When Kaci first talked to me about the idea of Cimu over a casual afternoon tea session during our GoodNotes internship back in the summer of 2023, I had no idea that conversation would carried over so much weight over my life - in a positive way.
At the time, I was simply excited about blending my love for technology with a meaningful cause—reducing clothing waste through convenient and accessible alterations; little did I know that this passion project, born out of friendship and shared ideals, would become an intense journey in balancing personal relationships with business responsibilities.
From the exchange in Dublin in Fall 2023 to going back in Hong Kong in Spring 2024, while Kaci was completing her studies at Yale, our first year was a testament to patience and persistence across challenging time zones. Our collaboration was mostly virtual, interspersed with countless late-night video calls and Slack messages—except for one cherished in-person visit to Yale’s campus in October 2023. I took the chance of Aer Lingus's affordable air fare to Newark Liberty, landed on American land for the first time in my life and tasted the stinky smell of the Big Apple.
The Grand Central took me to the beautiful town of New Haven, yet the picturesque college town didn't cure my jet lag, especially after Kaci snuck me into Yale's Halloween party using a homemade ID crafted with nail polish and clear tape. In many ways, Cimu's early operations resembled that makeshift ID—held together by the digital equivalent of clear tape: Airtable spreadsheets, manual customer outreach, and phone calls. We recognized the limitations of this approach but, given our focus on university partnerships and my limited web development experience, we made it work temporarily.
Things took a turn in the summer of 2024, when Kaci took a leap of faith by rejecting offers from safe options and devoting herself fully to Cimu; and I knew it was time for me to step up significantly as well. Flying to New Jersey in August, I spent one intense week coding relentlessly, powered by sheer determination, the café a block away from Kaci's apartment in Grove St, and a deep sense of responsibility to both the mission and our friendship. Together, we transformed Cimu's digital presence from a patchwork Airtable solution into a sophisticated, scalable platform. Those long days resulted in thousands of lines of code and a foundation strong enough to support our growing vision.
This technological leap gave us the confidence to apply to the Techstars Founder Catalyst Program in fall 2024. Though I couldn't physically attend the Baltimore sessions due to my commitments at CUHK, participating remotely profoundly expanded my perspective on entrepreneurship. The program connected us with industry mentors who offered unfiltered advice, fellow founders who shared their vulnerabilities, and investors who challenged us to think beyond immediate horizons. These interactions transcended mere networking—they provided genuine human connections and the crucial insight that enduring businesses require both innovative technology and deep empathy.
Watch Cimu's Pitch Here
Reflecting on our Techstars experience, I'm struck by Cimu's evolution—not just as a business model but as a vision shaped by diverse perspectives and authentic relationships. As we continue building, I remain committed to maintaining this delicate balance, ensuring our technological innovations directly serve the human needs at the heart of our mission: reducing clothing waste through convenient alterations.
Our story—still unfolding—demonstrates what passion, friendship, and genuine connection can achieve in the startup ecosystem. What began over tea has grown into a purposeful venture that honors both technological innovation and human relationships, a balance I believe will guide Cimu toward lasting impact.
Learn more about Cimu here.