Entrepreneurship

Content Summary:

  • The Unmet Need: The Incessant Itch
  • Our Solution: Inventive, Scalable and Feasible
  • Product Roadmap: A logical path to Market
  • Our Team & Stakeholders: Building Credibility
  • The Future Impact: A Long-Term Solution

Let's scratch your itch with phase 1 of Project Bublé

The Unmet Need: The Incessant Itch

➙ Identified customers, their unmet need, and the market gap.

The Problem:

79% of eczema patients worldwide who identify pruritus (itch) as their most problematic and persistent symptom. Current solutions often focus on general moisturization or powerful pharmaceuticals, leaving a gap for a targeted cure that actually addresses the root cause of eczema.

Our Target Customer:
Primary: Teens and adults with mild-to-moderate atopic dermatitis seeking immediate relief from the debilitating cycle of itching and scratching.

Secondary: Caregivers of children with eczema, who also experience significant stress and sleep disruption.

Think about how you choose your skincare products
You watch a reel about how an influencer uses this product that “feels really good on their skin.”
Or you get attracted to really good packaging and design.

Not only is this method likely uninformative, but also inefficient, leading to consumers buying an array of products with no specificity.

Interestingly, current eczema prevalence increased 0.98% per decade in adolescents, and 1.21% per decade in children. Which reflects that, despite modern advancements in science, eczema prevails and becomes increasingly worrisome.

We plan to take the cosmetic skincare market from skinfluencer hype recommendations, to clear, scientifically backed products, tailored to the consumer.

3

The market is extremely promising:



Total Addressable Market (TAM): The global skincare market is valued at $150B (2024), projected to grow to $230B+ by 2030.




Serviceable Addressable Market (SAM): The specific eczema-care products market was ~$12.5B in 2023 and is projected to reach ~$21.5B by 2031 (CAGR ≈ 7%).


High-Growth Segment: The sensitive skin and barrier repair sub-segment is growing even faster, with a projected Compound Annual Growth Rate(CAGR) of 8–9% through 2030.

A competitor landscape

Competitor Category

Key Players

Their Strengths

Our Strategic Position

 Mass-Market Dermatologist

Cetaphil, CeraVe, Aveeno

Clinician trust, pharmacy placement, competitive pricing

We offer a targeted, biomarker-informed solution vs. their general moisturizing approach.

 Luxury Sensitive Skin

La Roche-Posay, Avène

High consumer trust, strong retail presence

We compete on scientific innovation (FLG) and DTC accessibility, not just brand prestige.

 Indie Brands

The Ordinary, Drunk Elephant

Clear ingredient stories, influencer marketing

We go beyond "clean ingredients" to offer a diagnostic-driven, personalized ecosystem.

 Clinical/Therapeutic

Dupixent

High efficacy for severe cases

We serve the mild-to-moderate, underserved market with a non-prescription cosmetic.*

*we may consider switching our product from cosmetic to medical with clinical trials underway

Our Solution: Inventive, Scalable & Feasible

➙ How the solution is possible, scalable and inventive.

The Product:


Our core invention is a cream formula that combines synthetic Filaggrin (FLG) fragments with the soothing and moisturizing agent jojoba oil. FLG deficiency is a key root cause of eczema's impaired skin barrier. Our formula is designed to replenish this deficiency at the source.

Feasible

We have conducted comprehensive research on cosmetic manufacturing (OEM/ODM) and are currently partnering with Beautech, cosmetic factory in Hong Kong to work on our formulation. Lab results are also promising, and details can be found in our engineering page.

Inventive

We are bioengineering key components to create a consistent and effective synthetic FLG-based treatment, moving beyond simple natural moisturizers.

Scalable

We plan to start with a 1,000-unit batch via an OEM partner Beautech. This model allows for seamless scaling from small batches to mass production as demand increases, without significant upfront capital in manufacturing equipment.

Product Roadmap: A logical Path to Market

➙ Product development plans, milestones, timelines, resources, and risks.

We have a clear, staged plan for product development:

Key Risks and Mitigation:



Regulatory:

We will market as a cosmetic, avoiding unsupported medical claims. We are aware of the Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance in HK.



Age of members:

All our members are at the oldest 16 years of age. This is not an issue when building a project, but we plan to build a company and are highly ambitious, yet minors cannot create companies legally.

