Shivangi Sinha
Phones have a way of quietly taking over time, pulling people into endless scrolling without them even realizing it. What starts as a quick check often turns into hours lost. Many try to set limits or use locking features, but those are usually easy to bypass and make it hard to stay disciplined. The cycle continues, leaving people frustrated with their own habits. On ABC’s ‘Shark Tank’ season 17, episode 16, Bloom introduced a product designed to tackle this very issue. It is a more effective and intentional way to disconnect and regain control over screen time.
Bloom: Who Are They and What Do They Do?
Danny Super Chmaytelli and Giancarlo Novelli, the co-founders of Bloom, both have strong professional and academic backgrounds that laid the foundation for their journey into digital wellness. Danny, a computer science student at UCLA, has a history of developing tech solutions that impact real-world productivity and efficiency. He co-founded Render AI in 2025 to create AI-powered advertising tools and Math Grader AI in 2025, which scaled an AI grading platform to over a thousand teachers. His experience includes internships at Amazon, where he validated consumer electronics hardware, and NASA, where he worked on mechanical design and alignment software for the EXCLAIM telescope mission.
Giancarlo, also a UCLA student of the 2026 batch studying Business Economics, honed his skills in entrepreneurship, operations, and analytics. At UCLA, he has been involved with Bruin Ventures, working as a business analyst, and held leadership roles in student organizations, including SEP at UCLA as president. Giancarlo also served as Director of Operations for Bruin Tank 2025 and worked as an investment analyst at Plug and Play Tech Center. The two met at UCLA and quickly bonded over a shared frustration that smartphones were consuming too much of their time and that of their peers. They noticed that existing solutions to limit distractions were either cumbersome or easy to bypass, making it difficult to regain focus. In September 2024, they co-founded Bloom to address this problem with a practical, user-friendly solution.
Their product, the Bloom Card, is a stainless steel key card designed to lock access to selected apps on a smartphone. Users first download the Bloom App and choose which apps they want to restrict, then physically tap the Bloom Card on their device to lock those apps. The card can be stored away until the user is ready to use the apps again, and when tapped back on the phone, it instantly restores access. By combining Danny’s technical engineering background with Giancarlo’s operational and business expertise, Bloom offers a simple yet powerful tool to help users maintain focus in a technology-driven world. The Bloom Card transforms the way people interact with their phones and makes digital wellness tangible and physical.
Related
Bloom: Where Are They Now?
Bloom has conducted a survey showing that customers using their product report 92% better focus. They feel more present, more organized, and in control of their schedules. The Bloom Card also allows users to block websites and adult content, giving them full control over distractions. Each card is priced at $39, with options for multiple cards as well. Two cards, which are ideal for work and home, are priced at $78, and three cards for different family members are available for $117. The Bloom Card works with an accompanying app that helps manage its functions. It requires no charging and uses NFC technology to instantly communicate with the phone.
Compact and sleek, it fits easily in one’s wallet or pocket. Bloom also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. If the customers don’t notice an improvement in focus and phone habits within 30 days, their purchase is fully refundable, no questions asked. Users also have the option of an emergency exit, which can be customized around breaks, schedules, or urgent needs. Students can take advantage of a 20% discount when purchasing through the Bloom website. The product is compatible with both iOS and Android devices and is now available at Best Buy as well.
