Mina Yoo

About Mina Yoo

Whether as a founder, fractional executive, or advisor, I love building organizations that make an impact. It’s a natural instinct I can’t turn off. For the past 15+ years, I’ve taken ideas from concept to global scale, launching products, shaping operations, and guiding ventures toward sustainable growth. My career has been a blend of hands-on entrepreneurship, social impact advising, and a passion for mentoring founders, built on the insight I gained as an academic researcher and professor.Founder & Inventor (2 Patents): Built an outdoor gear brand from the ground up, raised millions in equity, scaled into global retail doors, and led a successful exit.C-Suite Advisor, Fractional Executive, & Trustee: Guided high-growth companies, nonprofits, and mission-driven ventures through operational scaling, fundraising, and long-term strategy.Entrepreneur-in-Residence, Operating Partner & Mentor: Developed accelerator, programs, and resources while working hands-on with lifestyle, food and beverage, and consumer product portfolio companies on strategy, go-to-market, and growth.Author: Wrote Be an InventHer: An Everywoman’s Guide to Creating the Next Big Thing (Penguin Random House) to help innovators bring their ideas to market.Entrepreneurship Professor & Faculty Fellow: Taught and mentored undergraduates, MBA students,and executives while researching what makes entrepreneurs successful at the University of Washington Foster School of Business and Stanford University.This dual perspective, high-level thinking paired with hands-on execution, is what I do best. I link vision and execution by aligning strategy, systems, teams, and partnerships for results that can be measured.I collaborate with founders, investors, and mission-driven leaders building ambitious brands and organizations, and I’m especially drawn to opportunities that combine entrepreneurship, equity, and innovation to create lasting impact.

Experience

1. Entrepreneur-in-residence, Operating Partner, Core Advisor

   REI

   Apr 2022 — Present

   Led program design and founder mentorship for REI’s $30M venture fund and accelerator for founders of color. Advisor to early-stage consumer and lifestyle brands, specializing in go-to-market strategy, operational scaling, fundraising, and omnichannel sales. SELECTED HIGHLIGHTS:⏵ Advised on fund objectives, priorities, resource allocation, portfolio company profiles, and performance targets and their alignment.⏵ Designed and launched a 14-week accelerator program, courses in Strategic Planning, Sales and Finance (15-part video series), and customizable resources.⏵Advised personal wellness, lifestyle, food and beverage, and consumer product start-ups on GTM, sales, and financing strategies.⏵ Led startup founders through successful seed fundraising, growth planning, supply chain management, and national retail placements with hands-on operational support and guidance.⏵ Recruited speakers, mentors, and founders to the Path Ahead community (leading to a founder community of 100+ in 3 years).

Education

• University of Michigan

  Dual Ph.D., Sociology and Business Administration

• Brown University

  B.A., Sociology

Skills

• Qualitative Research
• Management
• Analysis
• Strategy
• Business Strategy
• Social Networking
• Strategic Planning
• Leadership Development
• Data Analysis
• Grant Writing
• Leadership
• Start-Ups
• Nonprofits
• Public Speaking
• Social Media
• Marketing Strategy
• Marketing
• Organizational Development
• Business Development
• Teaching
• Entrepreneurship
• Research
• Strategic Partnerships