Uqora has developed tablets and drink mixes and other urinary health-centered products to flush bacteria from the system and boost immune system function, enabling women both to get rid of UTIs and to protect themselves against infection-causing bacteria. Uqora’s products are made of science-backed ingredients like d-mannose, vitamin C, vitamin B6, calcium, magnesium and potassium with pink lemonade for taste.
President: Vivian Rhodes (previously Jenna Ryan)
Headquarters: San Diego, CA
Year Founded: 2015
Year Avestria First Invested: 2018 (Fund I)
Acquired: 2021
Looking for a job opportunity at Uqora? Click here.
Recent Press:
Uqora recognized as a best place to work in SoCal
The six best vitamins and supplements for vaginal health - and how they compare
Uqora - Top Ten Most Important Things You Need to Know
Tacos and Tech podcast: Jenna Ryan of Uqora on keeping your urinary tract in check
25 best vitamins for vaginal health in 2022
What do I need to know about UTIs? An expert answers your burning questions
Uqora review - I’m a lifelong UTI sufferer and Uqora is seriously a game-changer
The six best yeast infection treatments
Uqora case study: what it means to be a retention-focused brand
We asked experts how to get rid of a UTI because the symptoms are the worst
One women is taking control of her urinary health - here’s how
The best pH balance pills and probiotics
Best UTI supplements of 2022: the ultimate guide
Uqora launches new vulva cleanser
Why VCs should set their sights on healthcare products made for (and by) women
The second annual National UTI Awareness Day is November 21
Uqora recognized as one of the best places to work in San Diego
Busine$$ of the V podcast: Uqora tackles UTIs in a whole new way
Pharmavite announces acquisition of Uqora
Chronic UTIs meet their match in Uqora
Finally, there’s a new approach to managing urinary tract infections
The anatomy of an eCommerce retention manager: Jill Comrie of Uqora
Uqora celebrates urinary tract health
National UTI Awareness Day: an interview with Jenna Ryan
Uqora declares November 21 to be the first ever National UTI Awareness Day
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This CEO had 8 UTIs in one year - here’s what she did about it
Innovators busting taboos in women’s health & wellness
FemTech Focus podcast: Debunking the cranberry myth with Uqora
Uqora develops the first non-antibiotic treatment of UTIs
Uqora experiences rapid growth tackling urinary health
Uqora launches new line of products
The Fifth Wave CEO: Jenna Ryan
Exciting upcoming Uqora clinical trial offers hope for thousands of women
Uqora conducts clinical trials to expand research on urinary health and UTIs
The Well Woman, Redefined: Jenna Ryan
Uqora founder Jenna Ryan on transforming how we talk about UTIs
So You Have a UTI. Here’s What to Do Next
Silently suffering from UTIs? This entrepreneur is out to end the stigma
August 9, 2023: Best Companies Group (BCG) named Uqora as a “2023 Best Place to Work in SoCal”. In composing its list, BCG evaluated anonymous employee surveys as well as assessments on each company’s corporate culture, training and development opportunities, salary, benefits, and employee satisfaction. This award is not the first time that Uqora has been recognized; in 2021, the San Diego Business Journal listed Uqora as one of the best places to work in San Diego.
June 28, 2023: Uqora’s Complete Regimen made this list, from MindBodyGreen, of the six best vitamins and supplements for vaginal health. This article not only noted Uqora’s Complete Regimen as the best vitamin that contained Vitamin D but also this regimen’s three-pronged approach to vaginal health: clearing away harmful bacteria, feeding the vaginal microbiome with healthy bacteria, and flushing and clearing the urinary tract. Uqora’s vitamins - along with the other vitamins in this list - were chosen based on their focus on vaginal health, the effective ingredients they contained, their quality, and their sustainability.
May 19, 2023: Curious about Uqora products? This article lists the top ten most important things to know about the brand and its products: everything from the ingredients that it uses to the community that it has built around education and empowerment. The article also notes that Uqora has become a “prominent player in the field” due to its focus on preventive urinary health - and its execution of that focus.
