Yunha Kim, an immigrant who exceeded expectations, shares her journey from Wall Street to entrepreneurship and her battle with chronic insomnia. Topics include the pressures of Shark Tank, impact of negative feedback, and creating Sleep Reset to address the root causes of sleep issues.
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Quick takeaways
Yunha Kim's journey as an entrepreneur taught her the importance of purpose and impact, shifting her focus from financial success to creating products that truly change lives.
Yunha discovered cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, leading her to create Sleep Reset, a digital solution that improves sleep quality without medication.
Yunha's personal and professional growth, including facing challenges like Shark Tank, shaped her resilience and strengthened her mission to make a positive difference in people's lives.
Deep dives
Discovering Purpose Through Entrepreneurship
Yuna Kim arrived in the US alone at the age of 14, striving to succeed academically and professionally. After excelling in school and landing a high-profile job in investment banking, she felt a strong desire to forge her own path. Leaving her dream job, she co-founded her own business, but soon realized that simply owning a company wasn't enough. Yuna embarked on a mission to create products that had a bigger purpose and a positive impact on people's lives.
Uncovering the Power of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia
Yuna's personal struggle with chronic insomnia led her to discover cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI), which had a life-changing impact on her sleep quality. Recognizing the significant demand for sleep-related content on her meditation app, Simple Habit, Yuna partnered with researchers to launch Sleep Reset, a digital solution to help people overcome sleep issues without relying on medication. Sleep Reset's efficacy was proven in a study, showing an 85-minute increase in sleep time and a 50% reduction in time spent awake in bed.
The Evolution of Entrepreneurship and Impact
Yuna's journey as an entrepreneur taught her the importance of purpose and impact. After experiencing personal and professional growth through starting and selling her first company, she realized that building a business was about more than financial success. Yuna's focus shifted to creating products that truly changed lives, with Sleep Reset being a testament to her commitment. The challenges she faced, including a viral TV drama on Shark Tank, shaped her resilience and strengthened her mission to make a positive difference in people's lives.
Creating Simple Habits and Overcoming Startup Stress
In this podcast episode, the speaker discusses their journey of creating Simple Habits, a meditation app. They explain that the idea for the app came about when they realized the need for a platform that would allow meditation teachers to easily distribute their content. Despite initially viewing it as a project rather than a company, they hired an engineering contractor and designed the app. The speaker also shares their experience of going through Y Combinator, a seed accelerator program in Silicon Valley, and the pressure they felt during demo day. They reflect on the shift from a mindset focused on building a successful company to a mission-driven purpose of impacting people's lives through meditation.
Transitioning to Sleep Reset and Personal Growth
The speaker explains how their meditation app evolved into Sleep Reset, a sleep program, after realizing that sleep-related content garnered high engagement from users. They highlight the disconnect between available solutions and the treatment recommended by clinicians for sleep issues. Despite the challenges of transitioning the team from working on a meditation app to a sleep program, the speaker expresses gratitude for their team's trust and support. They also discuss their personal growth journey, including therapy sessions that helped them understand their drive for achievement, the impact on their self-worth, and the importance of aligning their work with a deeper sense of purpose. Finally, they share their perspective on living a good life, emphasizing the significance of health, relationships, meaningful work, and a personal relationship with a higher power.
Dive into the captivating tale of Yunha Kim. An immigrant who exceeded expectations, yet felt unfulfilled despite having every hallmark of success. From thriving in Wall Street's corridors to becoming a passionate entrepreneur, living with 5 workmate-roommates as they built from scratch. Yet, fulfillment evaded her until she combined tech and a personal challenge - her own battle with chronic insomnia.
Today, we unpack Yunha's incredible journey, from the pressures of Shark Tank to becoming a beacon of change in the tech industry. Discover how she's not just building apps but impacting lives.
If you LOVED this episode you’ll also love the conversations we had with Brad Feld about the journey from finding your purpose to guiding people through founding companies to find their own purpose.
