We were lucky to catch up with Amanda Lee recently and have shared our conversation below.
Amanda, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
I came up with the idea for Cloudy, an organic period pad company, during a major life shift. I had just moved from New York City to the Bay Area—a big change for a lifelong city girl like me. The transition hit me harder than I expected. I felt isolated, disconnected, and fell into a period of depression. Around that same time, I started experiencing debilitating period cramps—worse than anything I had ever felt before. It forced me to slow down and pay attention to my body in a way I never had.
Lying in bed, curled up in pain, I started thinking: Why are period products still so underwhelming? Why are we still expected to “deal with it”? That moment sparked something in me. I started researching everything I could about period care, ingredients in pads, and manufacturing practices. What I found shocked me—many mainstream pads contain plastic, bleach, and materials that can irritate the skin and throw off our hormonal balance.
I realized this wasn’t just about my pain—this was a systemic issue. The standard was too low, and no one was pushing it higher in a meaningful way. I wanted to create something different—pads made with plant-based, skin-safe materials that don’t sacrifice comfort or function. As I connected with manufacturers and dove deeper into the supply chain, my passion grew. I wasn’t just solving my own problem—I was taking a stand for something bigger. That’s how Cloudy was born.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Hi, I’m Amanda Lee, a Taiwanese American founder and nutritionist with a deep passion for wellness, transparency, and creating solutions that truly serve people—especially women. I’m currently in the process of launching Cloudy, a plant-based, organic period pad brand focused on raising the bar in menstrual care.
Cloudy was born from both personal need and a larger purpose. After years of experiencing hormone imbalances and painful periods—and finding no real answers in the products on the market—I began researching what actually goes into period pads. What I discovered shocked me: synthetic fibers, plastic backings, and chemical-laden materials that don’t belong anywhere near our bodies. That gap, between what’s available and what’s safe and effective, is what I’m working to close with Cloudy.
Our pads are designed to be truly skin-safe, compostable, plastic-free, and made with plant-based technology. But more than that, I want Cloudy to be a brand that’s human. Honest. Real. One that speaks to the discomfort, the emotional weight, and the lack of innovation that too often surrounds period care.
What sets us apart is not just the product, but our intention. We’re not chasing trends—we’re creating a product that’s built from lived experience, rooted in science, and developed with long-term impact in mind. I’m most proud of sticking with this even through the hard parts—like high MOQs, funding challenges, and navigating tariffs. I want people to know that Cloudy is built with care, resilience, and a genuine desire to make a difference—one period at a time.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
To be honest, I don’t see myself as someone particularly special. I’m not the fastest learner, and I’ve had to work twice as hard to figure things out. But one thing I’ve always had is this unwavering belief that I’m meant to do something meaningful—something bigger than myself.
Starting Cloudy has been the ultimate test of that belief. I didn’t come from a business background, and I didn’t have a team of experts behind me. I had to self-teach everything—from filing my own LLC and handling trademark paperwork, to learning how to use Adobe software, creating dieline templates, designing packaging, navigating shipping logistics, and even building my own website. It was all new to me, and many times I wanted to give up. But I kept going.
What kept me grounded was the why behind Cloudy. I knew women deserved better period care, and if I had to learn every single part of the process on my own to make that happen, I would. Resilience to me doesn’t mean being perfect or fearless—it means showing up again and again, even when things are messy, slow, or uncertain.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was the idea that I needed to have everything “figured out” before starting something.
Growing up, I always thought successful people had a clear path, a perfect plan, or some kind of permission slip to chase big dreams. So for the longest time, I kept waiting—waiting until I had more experience, more money, more knowledge, more confidence. But when I started working on Cloudy, I realized that mindset was holding me back more than anything else.
There was no perfect time. I didn’t have all the answers. In fact, I had to teach myself everything from scratch—how to build a business, how to navigate trademarks, how to design packaging, how to talk to manufacturers, how to build a website. It was overwhelming. But if I had waited until I felt “ready,” Cloudy would’ve never existed.
The truth is, no one really feels ready. And you don’t need to know everything—you just need to be willing to learn everything. That mindset shift changed my entire life. I stopped trying to be perfect and started giving myself permission to try, mess up, and grow. That’s when real progress happened.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: leejieyng/softlikecloudy