May 2, 2023: After five years of offering its products only online, Uqora is expanding, launching in 4,700 CVS stores nationally and on CVS’ online site. Uqora has already helped over 400,000 people through its online presence and the community it has built about destigmatizing and helping others with UTIs. This expansion into CVS stores will continue to help the company fulfill its mission of providing urinary tract support to as many people as possible.
March 9, 2023: Jenna Ryan joined the “Tacos and Tech” podcast to chat about Uqora and urinary health with host Neal Bloom. While some of her first corporate experiences were at DocuSign, and she stepped down from Uqora in 2023, this podcast covers the years in between: when the idea for Uqora came to Jenna, how winning a pitch competition helped them in revenue, why the company focuses on community, and how COVID affected the Uqora team. And, because of the name of the podcast, Jenna’s 45-minute conversation ended with her own favorite spot for tacos. (Also available on Google, and Spotify).
December 12, 2022: Vitamins can help keep the proper pH balance in the vagina, allowing it to stay healthy, infection-free, and even able to repair its cells and regenerate its tissues. For the end of the year, Discover compiled 25 of the best vitamins for vaginal health, including those that improve stamina and libido, prevent dryness, and- in the case of Uqora’s Complete Regimen, which made this list - to aid in balancing vaginal pH levels and preventing urinary tract infections.
November 21, 2022: What causes UTIs? What are the symptoms? And why might some people be more prone to them than others? This article, sponsored by Uqora, answers some of the most common questions about urinary tract infections - including the best treatment options, like prevention, antibiotics, and Uqora’s UTI Emergency Kit and Complete Regimen.
August 11, 2022: In this blog post for Femestella, author Steph Osmanski chronicles her experiences with urinary tract infections, including the various treatments that she tried. For her, Uqora is a “game-changer” because its products - including Target, Control, and Promote - try to prevent UTIs rather than just treating flare-ups, and they’re accessible. Steph Osmanski even found through Uqora through an Instagram ad!
July 29, 2022: This article chronicles not only the first line medications to treat a yeast infection but also the six best yeast infection treatments. Uqora’s Promote product made the list as the best preventative treatment. Although Uqora’s products mainly target vaginal health, the ingredients in Promote may help balance vaginal bacteria and help defend against infections.
June 13, 2022: Wonderment sat down with Uqora’s Customer Success Team Manager, Zoe Rotberg, and its Brand Marketing Manager, Kate Labat Jacobs to talk about the company’s unique approach to retaining customers. Together, Uqora’s Customer Success and Marketing teams aim to make every single interaction with the brand positive for each customer. As a result, they take actions like checking-in text messages, offering refunds with no questions asked, and sending flowers or gift cards when needed to make that goal a reality.
June 11, 2022: This Girlboss feature profiles Jenna Ryan and her commitment to offering a “win-win” business through Uqora. In this interview, Jenna touches upon the importance of treating customers like family, including using her own personal journey with UTIs when marketing Uqora, covering products for subscribers who were struggling financially during COVID-19, and building the UTI Learning Center and The Uqora Collective, among others.
May 24, 2022: Uqora’s products were among those recommended in this Buzzfeed News article about UTIs. The article covers the prevalence of UTIs, especially in women, as well as prevention and treatment options, including straight D-mannose capsules from Amazon and the complete system (which includes Control, Promote, and Target products) from Uqora.
March 2, 2022: Jenna Ryan didn’t originally launch Uqora with the goal of starting a business; she wanted only to make a difference in her live and those of others with UTIs. Since then, she’s powered past the mental pressures, has helped build Uqora’s line of products, led the company through an acquisition by Pharmavite, and is focused on keeping the momentum going. This SheKnows feature chronicles her journey as well as the challenges and wins along the way.
March 2, 2022: How do you balance the base and acids in the vagina to keep it healthy? One way is through pH balance pills. In this Healthline article, the editorial team compiled a list of the best pH balance pills based on customer ratings, price, and medical and business standards. Uqora’s Promote made the list as the best vegan product.
