Meet the Founders Who Built a $4 Million Skincare Brand for Women Too Busy for Skincare

They were best friends from Georgetown — one burning out on Wall Street watching her skin deteriorate, the other finishing medical school while obsessing over skincare science. Together they built 4AM Skin, a circadian rhythm skincare brand backed by Nobel Prize winning science that says the opposite of everything the skincare industry has been telling you. From bootstrapping on $80K for three years to closing a $4 million round with Kaboo, landing in 1,745 Target stores, and selling out four times on TikTok Shop — and doing all of it while one of them finished her medical degree — this is the startup story you need to hear. In this episode, we cover: Why waiting to raise money was the best decision they ever made and what they learned bootstrapping first Why doing less with your skincare is actually backed by Nobel Prize winning science What it really takes to go from idea to nationwide retail distribution How to build a brand that breaks every rule and still wins The co-founder dynamic that actually works and how two best friends keep it that way Why timing is everything when it comes to retail and fundraising Tune in to hear how two best friends built one of the most exciting skincare brands right now — on their own terms, on their own timeline, and without ever compromising on what they believed in. To learn more about 4AM Skin:   / 4amskin   www.4amskin.com Join Us for 2026 World's Largest Festival for Women in Business here: https://www.createcultivate.com/festival To follow along with Create & Cultivate:   / createcultivate   www.createcultivate.com To connect with Jaclyn Johnson:   / jaclynrjohnson   To connect with Marina Middleton:   / marinaamiddleton