PERFECTLY IMPERFECT 🏺

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Greetings 👋 

Hi, how was your weekend?

There's a Japanese way of seeing called wabi-sabi that finds beauty in imperfection, impermanence, and things left unfinished.

A good reminder for anyone building something: it doesn't have to be perfect to be worth putting into the world.

A fitting thought to carry into everything we have for you this week.

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THIS WEEK: SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING STUDIOS

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The Founder Who Turned Sensitive Skin Into a Beauty Opportunity

After 15+ years in beauty, Amy Liu kept hitting the same wall. Her eczema made it hard to find products that didn't irritate her skin.

She saw a gap between products that were safe for sensitive skin and products that still felt fun, accessible, and high-performing. In 2019, she launched Tower 28 to fill it.

Today, Tower 28 says its formulas follow the National Eczema Association's ingredient guidelines. Its SOS skincare line also carries seals from the NEA, the National Psoriasis Foundation, and the National Rosacea Society.

The takeaway: Some of the strongest business ideas come from problems founders understand firsthand. Liu found an underserved customer because she was one herself.

Interested in supporting founders building impactful brands?

Join our private investor network and stay connected to future opportunities across the AHN ecosystem.

DreamWorks’ Filipino-Inspired ‘Forgotten Island’ Scores 96% on Rotten Tomatoes

DreamWorks’ Forgotten Island is bringing Filipino culture and mythology to a major Hollywood animated film, with H.E.R. and Liza Soberano voicing best friends Jo and Raissa.

The two are transported to the mystical island of Nakali, where creatures from Filipino folklore come to life and getting home could cost them the memories of their friendship. 

The film opened in theaters on Sept. 25 and currently holds a 94% critics score and 96% verified audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Read the full article here.

6-Year-Old Lian Yunzhi Breaks Women’s Rubik’s Cube World Record in 4.27 Seconds

Lian Yunzhi first discovered the Rubik’s Cube after her mother enrolled her in a beginner cubing class alongside ballet and music lessons.

Now just six years old, she broke the women’s 3x3 world record twice in three days, ultimately setting a 4.27-second average and becoming the first female competitor to average under 4.5 seconds.

Behind those four seconds are two to three hours of daily practice and more than 1,300 solving algorithms, turning what began as a childhood activity into a place among speedcubing’s elite.

Read the full article here.

BLACKPINK’s Lisa Brings Her Signature Style to a Limited-Edition PlayStation Controller

BLACKPINK’s Lisa has teamed up with PlayStation to design a limited-edition DualSense PS5 controller inspired by her personal style.

The controller features details including her signature bangs and eyes, stars, and “LL” lettering, while the wider collection includes apparel, hats, bags, keychains, and gaming accessories.

Lisa said gaming is one of the ways she relaxes, and she worked closely on the collection to include small details her fans would recognize.

Read the full article here.

Jubilee’s Strategy for Making the Same Formats Work Again and Again

Korean American founder Jason Y. Lee built Jubilee around a simple content strategy: keep the format consistent while changing the people, topics, and questions.

Shows like Middle Ground, Odd One Out, and Ranking give viewers a familiar structure while introducing something new in every episode. For brands, the same approach can make content creation more consistent without making it feel repetitive.

The takeaway: When you find a format that works, don’t reinvent it. Keep the structure and refresh the idea.

A $10,000 Grant Opportunity for Eligible Small Businesses

AHN and National ACE are proud to share a valuable opportunity for entrepreneurs looking to invest in the growth of their businesses. 

Through Verizon Small Business Digital Ready, eligible small business owners can apply for a $10,000 grant after completing two Digital Ready learning resources and submitting an application.

The program is designed to help businesses strengthen their digital capabilities while providing access to funding that can support future growth. If your business meets the eligibility requirements, we encourage you to explore this opportunity and apply.

Unlock Payroll Tax Benefits and Savings With ADP’s SMB Solutions

Managing payroll, HR, and tax compliance requires time, accuracy, and constant attention to changing regulations. For many small and mid-sized businesses, these responsibilities can take focus away from strategic growth.

Through our partnership with ADP, SMB leaders gain access to reliable, cloud-based payroll and human capital management solutions designed to simplify operations while maximizing cash flow. 

How ADP supports your growth:

• AI-Enhanced Payroll: Reduce errors and late penalties with automated filings and AI-powered error detection that flags discrepancies before you pay.

• Maximum Tax Credit Recovery: ADP’s specialists use your payroll data to uncover valuable incentives—including R&D credits (now with expanded eligibility) and Work Opportunity Tax Credits (WOTC).

• Built-In Compliance: Stay ahead of 2026 regulatory shifts, including new retirement plan mandates and updated wage bases, with automated system updates.

• Scalable HR Infrastructure: From your first hire to your 500th, access integrated tools for recruitment, benefits administration, and 24/7 HR advisory support.

Strategic payroll management is a reinvestment in your business. Fill out our form to connect with an ADP specialist for a personalized review of your current payroll process or review of potential payroll tax savings.

What does a $120k hire actually cost you?

A $120K salary might look straightforward on paper. But once you factor in employer taxes, statutory benefits, payroll, and country-specific employment costs, the number can look pretty different.

And those costs can vary significantly depending on where your employee is based. Before you build your hiring budget, or make an offer, it helps to know the full picture.

Oyster’s Global Hiring Cost Calculator lets you compare employment costs across 120 countries and estimate what a hire could really cost your business.

Run the numbers

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