# Tatcha: Vicky Tsai

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2020-07-13
- Length: 1h 18m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-07-13-tatcha-vicky-tsai

## Summary

Vicky Tsai, founder of Tatcha, explains how a trip to Kyoto and a meeting with a geisha inspired her to launch a skincare brand based on traditional Japanese ingredients. After facing rejection from US beauty experts and retailers who claimed Asian beauty wasn't aspirational, she self-funded the company, working out of her parents' garage and pitching on QVC. Tsai details the financial struggles, including maxing out credit cards and selling her engagement ring, before Tatcha achieved profitability and was eventually acquired by Unilever for $500 million.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-07-13-tatcha-vicky-tsai#t=0) Introduction: Vicky Tsai and Tatcha
- [4:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-07-13-tatcha-vicky-tsai#t=285) Early Life, 9/11, and Career in Finance
- [12:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-07-13-tatcha-vicky-tsai#t=748) Skincare Struggles and Starbucks Career
- [23:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-07-13-tatcha-vicky-tsai#t=1416) The Trip to Kyoto and Meeting the Geisha
- [35:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-07-13-tatcha-vicky-tsai#t=2103) Naming Tatcha and Self-Financing the Startup
- [41:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-07-13-tatcha-vicky-tsai#t=2494) Early Launch, Rejection, and QVC Success
- [54:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-07-13-tatcha-vicky-tsai#t=3269) Operating from Parents' Garage and Financial Hardship
- [1:04:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-07-13-tatcha-vicky-tsai#t=3860) Growth, Private Equity, and Leadership Challenges
- [1:11:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-07-13-tatcha-vicky-tsai#t=4284) Acquisition by Unilever and Post-Exit Reflection

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Growth, exits & acquisitions](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/growth-exits-and-acquisitions)

## Most relevant to

founders before launch, companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- Tatcha (product)
- Unilever (company)
- QVC (other)
- Sephora (company)
- SK-II (product)
- La Prairie (product)
- Vogue (other)
- Oprah (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Founder Feature: Jilleo Recio of RĒJINS](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-10-18-founder-feature-jilleo-recio-of-rejins) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Oddball's Path From Idea to Funding a Nationwide Target Launch](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-07-11-oddballs-path-from-idea-to-funding-a-nationwide-target-launch) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Tabi and Meena Hoshmand of Tursh](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-11-14-founder-feature-tabi-and-meena-hoshmand-of-tursh) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: JoLynn Henke and Peter Clarkson](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2024-05-24-founder-feature-jolynn-henke-and-peter-clarkson) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Jesrina Arshad of PurelyB](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-08-08-founder-feature-jesrina-arshad-of-purelyb) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-07-13-tatcha-vicky-tsai. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to How I Built This.