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Byungjo Yoo, CEO of BJY Inc.

• Produces and commercializes existing high-performance cosmetic peptides through fermentation at up to one-tenth of the conventional cost using PMF technology
• Developing new peptides with 3–4 times greater efficacy than existing peptides for skin wrinkle improvement and hair-loss care, strengthening competitiveness in new ingredient development

BJY Inc. is a company that produces high-performance cosmetic peptides through fermentation at competitive cost. The company was founded in August 2022 by CEO Byungjo Yoo (53).

“Peptides are cosmetic ingredients that offer excellent efficacy in areas such as wrinkle improvement, skin regeneration, brightening, and hair-loss care while being safe for the human body. However, peptides are generally produced through expensive chemical synthesis, which means that domestic cosmetic manufacturers can only use them in small quantities, preventing their efficacy from being fully delivered to consumers.”

To address this issue, BJY Inc. developed PMF (Peptide Multimer Fermentation), a high-efficiency peptide fermentation production platform. Using PMF technology, the company has established a fermentation production process capable of manufacturing existing high-performance cosmetic peptides at up to one-tenth of the conventional cost and has commercialized the technology. It has also developed eight new peptides for skin wrinkle improvement and hair-loss care with superior efficacy. The company plans to develop 12 products this year and secure a pipeline of 30 products by 2027.

BJY Inc.’s competitiveness is built on three key factors: price, efficacy, and skin permeability. Through high-efficiency fermentation with a production concentration of at least 5 g/L, a large-scale fermentation production system of at least 1.5 tons, and an economical separation and purification process based on a non-column method, the company has achieved a selling price as low as one-tenth that of conventional chemically synthesized and fermentation-based competitors. In addition, it has developed new peptides with efficacy 3–4 times higher than existing peptides for skin wrinkle improvement and hair-loss care. It has also developed a “Bunker Buster Peptide” to address the low skin permeability of long peptides, improving skin permeability by more than threefold. PMF is a platform technology capable of producing a wide range of peptides through fermentation, allowing the company to meet the needs of customers seeking fermentation-based production of their proprietary peptides.

In 2025, BJY Inc. secured three 500 L and 1.5-ton fermentation OEM systems, establishing a stable production system. Based on this infrastructure, the company began promoting its existing peptide ingredients and new ingredients to major domestic cosmetics companies, small and medium-sized enterprises, and large corporations, resulting in increased sales. The company is also continuously creating overseas export opportunities through exhibitions and other channels. In the first half of this year, ingredient sales reached approximately KRW 400 million. CEO Yoo expects sales to increase in the second half of the year as product awareness and promotional effects expand, enabling the company to achieve its 2026 sales target of KRW 1 billion.

To date, BJY Inc. has received investments totaling approximately KRW 4.15 billion, including KRW 550 million in seed funding, KRW 200 million in bridge funding, and KRW 3.4 billion in Series A funding. Starting in 2027, the company plans to construct its own production facility through Series B investment, complete construction in 2028, and begin in-house production of ingredients.

“BJY Inc. is promoting its peptide ingredients overseas through cosmetics exhibitions in China, Thailand, Japan, and Southeast Asia. Through these exhibitions, we connect with companies, provide ingredient information and samples, and create export opportunities. We are also pursuing ingredient exports by leveraging the networks of professionals with extensive experience in the overseas operations of major companies.”

When asked what motivated him to start the company, CEO Yoo said, “I wanted to work until the day I die. I concluded that starting a business and creating wealth through technology was the best way to secure the resources needed to achieve my bucket list, and I put that conclusion into action.”

After founding the company, CEO Yoo said, “I hope BJY Inc. will be recognized and grow as a company that uses the biotechnology we possess—as reflected in our name, BJY (Bio Journey into Your Life)—to contribute to people’s lives. As the company grows, I want to create a workplace where our employees can enjoy their work and have a sense of ownership. If our employees can feel joy in their work and earn twice as much as they do now, I believe I will feel even greater fulfillment.”

BJY Inc. currently has 11 employees, including CEO Yoo. The company has secured specialized technical and industry-experienced personnel across its R&D, production, administration, HR, sales, and marketing teams, including three Ph.D. holders and four master’s degree holders.

Regarding future plans, CEO Yoo said, “Our primary goal is to achieve annual sales of more than KRW 1 billion this year. We also plan to build our own production facility through Series B investment and increase domestic sales.”

“Although we are currently focusing on peptide products, our plan is to develop and commercialize new pipelines beyond peptides once we have established a leading position in this field. Our goal is to expand beyond cosmetics into pharmaceutical and food applications and grow into a company that provides valuable and essential ingredients for people’s everyday lives. We also aim to grow into a global company comparable to BASF, DSM, and Givaudan.”

BJY Inc. was selected this year for the Startup Leap Package program operated by Seowon University. The Startup Leap Package is a support program of the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development designed to help startups that have been in business for three to seven years scale up by providing up to KRW 300 million in commercialization funding and support services. The program supports startups with management diagnosis and improvement, analysis of consumer needs and market conditions, investment consulting, and strategy development.

Founded: August 2022
Main Business: Cosmetic peptide ingredients
Achievements: KRW 4.15 billion in investment secured; domestic sales generated (2026 target: KRW 1 billion)