Making a company:

Why do we need to apply for a company?
We aim to apply for government grants, which requires a company. We also aim to capitalize on Open AI’s new collaboration with shopify to get our company featured in gtp prompt responses. We have drafted a trust document based on the advice of KM Liew of LT Lawyers to have an adult trustee hold the company until we are 18, mitigating the legal hurdle of being minors. Specifically, a limited company would limit our liabilities to the company.

Disclaimer: This is not the final version of the trust we will be letting a trustee sign, and we will further refine and modify the beneficiaries of the company.

Our Team & Stakeholders: Building Credibility

➙ Skills, capabilities, and identified stakeholders

Team Capabilities:
Our team is as experienced a group of 16 year olds can be, which is not a lot of experience. Besides above average skills in scientific research, bioengineering, market analysis, and strategic planning, we have proven our passion and hunger in bringing effective products into the world.

Key Stakeholders We Are Consulting / Engaging:

Manufacturing: OEM partners in Hong Kong and mainland China

Beautech

Beautech is a current GMP & ISO22716 certified cosmetic factory in Hong Kong since 2000 and we observe the Good Manufacturing Practices per Global (Asia, Europe, and USA) requirements.

Beautech assists us from product formulation to manufacturing (packaging to be decided) in the long term.

旭敏包装制品现货店

Xumin is a manufacturer from mainland China specializing in packaging with manufacturing experience with lotion bottles for skincare companies.

Xumin assists us for the complex and aesthetic bottles we require.

Transportation

GOGO X


GOGOX, previously GoGoVan, is an on demand ride sharing service based in Asia, which focuses on transportation of freight and goods in urban areas.

We are currently consulting GOGOX as a business partner, and are looking for their delivery services assisting us to move products from manufacturers to storage or to retail stores.

Legal: Lawyers for patent filling and trust / company registration

LT Lawyers


Founded in 2015, LT Lawyers is an independent firm of solicitors who are committed to Hong Kong. The firm has a special expertise in cross-border commercial dispute resolution, particularly those with a PRC dimension, including disputes arising from the boardroom, international trade, Sino-foreign JV, VAM agreement, fund investment project, asset management, financial transaction, merger & acquisition, and breaches of banking secrecy and trust.

We have consulted with Principal KM Liew for the trust and patent processes of our project.

Funding: Government grants and more

Hong Kong offers robust support for stem-based startups like ours:

Innovation and Technology Fund
(ITF)

Matches investor funding for R&D.

Enterprise Support Scheme
(ESS)

Provides R&D subsidies of up to $10M

Technology Start-up Support Scheme (TSSSU)

Offers up to $1.5M for university-affiliated startups.

(all require you to first be a company)

Expertise: Cosmetic chemists and lab technicians (budgeted for in our financial plan)

The Future Impact: A long term vision

➙ Consideration of long-term positive and negative impacts.

Positive Impacts:

Social
 Improved quality of life for millions by alleviating the most distressing symptom of eczema. Reduction in associated anxiety and depression in patients and caregivers.

Economic
 Providing a more affordable option, reducing the financial burden on patients and the healthcare system.

Scientific
 Advancing the understanding and application of synthetic biology in dermatological cosmeceuticals.

Negative Impacts:

Market Saturation
 The skincare market is competitive. We mitigate this with a unique FLG-based value proposition and targeted digital marketing.

Waste Generation
 As a physical product, packaging waste is a concern. We commit to exploring sustainable packaging options (e.g., recyclable materials, refillable containers) as we scale.

Allergic Reactions
 Advancing the understanding and application of synthetic biology in dermatological cosmeceuticals.

What is Currently Lacking (and Our Next Steps)

To strengthen our proposition, we are actively working on the following:



  1. Finalized Formula & Prototype: We are in the R&D phase and have not yet produced a physical, tested cream sample. Next Step: Finalize the formula and work with our contacted manufacturer to create the first batch of samples.

  2. Stakeholder Commitments: We have identified but not yet secured formal agreements with manufacturers, lawyers, or investors. Next Step: Use and finalize the trust structure to formally register the company and begin signing contracts.

  3. Clinical Validation: While we base our solution on scientific research, we lack independent user trial data. Next Step: Plan a small-scale pilot study with users from our target group to gather efficacy data post-prototype development.

  4. Detailed Packaging & Branding: The initial bottle design is a concept. The full branding, including name, logo, and marketing assets, is still in development. Next Step: Finalize the vehicle design and begin building the public-facing brand.