Meet Shani Bocian | CEO & Co-Founder, Allermi

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shani Bocian and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shani, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I’ve had allergies since I was about 10 years old. For years, I refused to use nasal spray, despite my dad being an allergist and encouraging me to every day. When I finally obliged and took the nasal spray he gave me, I was shocked at how much better I felt, almost instantly – I could breathe again! I became a nasal spray evangelist, learning my dad’s method of mixing up multiple ingredients into one bottle. During college, my friends would come to my dorm room and I’d give them nasal sprays that I’d mixed up in my sink. Then, as telemedicine started to grow as a field and brands were using the internet to make better healthcare and medication available to people, especially custom formulas like Curology and Apostrophe, I realized there was a huge opportunity to take my dad’s nasal spray formulas and make them available to anyone who needs them, nationwide.

What should our readers know about your business?
We are so excited to be the world’s very first customized multi-ingredient nasal spray. All of the nasal sprays available for purchase at the drugstore contain single active ingredients – and allergy sufferers are really dissatisfied with them, because they don’t sufficiently relieve symptoms. With Allermi, we use science-based formulas that combine multiple active ingredients, so allergy sufferers can actually get comprehensive relief of their symptoms. Congestion, itch, sneezing and runny nose are relieved in 10 minutes, and get better with consistent use over time. Allergy is a chronic disease affecting millions of people in this country, so a good, safe, long-term solution is crucial. The absolute best part of this business is when we get feedback from customers who say things like “I literally couldn’t breathe or sleep before Allermi, and my whole life has changed now.” I want people to know that at Allermi, we care deeply about each and every one of our patients. Every patient is reviewed carefully by a board-certified allergist who takes their unique picture of symptoms into consideration when prescribing them a formula. We care how well they do, we work with them to optimize their relief. We are truly a patient-centered company, and believe this really is the future of healthcare.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am obsessed with LA so I love this question. I’d start the first day with my favorite coffee at Eyes Peeled, down the street from my house, and get a Georgia On My Mind (maple-vanilla-orange coffee). I’d then grab breakfast at Lodge Bread or Gjusta, then head north to Malibu for a hike, then a picnic on the beach. Second day, I’d head downtown, go to the Lost Bookstore, get lunch in Grand Central Market, then head to the Broad or Grammy Museum. I’d drive up near Dodger Stadium (and go to a game if in season!), and hike up to the swing on the hill overlooking downtown for sunset. Dinner downtown at Bestia or Bavel in the Arts Disctrict. The other days, we’d check out some of the LA’s ethnic enclaves and get amazing Korean/Japanese/Central American/Jewish food and explore cultural landmarks that represent LA’s incredible diversity.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d love to shout out the Old Girls Club, founded by Mallory Contois. OGC is an invite only community of badass executive women in tech and venture exchanging non-performative, authentic support. This group has been invaluable in supporting me during my journey!

Website: www.allermi.com

Instagram: @getallermi

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shani-bocian-steinberg/