During Spring Quarter 2024, the UC Irvine ANTrepreneur Center hosted a new program called the Side Hustle Challenge. The Side Hustle Challenge offered students the training, resources, and networking opportunities they needed to turn their passions into bonafide ventures. Throughout the quarter, the students learned about branding, finances, legal considerations, e-commerce, and other key aspects of building a business. The program culminated in a Finals Marketplace where the UC Irvine and wider Orange County communities were invited to explore the various student-developed side hustles and shop their products and services.
To highlight some of the incredible student side hustlers who participated in the challenge, Ryan Foland, ANTrepreneur Center Director, invited these ANTrepreneurs for a series of informative interviews. Welcome to Side Hustler Stories!
In this interview, Ryan sits down with UC Irvine student JeWan Youn (Computer Science) to learn more about his health supplement management side hustle dosety.
Ryan: Ahoy, JeWan; welcome to Side Hustler Stories! I’m excited you’re here. Can you kick off the interview by sharing what led you to create a personalized supplement management platform?
JeWan: I played ice hockey and tennis during high school, which meant I spent a lot of time training at the gym. My teammates and I took multiple supplements, like protein, creatine, and others, without fully understanding how they worked. We just knew that they were supposed to help with performance and recovery. We took them mainly because friends and older teammates recommended them. However, over time, I noticed some adverse effects, like elevated blood pressure, and realized I was essentially paying to be unhealthy. This experience sparked my interest in understanding the proper use of supplements and inspired me to create a personalized supplement management platform.
Ryan: With so many people using supplements, what do you think is the biggest misconception about supplement usage, especially within the Korean community?
JeWan: The biggest misconception I encounter is that supplements are always beneficial and harmless. Many people see supplements as non-medical products, so they don’t consider the potential risks and simply take whatever is recommended by others.
In Korea, where body dysmorphic behavior is common due to constant exposure to celebrities and influencers, people often compare themselves to others and resort to extreme diets or body-enhancing supplements. However, supplements can interact negatively with certain health conditions; for instance, taking both warfarin and vitamin E can pose risks. Choosing the right supplements—and understanding their true effects—can make a significant difference in achieving health benefits safely.
Ryan: How did your experience at the AI Innovation Challenge shape your approach to building dosety, and what were some of the key takeaways from the challenge?
JeWan: The AI Innovation Challenge was a crucial first step for dosety, allowing me to gain experience in team building, networking, market discovery, pivoting, and pitching. One of the key takeaways was learning how to communicate my idea effectively. Initially, I assumed that others understood my project as well as I did, but I realized that I was overlooking how much context and background knowledge they lacked. While I think about this project constantly, someone hearing it for the first time won’t have the same understanding. Mentor feedback helped me refine my public speaking skills, making it easier to convey my ideas clearly and engagingly.
Ryan: You mentioned that building an MVP was a significant hurdle during the competition. What steps did you take afterward to prioritize the development of a functional MVP?
JeWan: I initially didn’t realize how important an MVP would be for pitching, as it’s a key indicator of a project’s feasibility and potential. After understanding its importance, I reached out to graduate students, old high school friends, and hackathon teams to discuss the best approach.
I eventually recruited one of my high school friends and two members from a winning hackathon team in New York. We used Trello to manage our backlog and Slack for communication, which allowed us to successfully develop our first MVP, now hosted at dosety.com. Currently, I’m working on the second version based on the initial feedback we received from users.
Ryan: How did your networking efforts lead to securing a strategic partnership with an OEM in South Korea, and how has this partnership impacted your business plan?
JeWan: I was actively searching for companies that could supply supplements for my team, but many didn’t take my inquiries seriously. However, opportunities can sometimes arise in unexpected ways. I met a real estate agent who happened to have connections with an OEM company through past experiences. Through this contact, I was introduced to the CEO and their global export team. We’ve since developed a strategic plan to divide the business: I’ll handle software development, while they take on the role of supplement supplier. This partnership has strengthened our business plan by allowing us to focus on our core competencies while ensuring a reliable product source.
Ryan: Could you tell us more about the support you received from Korea’s IP Didimdol project and how it has contributed to your startup’s development?
JeWan: IP Didimdol is a program that provides $4,000 worth of patent services to aspiring entrepreneurs chosen by regional intellectual property centers. I was selected for this support and have successfully filed my first patent application in Korea, which is currently under review through the fast-track process. This patent will help protect my idea and give our startup a competitive edge. Additionally, the program connects participants to future grant opportunities, which gives us an advantage in securing further support as we progress.
Ryan: As an international student, what are some specific challenges you’ve faced and how have they influenced your outlook on entrepreneurship?
JeWan: The biggest challenge I faced as an international student was my visa status. The F-1 visa restricts international students from building startups during college. I consulted with immigration attorneys and other entrepreneurs, but I realized that my only option was to wait until I graduated and obtained OPT status.
Rather than just waiting, I decided to start my business in Korea where I could leverage my family and friends’ networks to prove the concept before eventually bringing it to the U.S. Although localization will be necessary as I expand, this approach allows me to build a solid foundation rather than starting from scratch.
Ryan: Who have been some of your most influential mentors along this journey, and what advice or support has been most impactful for you?
JeWan: My first mentor was a professor from UC Irvine, who taught me the true meaning of dedication and work ethic. He showed me how to go above and beyond, and he shared practical advice on communication, such as removing filler words from pitches, turning on video during virtual meetings, and properly addressing people—all small but powerful techniques that have been incredibly useful. His example continues to inspire me to put my best effort into this project.
My second influential mentors were part of UC Irvine’s ANTrepreneur Center, which provided a diverse group of experts specializing in areas like software, HR, marketing, and legal matters. As a team leader who often needs a broad skill set, this variety of support was invaluable during the initial stages of my startup, helping me build a solid foundation across multiple areas.
Ryan: What advice would you give to other students looking to turn their ideas into a business, especially when faced with setbacks and challenges like the ones you’ve experienced?
JeWan: Since I’m still in the process myself, I can’t say with certainty that every choice I’ve made was the best one. However, one piece of advice I can give is this: just start. Don’t wait for the ‘perfect’ time or the ‘perfect’ way to begin—take action and let momentum carry you forward. If you stay committed, you’ll likely end up closer to what you want.
Also, talk to people, especially those who’ve achieved what you’re aiming for. If you want to be an international entrepreneur, connect with others who have done it. They’ve likely faced similar challenges, and learning how they navigated around obstacles can be invaluable. Just start conversations—you never know what insights you might gain.
Ryan: It’s been great talking to you, JeWan. Thank you for sharing your experiences; I’m sure your story will inspire other student entrepreneurs. One last question to close this out: What has been the most valuable lesson you’ve learned so far?
JeWan: Resilience is truly the key to success. Often, problems are solved in the most unexpected ways—like when I discovered that a real estate agent I knew was connected to a supplement OEM company. To stay resilient, my best advice is to keep things simple. Worrying or stressing over a problem won’t solve it; just keep moving forward and tackle each challenge as it comes.
Visit dosety.com for the latest news and updates from JeWan’scompany. Inspired by JeWan’s journey and interested in other student side hustles? Then stay tuned for the next installment of the Side Hustler Stories series.
Want help developing and launching your side hustle or business venture? Then visit the ANTrepreneur Center website to learn more about programming, speaker series, Micro-Internships, funding, and more. You can also learn more about the Center’s collaborations with Blackstone LaunchPad, Tech Coast Angels, Tech Coast Venture Network, OC Startup Council, and SoCal Celebrates Entrepreneurship. Keep up with the Center’s latest news by following them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn.