Launch NY Invests in Award-Winning Wellness Brand Playground to Fuel National Retail Expansion and Rochester Growth

Launch NY invests $260,000 through its funds and Investor Network to support the Rochester-based wellness brand Playground that includes global music icon Christina Aguilera

Rochester, NY [June 25, 2026]: After nearly two decades building brands and scaling businesses in San Francisco, Catherine Magee made an unexpected decision to relocate her family and fast-growing wellness company to Rochester, NY.

That decision brought Playground, the award-winning intimate wellness brand co-founded by Magee, product innovator Sandy Vukovic, and global music icon Christina Aguilera, to Upstate New York as the company enters its next stage of growth.

Founded to address a category that has long been overlooked, Playground develops clinically proven, FDA-cleared intimate wellness products designed to support women experiencing challenges related to intimacy, perimenopause, and menopause. While millions of women face these concerns, innovation in the category has remained largely stagnant for decades.

"We built Playground because women deserve better options and more open conversations around intimate wellness," said Catherine Magee, Co-founder and CEO of Playground. "As we looked toward our next phase of growth, Rochester stood out as a place where we could build a company for the long term. The region's entrepreneurial community, access to talent, and support systems like Launch NY made it an easy decision to put down roots here."

Since launching, Playground has emerged as one of the fastest-growing brands in the category. The company recently expanded into 1,400 Ulta Beauty locations nationwide with premium shelf placement. Its flagship product, Miracle Melts, a deeply hydrating vaginal insert powered by hyaluronic acid, has been recognized by the retailer as a key growth product for 2026. To date, Playground has sold more than 500,000 products and continues to see strong recurring customer demand.

As the company scales, Launch NY has invested a total of $260,000 in Playground's growth. The investment includes $200,000 through Launch NY's nonprofit seed fund and LP Fund II, as well as an additional $60,000 raised through Launch NY's Investor Network, the only online investment platform exclusively offering opportunities in Upstate NY startups. The funding supports Playground's continued retail expansion, Rochester-based growth, and preparation for a future Series A raise.

For Playground, the investment represents more than capital. It provides access to a network of advisors, investors, and ecosystem partners as the company continues building its presence in Rochester and preparing for a future Series A raise.

The company's growth plans extend beyond its current product portfolio. Playground is developing future solutions for pregnancy and postpartum wellness while continuing to expand its retail footprint nationwide.

"Playground addresses an incredibly large market opportunity and need, so we are thrilled that the company has decided to make its home in Upstate NY," said Marnie LaVigne, PhD, President and CEO of Launch NY. "Catherine and her team have built a brand that has already demonstrated impressive commercial traction. Their decision to relocate and grow in Rochester speaks volumes about the strength of our startup ecosystem as a place to support their expansion."

Launch NY provides pro bono mentorship to hundreds of startup companies annually, combined with access to the most active seed fund by volume of transactions in New York State. Through its mentorship and investment programs, Launch NY helps founders build scalable companies that create jobs, attract investment, and strengthen the Upstate NY economy.

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About Launch NY:
Launch NY is the only nonprofit venture development organization and U.S. Treasury-designated Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) that serves and directly funds startups exclusively in Upstate NY. The core mission of Launch NY is to identify, support, and invest in high growth, high impact companies and to catalyze the entrepreneurial culture of Upstate NY on behalf of job and wealth creation.

Since 2012, Launch NY has mentored over 1,950 companies which have gone on to raise more than $1.5B, generate more than $323MM in annual revenue and support more than 10,000 jobs. Aligned with Launch NY's CDFI designation, more than 70% of its portfolio companies are in low-income neighborhoods. Launch NY delivers its mission via mentorship and equity capital access programs, starting with pro bono mentoring through its Entrepreneur-in-Residence program, Founders Go Big program for traditionally underrepresented founders, and Emerging Cleantech Opportunity (ECO) Incubator, as well as its new Technical Assistance program. These programs prepare entrepreneurs for investment capital from multiple sources, including Launch NY's InvestLocal Financing Programs comprised of nonprofit and for profit investment funds, and the Investor Network online marketplace that fields investment opportunities to hundreds of accredited investors. Through these vehicles, Launch NY is the most active seed investor funding New York State companies by volume of transactions, and it has been ranked among the top 5 nonprofit seed funds in the country.