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.
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.
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
LinkedIn: DJ Kim
