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December 1, 2024

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Not knowing what to do when starting his business, DhungJoo “DJ” Kim burnt through a whole sum of cash during his early days and later got himself in an environment full of volatility and bad actors. 

Yet after years of honing his entrepreneurial experience, DJ founded and grew RevGenius to a 30,000-member community at $1M ARR, sold three businesses, and helped over 50 business owners scale their companies with offshore staff.

Propelled by a passion for uplifting the community, he founded Cherry Assistant, a bridge dedicated to providing global talents for founders. 

Whether you are a young founder or a seasoned leader looking for something to kindle your entrepreneurial spirit, DJ’s story will redefine what it means to have a legacy that extends beyond business success.

An Entrepreneur Hero

DJ’s inspiration for entrepreneurship started with his admiration for his father, who had been an entrepreneur for over 30 years. As a child, he saw firsthand how his father had traversed challenges, empowered his team, and innovated his business to stay competitive. 

“He faced the ups and downs of the industry with resilience and dedication, which taught me the importance of hard work, adaptability, and long-term commitment,” DJ explains. 

DJ learned that entrepreneurship is more than starting a business but creating something that can evolve and endure the test of time. This drive nurtured DJ’s entrepreneurial spirit, invoking his desire to make an impact through his ventures. 

“His passion for his work, even after decades, has inspired me to build my path in business, with the same drive and perseverance,” DJ reflects.

His father's passion is what drives DJ to build his business.

His father’s passion is what drives DJ to build his business.

Shaky First Steps

Like many young founders, DJ was eager but inexperienced when starting his entrepreneurial journey. During his first years, he recalled wasting a lot of money for not knowing the fundamentals. 

DJ states, “We outsourced development to a team in India, only to realize that without the technical know-how to properly manage and guide the project, we were burning through cash with little return.”

These struggles were further burdened by DJ’s struggle to reconcile with his Asian heritage and the pressures of assimilating into a Western environment. As a Korean who immigrated to the US at a young age, DJ regularly felt he was losing parts of himself, specifically in spaces where Asian representation was lacking. Yet, these challenges also drove DJ to give the Asian community a turning point. 

“I want to create opportunities for others in the Asian community to embrace their identities fully and bring their cultural strengths into the business world,” he exclaimed. 

An Entrepreneur’s Passion

Startup was DJ’s passion even as early as his college days when he launched his first mobile app startup with an initial $250K raise. Transitioning from a startup incubator to co-founding RevGenius, DJ fostered a community with 30,000 members and hit $1M ARR in one year. 

Eager to expand and hone his experience in software, e-commerce, and B2C ventures, DJ moved to LA to explore crypto/Web3, where he found himself in an environment of bad actors and volatility. 

Looking back, DJ states “It tested my resilience and taught me the importance of diligence, research, and staying true to my ethical standards in any venture.”

This experience inspired DJ to found Cherry Assistant, a business dedicated to helping founders scale their companies with virtual assistants. 

Building Cherry Assistant was no simple feat. DJ has encountered numerous challenges in hiring offshore talent sifting through scams and dishonest individuals to identify reliable people. He understands that clients are wary of offshore workers as there is a misconception that these laborers are somehow ‘lesser’ or incapable. Hence, he made it his mission to show clients that there are hardworking, skilled professionals who simply happen to live in different countries.

He states, “I learned that, at its core, a community thrives on mutual benefit and authentic connections.”

Throughout DJ's business journey, he learned that community is core to success.

Throughout DJ’s business journey, he learned that community is core to success.

The Strength of a Community

During this journey of scaling Cherry Assistant, DJ found Asian Hustle Network (AHN). 

“AHN became instrumental in expanding my network, showcasing the power of community support in entrepreneurship,” DJ excitedly claimed.

As Cherry Assistant attracted many home cleaning businesses seeking offshore support, including one business owner who offered DJ mentorship, he decided to open his third business: a remote home cleaning company. Within just a year, DJ successfully scaled and sold it to a local entrepreneur thanks to AHN’s community. 

“Through AHN’s supportive community, I eventually found a local entrepreneur interested in buying the business. This network not only enabled me to close the deal but also highlighted the power of community and connection in the Asian business world,” DJ excitedly claimed.

A Vision to Help the Community

Focusing on scaling Cherry Assistant and his experiences building three businesses, DJ’s mission is to empower entrepreneurs and small business founders by providing them with the resources to achieve similar success.

