left in our crowdfunding campaign. Help us finish strong! If you haven't yet invested and are interested in learning more about our business and return opportunity, feel free to reach out to us here on Wefunder or email me at erin@pumpforjoy.com. (2026-01-09T00:33:13Z)
- Pump for Joy Selected to Pitch Live on Superpowers for Good – December 11! (2025-12-05T23:50:08Z)

## Q&A
- Q: Hi - great idea! Is each package only used for 1 pumping session and then all parts are disposed of or do the packages contain parts for multiple pumps throughout the day? I’m just trying to reconcile how much it might cost and a reasonable subscription amount someone might be able to afford if they pump multiple times a day, every day.
  - A: Great question! The current design plan is that each kit would be used for one pumping session and then disposed of. The only reusable pieces would be tiny components like the duckbill valve (easy to carry multiple spares of, unlike a full flange). Most parents would likely use Pump for Joy as a hybrid system: reusable parts at home, single-use kits for on-the-go convenience. This keeps costs reasonable while eliminating the washing and sanitizing burden for the sessions that matter most.
- Q: Are these currently available for purchase? If so, where? Also, do you have any competitors who have a biodegradable product? Thank you.
  - A: Thanks for asking! Pump for Joy isn’t available for purchase yet: we’re currently in development and raising funds to bring the product to market. At this time, there are no competitors in market offering biodegradable, single-session pump kits. Ameda used to have a hospital-specific single-use pump, but it was by no means biodegradable. There are disposable pump bags and traditional reusable parts on the market, but nothing that combines biodegradability + full session convenience the way we’re building. I’m happy to keep you updated as we move toward launch!
- Q: great idea! I am an investor in several products centered around babies, therefore, this is intriguing. few questions 1. I noticed that under your use of funds you have 18 percent of the 100k going towards co founder pay. I have my company and an investor in over 150 companies and I have never seen co founder pay being mentioned in where some of the funds raised is going towards. being a founder is a grind, it may take 5 years to see any money. daymond John didn't see a check for several years, he kept a part time job until he did. you don't see people having an issue with that? when that percentage could be put somewhere else 2. I think an ambassador program would be perfect for you! have you ever considered that? all moms can use this. allows you to be everywhere at once. 3. do you see yourself adding anything else? on your site I just see the kits. 4. with the subscription you have how long will one kit last for? will it last a full month. 5. will the product mainly be just an online product? what are your profit margins etc. 6. do you see yourself launching some kind of referral, loyalty program if you don't already. I don't see it if so. if you had a pitch deck it would be awesome! btw I see you are in davidson I am about an hour from you. out the country now for business but will be back soon
  - A: Thank you, John, for your comments and questions. I have provided our answers below, and happy to meet or jump on a call to discuss any more questions you may have. 1. Thank you for your question. We appreciate thoughtful engagement.We included a modest allocation for founder compensation intentionally and transparently. At this stage, the work required to move the company forward, product development, regulatory coordination, partnerships, fundraising, and operations, is full-time and highly execution-driven.The percentage allocated is not market-rate compensation, but rather a limited stipend to ensure sustained focus and continuity during a critical build phase. That said, the majority of funds are directed toward product development, testing, and manufacturing preparation. We remain extremely mindful of capital efficiency and founder alignment. We appreciate the opportunity to clarify.2. We agree. An ambassador program aligns well with our community-driven approach. We plan to introduce a structured ambassador initiative as we move closer to launch, particularly within working-mom and maternal health communities. 3. At this time, we are intentionally focused on executing one product category well. Our priority is refining, validating, and launching our core system before expanding into additional offerings. That said, we see an opportunity to expand into compostable breastmilk storage bags and other pumping-adjacent products in the future. Additionally, we are working hard to make our proprietary material a viable substitute for single plastic products in the medical space outside of just breastfeeding. 4. Great question. The subscription length depends on usage frequency.Our current structure is: • Essential Membership – 8 pumping sessions • Signature Membership – 16 pumping sessions • Premium Membership – 32 pumping sessionsActual duration will vary based on how often a mom pumps each day. We designed the tiers to accommodate different pumping schedules.Our goal is not for our flanges to replace a standard, durable flange as the primary pump, but to serve those “in between” times when moms are away from home and need a convenient and safe solution. Given that work schedules are more commonly hybrid than full return to work, we still feel strongly that our membership tiers can sufficiently serve moms based on how often they need to pump away from home.5. We plan to begin with a direct-to-consumer online model to build brand awareness and gather real-time customer feedback. As we scale, we anticipate expanding into retail and institutional distribution channels. Additionally, we hope to conduct a clinical study showing that our products can reduce the frequency or probability of mastitis in pumping moms, which could open the door for insurance reimbursement of our consumables (this would represent a new category for insurance billing codes).6. Yes, we absolutely plan to introduce referral and loyalty components. Community advocacy and repeat engagement are central to our long-term growth strategy, particularly given the subscription model.7. Here is a link to our pitch deck https://drive.google.com/file/d/1v-MJzpxUNN4c5-J3QRabteHSPgOQ7ah7/view?usp=sharingWe’d welcome any questions!Thank you again for the opportunity to provide clarity. We would love to meet with you when you return. Thank you again for your support.
- Q: What is the exit plan (acquisition, IPO, merger, etc.) in which investors will be able to see a ROI?
  - A: At this stage, we’re focused on building a strong, scalable company with a product that solves a real and persistent need. Companies in maternal health, consumer health, and baby product categories often grow through acquiring innovative products that complement their existing portfolios. Our goal is to build a product and brand that would be attractive to those types of strategic partners, while also creating a sustainable business with recurring revenue. We remain open to multiple paths as the company grows, but our focus right now is executing well and building long-term value.
- Q: thanks for response! I will be back in NC the 14th of march. have you considered partnering with dopple on here? win win and huge for you!
  - A: We hope you had a safe trip. Please reach out to me at vanessa@pumpforjoy.com to schedule a time to meet. We had not heard of Dopple until your message, but it looks like a great partnership. We will reach out.