Founder Spotlight: Jenn Ko (DIME)

Meet Jenn Ko:

Company:

DIME

DIME is flipping the narrative about MSG with an everyday seasoning that delivers bold, simple umami.

Location:

San Francisco, California, USA

When did you launch the business?

March 2025

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Startup Stage?

Bootstrapped

What led you to where you are today?

For most of my life, I focused on fitting in, often downplaying parts of my culture. But over time, that shifted into a great pride for where I come from, and a desire to celebrate it loudly. With DIME, we set out to rewrite the narrative around MSG and create an easy, approachable way to bring it into everyday cooking, while celebrating Asian foods and flavors.

What do you wish you knew before embarking on your entrepreneurial journey?

Patience! As someone who is relatively patient in life, I was definitely challenged when embarking on the journey to start DIME. It's easy to try and rush things when you have a dream you're trying to go after, but I learned that it's worth it in the end to be patient and sometimes go the long route instead of always trying to be the most efficient.

What is the most difficult decision you've had to make regarding your business so far?

I can't name names, but we've had to make a hard decision and turn down a really big opportunity because it came at the wrong time. Initially, my reaction was to say 'yes' right away, but after more consideration and deliberation with my team, we decided to say 'maybe later,' and hope that the opportunity arises at a time when our business is more established, and we feel like the timing is right.

What can you help the VEGPRENEUR community with?

My whole career has been in marketing and project management. I've helped teams (mainly marketing and creative, but have worked cross-functionally across organizations) increase efficiency and get organized so the business could scale and grow. Additionally, I've planned and executed many tradeshows and events for small to big brands. I'd be happy to offer my thoughts and advice to the community!

How can the VEGPRENEUR community help you?

DIME is just a few months old, so we're focused on raising brand awareness and would love to partner with other brands. We love to be creative and think out of the box, so any ideas and opportunities are welcome.