Bloom Design & Development
When it comes to gender equity in architecture, there is still a long way to go. Women are underrepresented in architecture at all levels of practice. A survey by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) shows that only 15% of their licensed members are women.
In the hope of forging a different future for women in this industry and breaking the status quo, Luisa Bustamante and Lucia Eastman have decided to join forces in order
“to have an impact on the built environment as women and to pave a new path for women today and for generations to come”.
Our Aspiring Female Entrepreneurs
Together, they have created Bloom Design & Development. With a combined experience of more than 20 years at some of the most prestigious architecture firms, their mission is to produce innovative and design-forward spaces that transform lives and neighborhoods for the better.
Their idea is to combine top-tier work experience with their unique cultural backgrounds to fill a longstanding gap for families and young professionals in the marketplace.
The architecture industry has long been dominated by a pretty singular vision and group; limiting its scope and expression. By merging thoughtful design with a clear understanding of consumer needs, they want to give families, of all types, the opportunity to see themselves in a home that reflects their needs and values.
They plan to implement this by buying land, building on it and designing living spaces themselves. By handling everything from scratch, they will have better control over the outcome, saving money and time.
Their objective is to provide quality architecture and socially-responsible developments that strengthen and enhance diverse communities.
Positive Planet US Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in the US
Luisa and Lucia applied to the Accelerator Hub program to get a guiding hand from experts in building their startups. They have a deep level of experience in design and architecture, but wanted to build expertise in business development and marketing.
The Positive Planet US mentorship program was developed to help jump start businesses operationally, providing them with structured business education and hands-on experience with evaluating market opportunities in their niche and fine-tuning their business plans. During this mentorship program, Luisa and Lucia will get the support of their mentor to further define their products and services, identify potential customer segments, and learn how to apply for business loans. The tailored coaching program and skills developed during the accelerator will help them take their business to the next level.
Discrimination is not only a problem in the architecture world, it is a social problem. We, at Positive Planet US, believe in gender equality and we think it is important to have diverse opinions and viewpoints. Women and men, together, create a more balanced society, leading to an improvement in the quality of life for everyone. Our coaching program is set up to help Luisa and Lucia succeed in their entrepreneurial dream in this challenging industry for women.
