Why REB Relief Left Kickstarter: The Story Behind Our Rejection and New Path Forward
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news
At REB, we’ve been on a mission from day one: to revolutionize period pain relief and challenge the outdated options that have been offered to women for over a century. After years of research, design, and perfecting the REB Heating Pad, we were ready to launch our first product through Kickstarter. But, as some of you may know, that didn’t go as planned.
Here’s the full story of what happened and how we’re turning what felt like a roadblock into a powerful pivot for our community.
The Plan: A Kickstarter Launch
We had been planning our Kickstarter campaign for months. Kickstarter is a platform that has helped countless innovative products find their audience, and we saw it as the perfect fit to launch REB. Our campaign wasn’t just about funding a product—it was about creating a community, sharing our story, and building awareness for how underserved the period pain relief market has been.
At its core, REB is about one thing: addressing the pain millions of people face each month with a product that finally meets their needs. It was exciting to imagine backers getting behind this, especially since so many people have dealt with the same frustrations of inadequate, outdated heating pads. We worked with partners, put together videos, finalized our designs, and built a detailed plan to show Kickstarter how REB was going to change lives.
Then the rejection came.
The Kickstarter Rejection
Kickstarter rejected REB’s campaign for a reason we weren’t fully prepared for. Despite their platform hosting countless health and wellness projects, they denied ours because we claimed to provide relief for period pain. According to Kickstarter’s policies, projects cannot make “health claims” without extensive scientific backing. Never mind the fact that many other products targeting men’s pain or wellness have been approved—REBs focus on menstrual health made it a target for their outdated guidelines.
I couldn’t help but feel that this was another example of women’s pain being dismissed. We all know that period pain is real, but platforms like Kickstarter seem to struggle with the idea that period pain deserves real solutions. It was a stark reminder that while we’re making strides in many areas, the stigma around menstruation continues to hold back innovation and conversation.
The Hypocrisy of It All
What made this rejection sting even more was the hypocrisy. Kickstarter has supported plenty of projects that claim to address pain relief for men. In fact, some recent campaigns have targeted pain management for things like back pain or joint pain without any pushback. So why is it that a product designed to alleviate period cramps—a problem nearly half the population deals with regularly—was being blocked?
I wish I had the answer. What I do know is that this rejection isn’t just about Kickstarter’s policies—it’s about how women’s pain continues to be sidelined, ignored, and dismissed. But if I’ve learned anything from building REB, it’s that rejection doesn’t mean you stop. It means you find a better way.
Turning Rejection into Action
I realized that Kickstarter wasn’t going to be the right partner for us. If their policies couldn’t support a product like REB, then maybe they weren’t the best platform to launch a solution aimed at challenging old systems in the first place. So, I decided to take matters into my own hands and run the campaign on our own website.
And the best part? Without Kickstarter’s fees, we’re able to pass that savings along to you. We’re offering the same rewards, early-bird discounts, and more, but now we’re giving you an additional 5% off because Kickstarter isn’t taking their cut.
Why We Still Need Your Support
Crowdfunding is still critical for REB. Without this support, I (Kate) can’t afford to purchase the inventory needed to launch this product into the world. Manufacturing, shipping, and scaling a business takes resources—and that’s where your backing makes all the difference. By pre-ordering or purchasing our exclusive merch, you’re helping us bring REB to the market. You’re directly supporting the fight for better period pain relief and helping us make a statement that women’s pain deserves real solutions.
Join the REBolution
We’re now live on this site with the same crowdfunding campaign I had planned for Kickstarter, but on our terms. The campaign will run until October 31st, and we’re offering discounted pre-orders, limited-edition merch, and exclusive rewards for early supporters.
I’m also inviting you to be part of the #IDidItWithCramps movement. Share your story with the hashtag, and you could win one of 10 free REB Heating Pads. This campaign isn’t just about sales—it’s about breaking down the stigma surrounding period pain and creating a community that stands up for better, real solutions.
What’s Next for REB?
We’re just getting started. The crowdfunding campaign is our first step toward getting REB in stores, changing the period hygiene aisle forever. Imagine walking into a store and seeing not just the same old heating pads, but a range of products designed with real thought, real comfort, and real relief in mind.
REB is about more than just cramps. It’s about how we approach and prioritize women’s health. It’s about giving people with periods the tools they need to take back their comfort and live life on their terms.
Thank you to everyone who has been with me on this journey so far, and for everyone joining us in the next chapter: welcome to the REBolution. I can’t wait to bring this product to life—with your support, we can make it happen.