Mark Lin, 18, a TikTok aficionado and Bruin freshman, says he “was made to be an entrepreneur, and don’t want to do anything else with my life.” In June 2020, after two years of slime-making as a hobby, Lin started Sliimeyhoney, a line of food-themed gourmet — but nonedible — slimes that are not only fun but also offer stress relief to those who dip their hands in them.
Already set to attend UCLA in the fall, Lin appeared on ABC’s “Shark Tank” last summer, receiving identical offers of $150,000 in return for 20 percent equity from “sharks” Daymond John and Kevin O’Leary. After dramatically pausing to assess his options (slime in hand), Lin accepted John’s investment and mentorship. Since the deal, Lin has scaled up production, moving the operation from his garage to a 3,000-square-foot warehouse. He maintains an active role in the company, working remotely from campus.
Lin says his time in college thus far has only deepened his excitement about launching something new. “UCLA,” he says, “has surrounded me with high-achieving, like-minded peers [who] motivate me to continue with my success, both as an entrepreneur and as a student.”
Find out how UCLA is forging the careers of tomorrow’s entrepreneurs — and how alumni are helping fund innovative Bruin ventures.
Read more from UCLA Magazine’s Summer 2023 issue.
