Hardware Podcasts

Tatcha: Vicky Tsai (July 2020)

How I Built This · 2 Jun 2025 · 1h 17m

What this episode covers

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, despite being told by experts that Asian beauty products had no market in the U.S. Strapped for cash and working out of her parents' garage for seven years without a salary, she self-financed the company, secured early retail partnerships with Space NK, and leveraged QVC appearances to drive volume. Tsai details the financial struggles, including maxing out credit cards and selling her engagement ring, before Tatcha was acquired by Unilever for $500 million in 2019.

Most relevant to

founders before launch, early-stage companies, companies scaling up and large enterprises

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Unilever, Starbucks, Good Guide, Room to Read
Products
Tatcha, SK2, La Prairie
Also
QVC, Space NK, Vogue, Oprah

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