PMBC Clients, Timyo and Pinkfong Featured on Built in LA.
One of the first things I noticed when I started writing about the LA tech community is how genuinely helpful entrepreneurs were to each other. It became clear — and fast — that members of our tech community really seemed to want to see other people succeed.
A year later, and that sentiment has only grown stronger. We decided to ask a handful of CEOs — some LA tech veterans and some newcomers to the scene — what startups or entrepreneurs they admire most, and the answers were pretty intriguing.
What LA-based startup or entrepreneur do you admire most and why?
The LA-based entrepreneur I admire most is Thibaud Clement, founder of Calendy, a social media calendar tool. I admire him because he secured the opportunity to work in the U.S. after being selected in the annual Green Card Lottery, and then immediately got started on building his company. It’s easy to get comfortable once you get a Green Card, but he got right to work.
What can entrepreneurs learn from this company/person?
Entrepreneurs can learn that it’s okay to change things up if something isn’t working. Thibaud pivoted from building a digital agency to creating a software solution that helps community and digital managers plan social media content distribution.
South Korean-based edtech startup SMARTSTUDY is one of the world’s premier education content creators for preschool children on the planet. Recently, the company tabbed Bin Jeong as the CEO of its U.S. subsidiary, PINKFONG, a company based just south of Koreatown.
What LA-based startup or entrepreneur do you admire most and why?
Toni Ko of Perverse Sunglasses tops my list for many reasons. She has an incredibly inspiring story and at age 25 negotiated her first successful exit to the world’s largest beauty conglomerate, L’Oréal, for $500 million. Her current endeavor, Perverse Sunglasses, seems to be on a similar trajectory and I love that women make up more than 80 percent of the company’s workforce. As a female CEO and fellow Korean-American entrepreneur, I can relate to many aspects of her journey.
What can entrepreneurs learn from this company?
We should utilize our strengths and past experiences and apply what we know best to our endeavors, but should not be afraid to pursue our passions and venture outside of the familiar.
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