In the jungle of cross-border e-commerce, the "Race to the Bottom" is dragging down the last of the dropshipping sellers, while algorithm-driven "Hidden Champions" are quietly rising. How can brands escape the death spiral of price wars? In this session of Startup Grind Shenzhen, we sit down with Hyungjin Park, Co-founder of Breezm, to deconstruct the underlying logic of moving beyond low-price competition and capturing the global premium market.

Hyungjin brings a rare blend of experience. He began his career at P&G and Walt Disney, working at the intersection of global brands and consumer experience. Later, as CEO of ALO, a leading traditional eyewear brand in Korea, he confronted the structural pain points of the industry firsthand: excess inventory, product commoditization, and inefficient retail models. These experiences led him to a fundamental question:

What if eyewear were redesigned as a data- and software-driven system, rather than an artisan- and experience-based one?

Breezm’s answer represents a true digital transformation. By capturing 1,200 facial data points through AI algorithms and combining them with industrial-grade 3D scanning and 3D printing, Breezm enables a fully made-to-order supply chain. This shift allows the company to escape low-price competition and achieve an AOV of $198–$398.

This approach has earned Breezm the CES Innovation Award and has been examined in a Harvard Business School (HBS) case study—not as a typical D2C brand, but as a transformation model for a traditional manufacturing and retail industry.

Globally, Breezm operates 15+ offline stores in Korea, has launched a flagship store in Manhattan, New York, and is scaling internationally through a fully digital app that replicates the entire purchasing journey. Built on these foundations, the company is also preparing for the coming smart glasses era, positioning itself as a platform governing both how eyewear is bought and worn.

Here, AI is no longer just cold code; it is the core engine for locking in niche demands and securing technological premiums. Join us as we explore how to use AI to build genuine brand sovereignty and carve out a "Blue Ocean" for Hidden Champions in a saturated market.

Guest Speaker:

Hyungjin Park | Breezm Co-Founder

Hyungjin is a brand strategist veteran with a pedigree from P&G and Walt Disney, where he mastered the art of building world-class brands. As the former CEO of ALO, a leading traditional eyewear brand in Korea, he witnessed firsthand the industry's chronic pains: inventory surplus and product homogenization. Today, he leads Breezm in reshaping the industry through cutting-edge 3D scanning and industrial-grade 3D printing. Their innovation has not only won the CES Innovation Award but has also been featured as a Harvard Business School (HBS) case study.

Breezm is a pioneer in the digital transformation of the eyewear industry, moving beyond traditional manufacturing to create a data-driven, personalized experience. Recognized by Harvard Business School, Breezm replaces the "one-size-fits-all" analog approach with a sophisticated system built on 3D facial scanning and software-led precision.

Host:

Grace | Chapter Director of Startup Grind Shenzhen

Grace Zhang is a Shenzhen-based community builder with over 10 years of experience, focused on entrepreneurship and the role of technology in social innovation ecosystems. Since 2014, she has led Startup Grind Shenzhen, contributing to global and local communities including Y Combinator, Startup Weekend, Google Developers Group (GDG), and AngelHack.

Startup Grind Shenzhen has been recognized multiple times for its community impact, and its event content has been included in Harvard Business School courses. Grace is also the founder and host of the podcast Community Building Lab (CBL), where she shares insights on building sustainable, high-quality communities. Before returning to Shenzhen, she worked as a technology journalist in Chicago.

Mike Hyungmin Lee | Mike Hyungmin Lee

Mike Hyungmin Lee is an AI Consultant from Korea who has delivered 23 AI projects for companies ranging from startups to Fortune Global 500 enterprises since 2016.Specializing in LLM-based product management, he has developed AI-powered smart speakers, robotics services, smartphone assistants, and smart glasses assistants. His AI search solution serves tens of thousands of employees daily at a global manufacturer, and his chatbot handles 3M+ monthly customer interactions for a major financial institution.Mike is also a community leader for Korean professionals in China and holds a Master’s degree in Electronic Information from Tsinghua University.

Tenexel is an AI/AX consulting, delivery, and operations partner that helps organizations boost internal productivity with AI and build new growth engines through AI-powered businesses and products.Rather than starting with “what to build,” we first define where AI can create the highest value, then translate it into measurable goals and an executable roadmap. We co-design the product, process, data, and operating model so the work goes beyond PoCs and runs reliably in production, driving outcomes that teams can measure.

Event Info:

📅 Date & Time: Mar 1st, 2026 | 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

📡 Format: Offline Event

📍 Venue: BEEPLUS, Floor 2, Tower 2, Financial Base, No. 8 Kefa Road, Nanshan High-Tech Park, Shenzhen

👥 Language: English

🏷 Tickets: Early Bird: ¥59.9; Late Bird: ¥79.9

*All Fee includes refreshments and drinks

Agenda:

2:00 - 2:30PM Check-in & Welcome

2:30 - 2:50PM Opening Intro by Startup Grind Shenzhen

2:50 - 3:50PM Fireside Chat

3:50 - 4:10PM Q&A

4:10 - 5:00PM Group Photo, Networking & Refreshments

Special Partner:

BEEPLUS

Financial Base & BEEPLUS is located in the core area of Shenzhen’s Nanshan Hi-Tech Park. Co-developed by Zhuhai Bee Technology Co., Ltd. and Shum Yip Group, the project is a high-quality, future-oriented innovation and finance hub built to premium standards.

The campus offers flexible and diversified workspace solutions, including open desks, private offices, and executive suites, catering to teams of all sizes. In addition, we provide professional venue rental services with well-equipped demo halls, meeting rooms, and lobby spaces, suitable for product launches, training sessions, business meetings, and community events.

The project also features shared amenities such as a city lounge, café, and meditation room, supported by a hospitality-grade operations team delivering comprehensive administrative services and a vibrant calendar of community activities—creating a highly efficient and innovation-driven work ecosystem.

Photo Notice:

There will be photographers at the event! Your photos might be used in the organizer’s future promotions, social media, or branding activities. By joining, you agree to the use of your photos for these purposes.

Refund Policy:

Thank you for your interest and support. As a community-driven event organized by volunteers, all proceeds will be used to cover basic operational costs such as venue rental and refreshments. To ensure smooth event planning, we are unable to offer refunds. We appreciate your understanding.