February 11, 2022: Uqora’s Control product was named one of the best UTI supplements of 2022 by LA Weekly. The newspaper highlighted four UTI supplements - Oweli’s UT-D, UT Support byClinical Effects, Utiva D-Mannose, and Uqora’s Control - and labeled the Control supplements as the cost-effective choice.
February 8, 2022: Uqora has launched Wash, its new vulva cleanser. Unlike other vulva cleansers, Uqora’s Wash is free of essential oils, fragrances, and pH disruptors; as a result, it helps wash the area while keeping the vagina healthy and its pH low.
December 8, 2021: This Forbes article argues for that venture capital, a male-dominated field, should look towards healthcare products for women and from women-founded companies, such as Uqora, kegg, and CoolerHeads. Author Dr. Silvia Mah, of Ad Astra Ventures, believes that female-founded and female-focused healthcare businesses are understanding and addressing the gaps in women’s health, which have often been overlooked. Dr. Mah’s advice for VCs seeking these potential investments is to look for founders who are forward-thinking problem-solvers, who are consistently engaging their customers, who have “servant’s hearts”, and who are humble and eager to listen and learn.
November 21, 2021: This year marks the second National UTI Awareness Day. Launched in 2020 by Uqora, this day aims to bring together those who have struggled with UTIs and to raise awareness of how common UTIs are. In fact, a Uqora customer originally suggested the idea for UTI Awareness Day after Uqora helped her find a group of people who understood - and could empathize with - her experience with UTIs.
September 30, 2021: This Forbes article chronicles Uqora’s journey as the company built its brand and utilized the B2C market, including selling its products on its own website rather than on Amazon. Now, having been acquired by Pharmavite, Uqora is looking not only to secure retail distribution for their products but also to develop and research urinary health so that it can continue to grow.
September 9, 2021: In the San Diego Business Journal’s 2021 list of best places to work, Uqora was not only in the top 100 but also was recognized as fifth overall among small businesses (those with 15 to 49 employees). Entrants were ranked based on employee survey data as well as an analysis of the company’s work environment, culture, and benefits.
August 5, 2021: In this episode of the Busine$$ of the V podcast, Dr. Alyssa Dweck and Rachel Braun-Scherl sit down with Jenna Ryan to talk about UTIs. Although Uqora was recently acquired by Pharamvite, Jenna and other members of the team are going to stay with the company, and Jenna shares more about the founding, history, and (post-acquisition) future of Uqora in this 25-minute episode.
July 8, 2021: Pharmavite has announced its acquisition of Uqora. Pharmavite is owned by Otsuka Pharmaceutical and manufactures Nature Made products, among others, and acquired Uqora to expand its women’s health product offerings. Through Pharmavite, Uqora’s urinary health products will now be accessible to an increased number of women. Congratulations to all!
July 7, 2021: Urinary tract infections account for 10 million doctor visits per year in the United States, according to the National Kidney Foundation. Uqora is one of the first companies that focuses only on UTI relief and proactive urinary tract health, and this article details what products the company offers, how they work, and how Uqora also offers a UTI Learning Center to keep individuals informed and educated about their bodies.
May 21, 2021: From cranberry juice to prophylactic antibiotics, different urinary tract management options have been well-publicized - even if there aren’t that effective. This Medical Daily feature explains what products Uqora offers, how they help manage urinary tract and vaginal microbiome health, and how Uqora’s approach differs from other popular treatment options.
March 16, 2021: How do you keep your eCommerce customers coming back again and again? Ask Jill Comrie of Uqora, who is the company’s Senior Retention Marketing Manager. She shares her strategy for customer retention, discovery, and delight in this interview.
December 11, 2020: This feature from Healthcare Business Today profiles Uqora and the company’s focus on improving urinary tracy health. The article touches upon National UTI Awareness Day, the unique benefits of each Uqora product, and Uqora’s community-building and customer service.