DJ states, “With Cherry Assistant, my goal is to create a bridge for founders to access global talent, helping them streamline operations, save time, and focus on growth. This mission is personal to me as a Korean American, knowing firsthand the value of hard work, resilience, and the importance of leveraging opportunities.”

DJ’s vision is to foster a diverse and inclusive workforce, all while building a platform that provides businesses with skilled support. For the Asian community, this mission holds a greater significance in DJ’s heart.

“By sharing my experiences and the lessons I’ve learned, I hope to empower other Asians and Asian Americans to pursue their ambitions, leverage their networks, and give back to their communities,” DJ states.

DJ’s true legacy goes far beyond the success of his business—it lives in his unwavering passion to uplift and empower other founders.

Connect with DJ Kim

Instagram: @dhungjookim

Twitter: DJ Kim

LinkedIn: DJ Kim

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Building Tomorrow: How Nan Lin Redefines Homebuilding with 3D Printing 

For Nan Lin, entrepreneurship isn’t just business; it’s freedom. A freedom earned through sacrifice, relentless execution, and a refusal to accept the limits of a broken system. As the founder of Kaizen Capital and 4DIFY, Lin is reimagining the housing industry, tackling its inefficiencies with cutting-edge technology and a bold vision. His mission? To build stronger homes faster, at lower costs, empowering communities and challenging the status quo.

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Lin’s journey began at age 10, when he immigrated to America with his mother. While adapting to a new country, he was inspired by his loving parents’ sacrifices, which shaped his relentless drive. “I saw the lengths they went to give me a better life,” Lin says. “Their love and dedication became my compass.” Years later, that resolve led to the creation of Kaizen Capital, where he transforms underutilized properties into vibrant housing solutions: ADUs, subdivisions, condo conversions, and luxury short-term rentals. By unlocking hidden value in land, he delivers market-rate and affordable housing that strengthens neighborhoods.

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Nan Lin | Founder and Principal of Kaizen Capital and 4DIFY

3D Printing: The Future of Housing, Today

Lin’s vision for 4DIFY was sparked by a frustrating reality: “Wildfires destroy neighborhoods every year, yet we keep building stick-frame homes that burn like kindling,” he says.

After visiting several 3D printer manufacturers, Lin partnered with New York–based SQ4D. It took nearly a year to secure exclusive licensing rights, navigate regulatory hurdles, and obtain building permits, but he got it done.

Now, 4DIFY is building California’s first community of 3D-printed concrete homes. As this article goes live, their first printed home is nearing completion, despite heavy regulations and a steep learning curve. The team is already outperforming traditional timelines and cost benchmarks. The second and third homes will soon print simultaneously, targeting completion in two months, effectively one home per month at under $200 per square foot.

Despite challenges as an Asian immigrant, Lin managed to transform them into motivation and success. 

“We’re aiming to build at half the cost and in a quarter of the time,” Lin says. “That’s not a dream. It’s the direction we’re heading.”

Built with concrete, reinforced with rebar, and topped with metal roofs, these homes are resilient against fire, wind, earthquakes, mold, and pests. They’re also designed for long-term savings, with lower maintenance, less waste, and reduced energy and insurance costs.

“Critics doubted it would work,” Lin reflects. “But seeing is believing. This is the future.”

A Philosophy of Purpose and Resilience

Lin’s journey has been marked by relentless challenges, some seemingly insurmountable. “Obstacles never stop,” he admits. Yet he transforms adversity into opportunity, fueled by a positive mindset, solution-driven focus, and disciplined execution. His trusted team is his backbone. “No one succeeds alone,” he says. “My team turns the impossible into reality.” This resilience shapes his leadership, blending bold vision with purposeful action to create opportunities, particularly for communities long excluded from wealth-building. “Housing isn’t just a product,” Lin says. “It’s a platform for empowerment.”

Recognition and Inspiration

Lin’s impact is gaining notice. The Sacramento Bee named him one of the Top 20 AAPI Change Makers, and he was honored in the Business Elite Awards’ 40 Under 40. But for Lin, the real reward is inspiring others. “I want to show the next generation of Asian entrepreneurs what’s possible when we claim our seat at the table,” he says.

Lin wants to create opportunities for those marginalized by elevating the future of construction, making it more accessible for his community.

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