2M Raised in 100 Days: Seoul Beauty Club Rides K-Beauty Export Surge to the U.S.
Summary
LA-to-Seoul startup, founded by ex-Apple and ex-Kim & Chang talent, raises $2 million within 100 days of beta launch by reinventing how Korean skincare reaches women 30+(SBC), a cross-border personalized subscription marketplace for K-beauty, has raised $2 million in pre-seed funding within 100-days of launch. SBC has also recently been selected for the Korean governments Global TIPS program, receiving $820,000 for R&D focused on beauty personalization.The announcement comes as the U.S. has officially overtaken China as Koreas largest beauty export market; a shift that underscores SBCs unique positioning at the intersection of global commerce, science-driven skincare, and personalized product discovery.Founded by Leo Park, a former cross-border corporate attorney at Koreas leading law firm Kim & Chang, and Allan Grinshtein, an ex-Apple and Meta product designer, SBC is helping Seouls indie beauty brands reach high-spending Western consumers, especially women aged 30-60 who are demanding more transparency, clinical efficacy, and personalization in their skincare.SBC is already operating at a seven-figure ARR run rate while still in beta and is preparing operations to scale at least 10x in 2026. "Backed by investors including Hustle Fund, Collaborative Fund Asia, Sazze VC, The Ventures, and Mashup Angels, SBC is addressing multiple forces transforming the beauty market: None U.S. imports of Korean cosmetics hit a record high in 2024, helping drive Koreas beauty exports to $1.71 billion; . Since launching, it has:By December, SBC will relocate logistics operations to the U.S. to streamline fulfillment amid record demand and scale its engineering team to enhance personalization and customer experience. With dual headquarters in Los Angeles and Seoul, SBC focuses on science-backed skincare rooted in Korean beauty rituals - designed specifically for women who want truth over trends.