Meet Rebecca Alvarez Story | Sexologist and Bloomi CEO & Co-Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rebecca Alvarez Story and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rebecca, every day, we about how much execution matters, but we think ideas matter as well. How did you come up with the idea for your business?
Growing up, I rarely had conversations about intimacy or sexuality, which often led to confusion and fear of intimacy. In the Latino community, intimacy and sex education are oftentimes controversial or taboo topics, which makes it hard to navigate sex lives as adults.

This lack of education actually inspired me to study Sexual Wellness at UC Berkeley. I wanted to bridge the gap between sexual agency and sexual education because, in order to improve intimacy, you need access to the right resources.

I then spent a few years working as a researcher and product developer for prominent companies in the sexual wellness industry. Eventually, I became a Sexologist and after thousands of hours of coaching sessions, I was motivated to create Bloomi as a trusted destination for intimate care content and essentials for all bodies.

What should our readers know about your business?
1) Please tell us more about your business. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about.

The sexual wellness industry is oversaturated with products that are made with ingredients that exacerbate intimate health issues. So we’ve focused our efforts on finding ways to sustainably harness the power of botanicals and provide clean and conscious solutions to our consumers. Therefore, we created the Bloomi Clean Standard, the only standard in the industry that helps consumers avoid the potential health risks of ingredient toxicity based on academic research and mutual partnerships with top sexual wellness experts. Our goal and, I believe, our point of differentiation, was always to provide a hub where everyone can educate themselves on sexual health and self-care and, ultimately, feel safe and confident by making smart and well-informed decisions about their sexual wellness.

Also, one thing that many players are missing in this industry is that inclusivity should be central to any conversations or innovations around intimacy. As a first-generation Latina wellness entrepreneur, inclusivity is central to my work and a cornerstone of Bloomi’s mission. BIPOC individuals are typically left out of a lot of narratives about personal pleasure. We have been largely ignored and so the majority of products available have not been developed with the unique needs of diverse bodies in mind.

Women of color, especially, are disproportionately impacted by toxic ingredients in products that negatively impact our health. Moreover, we are more likely to experience sexual trauma so need professionals and brands in the space to acknowledge and address the complexities of sexual wellness from our perspective.

2) How did you get to where you are today business-wise?

I originally created Bloomi so I could provide a trusted and inclusive sexual educational hub for improving intimacy and normalizing sexuality for my clients. It evolved into a brand that helps anyone feel confident by making smart and well-informed decisions about their sexual wellness.

I always wanted to overcome the idea that sexual satisfaction is difficult to discuss and hard to attain. The ultimate goal is for all of us to see our sexuality and pleasure as natural parts of life and be comfortable talking about them, just as with any other health-related issue.

When I started my entrepreneurial journey, I was shocked at the lack of diversity within the startup ecosystem, especially for BIPOC and Latina founders. As a first-generation Latina, I didn’t have access to the same networks and capital resources that others have, making it harder to get the necessary funding to start my business. For example, less than one percent of funding is going to Latina founders, so you have to find alternative sources of capital, such as using your own savings and retirement, taking out personal loans, lines of credit, crowd equity and so on. This actually happened when we were preparing to launch our Essentials line of sex toys and clean intimate care products at Target – we made sure to raise what we needed by getting creative and including the community in crowdfunding.

3) Challenges

First of all, it’s important to create a routine that helps you find balance amidst the hustle and bustle of life. As an entrepreneur I can never fully “turn off” but I try to find moments to relax and rejuvenate, if only for a few minutes. For example, mornings are sacred to me and I will always squeeze in my morning cup of coffee, before starting my day-to-day duties. I also find myself being much more productive after those 5 minutes of ‘me time’.

Secondly, be nice to yourself. Sometimes you can only give 80% and that’s ok. There will be difficult moments and sometimes self-care just means taking a break from it all.

And lastly, don’t forget to spend some quality time with your family and friends. In the evening I prefer to disconnect from online and spend time with my husband and daughters.

4) What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way? What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

– I struggled with imposter syndrome in the beginning. I kept asking myself ‘am I doing this the right way?’ I eventually realized I shouldn’t be following anyone else’s model and that I was going to have to make my own blueprint. Today I follow a combination of ‘best practices’ and my gut.

– It’s difficult to find the right people, especially with limited resources. Bloomi now has a stellar leadership team, but I had to get creative in order to attract and retain talent.

– As a Latina female founder in a taboo market, fundraising has not been easy. There are a lot of barriers to raising capital when you don’t fit the norm, so you have to be firm and confident in your mission. Exploring alternative forms of capital has been instrumental to our growth.

– Building community is key to success. Community is a pillar of Bloomi, but also my personal connections to other founders, investors, and experts in the space have been invaluable.

– The concept of “work-life balance” is ever-evolving and unique for each person at different phases of their life. It’s impossible to be 100% at everything so be easy on yourself as no one can everything at all moments.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are several, as it ultimately takes a community to build a thriving business. My husband, parents, and brother have been incredibly supportive. They not only help me with my daughters, but have been very supportive with the creation of Bloomi as well – the early days of making marketing materials, fulfilling orders, running the warehouse, and cheering me on. As a mom with two kids, you need a lot of help, especially if you start a business. Bloomi wouldn’t exist without them.

I also cannot thank our customers enough. They are my inspiration for leading this company, creating innovative and inclusive intimacy solutions –the positive notes from them make hard days a little easier. When a customer shops our product at Target, it shows that they are committed to developing their sexual wellness journey and get to support a Latina-founded brand at the same time.

Website: https://www.target.com/b/bloomi/-/N-q643lebbvkh

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebloomi/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-bloomi/

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebloomi https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebeccastory/