In its hometown of Boston, SOS already has a handful of vending machines strewn across the city. The company just raised $3.4 million to extend its portfolio of health and wellness products in toilet vending machines.
- Features: The vending machines have touch displays that also serve as a “visually rich advertising and marketing platform,” just in case you were worried about the world’s desperate lack of advertising.
- Current round: The current round was led by For Later, which is the investment arm of, For Now, a Boston-based retail incubator. A star-studded lineup of angel investors also took part in the round, including the Khan family, Zoe Cruz, Jerod Mayo, a former player and coach for the New England Patriots, Ju Rhyu of Hero Cosmetics, and others.
- Installations: SOS machines have been installed in a number of venues around Boston, including Fenway Park, Prudential Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, and State Street Corporation’s offices, as well as FLA Live Arena in Sunrise, Florida.
- Empowerment: “Our machines transform a moment of panic into a moment of empowerment and choice,” said Robina Verbeek, founder, and co-CEO at SOS. “We believe that convenient access must be paired with exceptional products and an elevated retail experience. ‘Quick and easy shouldn’t mean ‘cheap and shoddy,’ especially when it comes to women’s health. Everyone deserves better.”
- Objective: The company’s objective is to “provide vital personal care and beauty products from today’s leading brands” in place of unreliable, unsightly old metal boxes. The company is hoping that its five design patents would keep the competition at bay long enough for it to gain market share.
Leave a Reply