Rebecca Alvarez incorporates practicality in her intimacy products.
By: Ruth Jean-Marie
In the ever-evolving landscape of entrepreneurship, there are individuals who are not just building businesses but addressing a need in the market. Enter Rebecca Alvarez Story, Founder of Bloomi—a sexual wellness brand that’s not only breaking barriers and setting new standards for innovation, but also ensuring that practicality. Recently, Rebecca sat down with the Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership (IFEL) to share her journey, the challenges of fundraising as a founder, how her culture played a part in product development and her contribution to an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Rebecca sat with IFEL to discuss being the founder of a multi-million dollar business.
Shattering the Million Dollar Funding Glass Ceiling
Rebecca is part of a select group of Latina entrepreneurs who have raised over $3 million in venture capital. Yet, she remains acutely aware of the systemic barriers that make this achievement rare.
Latine women business owners are becoming the fastest-growing group of business owners in the United States with more than 1.5 million founders giving rise to $78.7 billion in revenue. Nevertheless, they are only receiving around two percent of venture capital funding.
“There aren’t enough Latinas raising over the million-dollar mark. I think last year, it hit 300 people total. While there’s awareness growing around this issue, it’s still incredibly challenging to raise funds, even when your company is doing well. It’s not that it gets easier—it gets more familiar. But the truth remains: not enough capital is going to businesses that are performing strongly.”
Rebecca is normalizing sexual wellness internationally, both in the US and Mexico, by creating accessible, clean intimacy products. These products are also inclusive. Bloomi became the first Latina-led brand to launch in the sexual wellness aisle in over 1200 Target stores nationwide. You can also find them in CVS. Rebecca has been featured and contributes to publications including Forbes, Well+Good, Parents Latina, Byrdie, Refinery29, Elite Daily, Women’s Health, and InStyle. She has been named a Change maker by Well+Good and Forbes’ Next 1000.
A Multi-Use Design
Her ascent to a million dollar fundraise is due to her Master’s degree in Sexuality Studies from UC Berkeley, having completed the LBAN Scaling Program with Stanford, a strong familial foundation and her Latine grandparents. Bloomi’s mission is deeply personal for Rebecca, inspired by her Mexican heritage and the values of resourcefulness, connections, and community. Having been taught that sex was shameful and enduring sexual assault herself, Rebecca’s business pursuit is also a healing journey.
“Our products are multi-use, designed to reflect the resourcefulness that’s such a part of Latin culture,” she explained. “For example, our massagers are double-sided, making every part of the product functional. We’re also the only bilingual intimacy brand prioritizing Spanish over other secondary languages, reflecting our commitment to our community.”
“My culture influences everything about this business, from our bilingual packaging to the way we celebrate milestones,” she said. “When we launched in Target and CVS, I brought my family to share in the joy. It’s our tradition to come together for important moments, and I want to carry that spirit into how we grow this brand.”
Rebecca has prioritized expanding into markets like Mexico and created bilingual packaging to make the brand accessible to Spanish-speaking consumers. “I want to de-stigmatize sexual wellness within my community and frame it as an essential part of overall health and happiness.”
When it comes to community, Rebecca has more to say about IFEL and Creating Conscious Collisions.
Regarding Creating Conscious Collisions, “The events that you all have been putting on are so intentional. It’s definitely geared towards investors who want angel funding. It’s a great way to connect founders with angels. I did receive capital from angels that I met through the ecosystem and a lot of founders that have gone through the program asked me how I did that.”
Rebecca’s success is also a testament to the power of community ecosystems, such as angel networks and entrepreneurial showcases.
“I’ve benefited from intentional events that connect founders to angel investors, which has been instrumental in my fundraising journey. I’m always happy to offer support and advice to others, especially given how taxing this journey can be for founders of color.”
Challenging the Status Quo
Being a founder comes with unique challenges, particularly around mental health. Rebecca emphasizes the importance of prioritizing self-care.
“I focus on maintaining a strong mental health foundation by keeping work and family time separate, working out, meditating, and eating healthy. It’s easy to neglect basic needs during a busy day, but I’ve learned that these habits are critical for long-term sustainability.”
Rebecca also finds strength in her network of fellow founders. “I have mentors running businesses worth $50–100 million, and their advice is invaluable. They help me put day-to-day challenges in perspective and remind me that I’m not alone in this journey.”
Flourishing in a "Magical" Environment
Originally, Rebecca pitched her company to IFEL’s Pipeline Angles cohort; it was there that she met a connection and ultimately became a pipeline angel portfolio company. But this wasn’t the first time Alvarez-Story received funding from Pipeline Angels. When she began her initial round of funding, it was Pipeline Angels who pursued the opportunity. Her connections at this event led to a $75,000 investment. And, not only did Rebecca receive Pipeline Angels funding, she then became a featured entrepreneur at our Creating Conscious Collisions event in Palo Alto. From there, she presented in Seattle as an alum presenter.
“The environment that IFEL has created is very magical. It’s like a breath of fresh air of support because the people who attend are very intentional. They want to meet the founders. We, as founders of color, have a safe space where we not only get to pitch but we’re being guided through the process. Especially if you’re new to pitching, it’s extremely supportive. It just feels like you’re walking into a welcoming room.”
Because Pipeline Angels took action, her company was able to flourish.
“We don’t have enough women or people of color as investors, which is a systemic issue that’s going to take time to change. This leads to networks that are disproportionately accessible to certain demographics, like those from the Harvard or generational wealth ecosystems. For founders like me, introductions to investors often happen through sheer persistence or community support.”
An Era of Intimacy Reimagined
Rebecca’s journey is far from over, and her vision for Bloomi continues to expand. As she reflects on her role as a founder, she’s clear about her mission: “I started Bloomi to create a positive space where my community can feel empowered about their intimate lives. There’s so much trauma in our communities, and I want Bloomi to be a light that brings positivity and healing.”
Rebecca’s story is a powerful reminder that entrepreneurship is not just about building products—it’s about building bridges and creating change. For her, the success of Bloomi is not just a personal achievement; it’s a testament to the strength and resilience of her community.
