We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Joanne Mercaldi. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Joanne below.

Joanne, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think it takes to be successful?

In the dynamic world of entrepreneurship, few stories stand out as triumphs against the odds like that of Joanne Mercaldi, an Occupational Therapist by trade, with a relentless drive to pave the way as a woman entrepreneur. Joanne began her entrepreneurial journey at an unconventional time – right after giving birth to her daughter. While the timing may not have been ideal, her realization that she could create a more people-centric environment fueled her decision to venture out on her own. Within five years, she had built a thriving home health care business with over 600 employees, eventually leading to a successful exit and retirement at the age of 42.
The time had come to be a stay at home mom. A role that was always met in conjunction with balancing work while raising 2 babies, breast feeding, managing family schedules, homemaking duties and all of the responsibilities that do not lessen for women when work is thrown in the mix.
Years passed by in her comfortable role. But the desire to make a meaningful impact on millions of lives led her to identify a gap in the online space – a lack of guidance and resources for teens and families when navigating adolescence. Thus began the three-year journey alongside 2 of her most inspirational friends and partners that culminated in the creation of BLOOM. Bloomforall.com is an innovative online health and wellness platform designed to guide teens and parents through the challenges of adolescence.
However, the road to success was not without its share of struggles, the first being the realization that women-owned businesses receive less than 2% of venture-backed funding. Undeterred, Joanne and her partners pressed on, self-funding their venture, and dedicating themselves to the development of BLOOM. This journey was not without pitfalls and struggles that defined our team’s effort to navigate the tumultuous landscape of financial constraints, continually reconstruct what failed, make countless pivots to obtain product market fit and absorb invaluable and costly lessons at every turn. But these struggles are ones that are faced only by women who conquer the biggest challenge of all, stepping out of their societal role to embark upon the risky and under-supported journey of female entrepreneurship.
Before embarking on the build of BLOOM, life had become comfortable and predictable for Joanne and her family at home. Starting a new venture would certainly be a disruptor to the now calm life outside the stressors of owning your own business. The vision to build BLOOM did not come without immense feelings of guilt, self-doubt, and push back. One significant hurdle faced by women entrepreneurs is the struggle to gain support from family and those around them. As often the linchpin in households, women can face resistance when considering a shift from their traditional roles. This makes the guilt of choosing a career over family needs even harder. The fear of failure and the potential ‘I told you so’ sentiment can be paralyzing. Some women can’t take the entrepreneurial leap alone because they don’t have financial independence, so they depend on their family’s support to even get started. It’s a tricky balance between personal dreams and family expectations that women entrepreneurs deal with.
The journey of Joanne Mercaldi and BLOOM serves as an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs, particularly women, who may encounter barriers but can overcome them with determination, resilience, and a strong vision. The story of this women-owned business triumph is not just a celebration of success but a beacon of hope for a future where women entrepreneurs can successfully balance family responsibilities with entrepreneurial pursuits.

Can you talk to us about how your funded your business?

Being that women owned business recieve less than 2% of venture backed funding, I would have spent most of my efforts crowdfunding, doing a friends and family round, and focusing on angel investors who are particularly passionate about the industry I am in. Finding the “right fit” is instrumental in obtaining funding.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

For 3 years I felt alone in my entrepreneurial journey. It was a constant struggle to obtain the support I needed to effectively build BLOOM while raising a family. Every day, I found a way to make it all happen. Fit in my families consistent needs, my work and myself. There was not a day that I did not have to be creative and strategic with my time and priorities. 3 years later, my kids look at me differently, They see a level of grit and resilience in me that has opened their eyes to persure their own dreams. They are proud of the work I am doing and the business that I have built.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bloomforall.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bloomforall/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bloomforallhub/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanne-mercaldi-434881153/

Image Credits
Joanne Mercaldi, OTR/L, Co-founder and CEO of BLOOM,