On the TechTO stage ×2
Scandal Proof Your Corporate Culture
Watch on YouTube ↗The Rise of Indie Brands with Cult Following
Watch on YouTube ↗First seen on the TechTO stage in 2017. Every talk is searchable — ask the archive about Lily ↗
In their words
I started my app five years ago because I find there's really a lack of transparency in beauty product labeling. Think Dirty basically helps you scan a product and learn about the ingredients really quickly, and shop for a better option for your health and the environment.
Why is purpose important? Because founding a startup is really hard. This is the roller coaster — at some point you might need to be reminded why you want to start your company. That's exactly the point, that crisis meaning: you will need your purpose.
There's no legal definition of what natural means. A lot of companies can claim they're natural — so the challenge is really to read and understand ingredients. That's exactly what our app is doing.
Around the web ×3
Quick answers
Who is Lily Tse?
The founder and CEO of Think Dirty, a Toronto app that scans beauty and personal care products and rates their ingredients. She founded it in 2013 and still runs it.
Why did Lily Tse start Think Dirty?
Her mother had cancer, which sent her digging into what was in beauty products. As she put it on the TechTO stage in 2017, the greenwashing she found is what got her angry enough to start a business.
What did Lily Tse do before Think Dirty?
Thirteen years as an advertising art director, starting in the e-commerce department at MoMA in New York and later at agencies including Sid Lee, TAXI and TBWA\Chiat\Day.
How many times has Lily Tse spoken at TechTO?
Twice — 'Scandal Proof Your Corporate Culture' at TechTO in April 2017, and 'The Rise of Indie Brands with Cult Following' at MarketingTO in August 2018.