Polari

Polari Labs, founded in London in 2023, is a sexual wellness startup developing products for anorectal health and pleasure. The company was established by CEO Anna Vybornova, a biomedical engineer with experience in bringing medical devices to market, and CTO Dr. Henry Blest, a scientist with a PhD from Oxford in medical sciences. Both founders, who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community, met at the Entrepreneur First accelerator and combined their expertise to address a market they felt was overlooked by medical science.

The company's flagship product is the 'A-Ball', a small, single-use device designed as an alternative to anal douching. Inserted into the rectum before intercourse, the ball forms an internal barrier to prevent fecal matter from appearing during sex and is designed to disintegrate harmlessly within a few hours. This product aims to reduce the time, stress, and potential physical discomfort associated with traditional preparation methods, thereby enhancing sexual spontaneity and comfort. Polari Labs operates what it calls the world's first anal sex laboratory to conduct research, including using rectal models to test product efficacy and safety.

Polari Labs targets a broad consumer market, including the LGBTQIA+ community and heterosexual individuals who engage in anal sex. The company plans a direct-to-consumer business model, with intentions to make the product available through its website and eventually in pharmacies and supermarkets. It also aims to partner with sexual health organizations to promote education and reduce stigma. In 2024, the startup secured $539,000 in a pre-seed funding round supported by investors including Ada Ventures, Chasing Rainbows, and Ventures Together, to advance its regulatory pathway and prepare for manufacturing.

Keywords: anorectal health, sexual wellness, sextech, anal intimacy, douching alternative, LGBTQ+ healthcare, biomedical engineering, consumer healthcare, sexual health innovation, wellness products, direct-to-consumer, medical device, personal care, relationship enhancement, hassle-free intimacy, intimate care, pleasure products, health and wellness, London startup, Entrepreneur First