Founder of FLRRiSH and Preemie Mamaprenista, Jodi Klaristenfeld, on Her Calling to Help Other Mothers

Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business:

I’m Jodi, a mom to a 28-week preemie girl. After giving birth, I discovered an unmet need for support and connection for preemie families. FLRRiSH is the premier resource for preemie parents, helping families navigate the unexpected journey from hospital to home. Created by a NICU mom, our programs are designed to inspire, empower and educate. Our vision is to fill a void for caregivers by creating a community so that every preemie parent feels acknowledged, served, and understood.

What excites you about being an Entreprenista League member?

I look forward to making connections, learning how to expand my footprint and how to spread the word.

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

The way my daughter was born made me realize I was meant to help others in a similar situation so that they didn’t feel so alone, scared, and unsupported.

What was your background prior to starting your own business?

I am a lawyer by education, and I run my family business: a wholesale distribution company.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

I have always had that spirit being my parents are entrepreneurs, but giving birth the way I did create that spark to take the leap.

Take us back to when you first launched your business, what was your marketing strategy to get the word out, and did it go as planned?

I had no marketing strategy simply because I had no experience in doing so. My parents’ business is a well-oiled machine over 45 years running. As such I have had to learn as I go (pretty much like Socialfly), and while it has been a great experience doing so, it is daunting especially when I am not completely sure what it is I need. I still feel this way and am currently interviewing for PR and marketing.

What is the biggest challenge you have encountered along the way and what did you learn from it?

So far the biggest challenge is learning how to spread the word. I keep submitting articles to various platforms, but they go into a vortex of all others. I need to find that person or persons who can help me with connections. I know I have a great business as 10% of births each year are premature. It is about letting people know about me. I keep banging on the door, but I think this is not something I can do on my own. It is ok to admit I need help. Asking for help is a great thing, not a sign of weakness like many people fear it is.

What is the accomplishment you are the proudest of to date?

Within 1 year, I have basically started from nothing and created an audio course, resources state by state, and a website. The website is to be fully launched with all pages and courses by Mid October in time for Preemie Awareness month in November.

Do you believe in work/life balance? What are some of your best tips?

Yes, of course. I wish I was better at it, but I think it is about the quality of time not the quantity of time. I need to show up for myself and my family before I can do anything else and my morning routine helps me do that.

What’s a piece of advice you can share that you wish you’d known when you first started your Entreprenista journey?

It is hard and can be isolating at times, yet it is rewarding.

What have you achieved recently that you’d like to celebrate with our community?

Launching our landing page and had 3 articles published online at non-profit organizations. I also currently mentor 4 preemie mamas through non-profits and they all support me in this journey with FLRRiSH.

What’s next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?

Full website launched, to be in contract with hospitals in major cities for the audio course and resources, to be the “preemie mama expert” and to be a guest speaker/podcast guest on many platforms.

Learn more about the Entreprenista League and join today!