How this first-time founder landed a $630 million exit

Masters of Scale

WaitWhat

Entrepreneurship, Business, Management, Reid Hoffman, Mindset, Diversity & Inclusion, Jeff Berman, Bob Safian, Startups

4.6 • 4.4K Ratings

🗓️ 8 May 2025

⏱️ 36 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

When Ju Rhyu moved to South Korea for a corporate job, she noticed people unapologetically wearing hydrocolloid pimple patches on their faces — on the street, at the office, anywhere. She soon realized no one had cornered the US market yet on this skincare secret, and Hero Cosmetics was born. Rhyu joins host Jeff Berman this week to reveal the lessons she learned as a first-time entrepreneur who built a brand that earned a $630 million exit.

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Transcript

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1:14.9	I tried to launch it.
1:17.7	I had a name.
1:19.6	I had source the manufacturer.
1:21.9	You know, I had the packaging.
1:25.0	And then I just, I chickened out.
1:27.9	You got scared? Yeah. I mean, it's a lot. It's a lot of commitment. I chickened out. You got scared?
1:28.7	Yeah.
1:29.8	I mean, it's a lot.
	...

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