November 21, 2020: To coincide with National UTI Awareness Day, FemTech Insider sat down with Jenna Ryan. The two spoke about the inspiration behind National UTI Awareness Day and the power of solidarity and awareness - as well as sharing stories and perceptions about fundraising and femtech
November 18, 2020: Uqora is declaring November 21, 2020 to be the first ever National UTI Awareness Day. National UTI Awareness Day takes place in the middle of November, which is National Bladder Health Month, and Uqora wants to bring visibility to those suffering from UTIs, which are the second most common infection (after the common cold) in the U.S.
November 12, 2020: What do you do when you’re told there’s nothing you can do to prevent UTIs? If you’re Jenna Ryan, you start a company. This feature summarizes Jenna’s path to Uqora as well as explains what causes a UTI, what lifestyle changes to try, and how products like Uqora can help you stay proactive.
October 28, 2020: Jenna Ryan is one of the panelists for Women in Innovation (WIN) and Lemon Lab’s virtual discussion: “Innovators Busting Taboos In Women’s Health and Wellness.” She joins Carly Leahy of Modern Fertility, Carolyn Witte of Tia, and Nisreen Hasib of Unbound.
October 5, 2020: Jenna Ryan was the latest guest on the FemTech Focus podcast. In this 40-minute episode, she and Dr. Brittany Barreto Ph.D discuss Jenna’s background and personal experience with UTIs, the dangers of taking too many antibiotics for UTIs, and the ever-present cranberry myth. (Also available on Apple and Amazon.)
September 29, 2020: Uqora announces the launch of a new drug development to treat - without antibiotics - UTIs caused by E.coli. 80%-90% of all urinary tract infections are caused by uropathogenic E. coli, and Uqora's new drug suppresses bacterial growth in order to develop antibiotic resistance and proactively prevent repeat infections.
September 14, 2020: FinSMEs calls Uqora a “cutting-edge company to watch” in this article, which tracks Uqora’s growth since it launched three years ago. In 2018, the company grew 14x its size; in 2019 it grew 5x times its size, and it’s expected to grow 3x as large in 2020.
July 27, 2020: Uqora has launches a new line of urinary pain relief and diagnostic products. This lines, designed for those with active UTIs, consists of three new products: Soothe (for symptom management), Combat (for infection control) and Clarify (an FDA-approved UTI diagnostic).
July 13, 2020: “A refreshing wave of realness” is the way Lead Awake, a platform dedicated to wellness and happiness, describes Jenna Ryan. Jenna is featured in “The Fifth Wave CEO”: a series spotlighting the human-centered leaders of the future.
April 7, 2020: In this “Founder Feature” with Paper Bag Daily, Jenna Ryan share the lessons she’s learned about raising money, pitching a company focused on UTIs, and being a woman in business.
May 19, 2020: Uqora announces its second double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study. The company has partnered with George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates Urology Clinic and will evaluate UTI recurrence in women when they take either a Uqora product or a placebo.
January 8, 2020: Jenna Ryan and Spencer Gordon, the two co-founders of Uqora, announced the beginning of clinical trials. The trials are meant to measure the effectiveness of Uqora’s health products as well as expand research on urinary health and UTIs.
October 6, 2019: Jenna Ryan was featured in Medium’s “The Well Woman, Redefined: Five Female Femtech Founders Shaping Women’s Health.” Jenna was featured alongside Joanne Schneider of Kindbody, Allison Rappaport of Every Mother, Jill Angelo of Genneve and Kristina Cahojova and Pear Poolvaraluk of kegg.
August 26, 2019: Jenna Ryan stopped by “Drama-Free Healthy Living with Jess Cording” to chat about entrepreneurship, UTIs, and Uqora. Talking about UTIs can be embarrassing, awkward, and stigmatizing, but Jenna’s advice is to start a conversation around what matters to you is important - don’t let other people’s silence dissuade you.
August 8, 2019: UTIs are common - and they don’t affect only women. To help all UTI sufferers, regardless of their sex, Jenna Ryan shares her best advice for at-home remedies for UTIs, such as drinking plenty of water, avoiding certain foods, and taking all of your antibiotics - with Refinery 29.
December 3, 2018: In this Forbes feature, Jenna Ryan discusses her own experiences with UTIs, her inspiration for starting Uqora, and common misconceptions about UTIs.