EO The Not-so-pretty Story of Growing a CompanyㅣIYUNO CEO David Lee | EO
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Oct 28, 2025 David Lee, CEO and founder of IYUNO, turned a small subtitling gig into the world’s largest media localization company. He shares the challenges of profitability despite early success, the pivotal decision to go international, and how Netflix's global expansion fueled growth. David discusses innovative cloud solutions for operational efficiency, strategic acquisitions for market dominance, and the vision to enhance accessibility while preserving original content intent. His leadership insights emphasize hiring talented individuals and aligning company culture with employee interests.
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From VHS Subtitler To Tech Founder
- David Lee started IYUNO after subtitling part-time and building simple software to automate VHS-to-file timecodes.
- That small automation cut about 30% of time and cost and launched their early success.
A Lost Client Triggered Strategic Pivot
- David lost major revenue after missing an important client event and competitors took the work.
- That loss forced a strategic pivot away from DVD and toward broadcasters and international clients.
Go Live Where Your Clients Are
- Relocate yourself to key markets rather than sending staff to build necessary openness and cultural understanding.
- Living on the ground helps build a unique, adaptable company culture for global business.