NextShark invests in Journey Optics, a brand building sunglasses for Asian faces

NextShark, a leading platform covering Asian and Asian American culture and reaching over 100 million people monthly, has taken an equity stake in Journey Optics, an emerging eyewear brand focused on designing low bridge fit / Asian fit high-performance sunglasses for Asian facial features.

The partnership marks the latest move by NextShark to expand its portfolio of culturally aligned consumer brands through its venture arm, NextShark Ventures.

Journey Optics was founded by Bryan Tarn, who set out to solve a problem he experienced firsthand: sunglasses that simply didn’t fit.

During a mountain biking trip, Tarn found himself constantly adjusting his sunglasses, which sat improperly on his face—an issue common among people with low nose bridges. After testing products across major brands and finding no real solution, he began developing his own designs.

The result is a line of performance-driven sunglasses engineered specifically for low bridge fit, with interchangeable nose pads and frames designed from the ground up rather than adapted from traditional Western molds.

The investment reflects a broader thesis at NextShark: culturally specific problems often lead to underserved markets and, ultimately, breakout consumer brands.

“Journey Optics is the rarest kind of brand for us to invest in since their product literally only exists because of the Asian experience. For years, we’ve seen products built without our community in mind,” said Benny Luo, Founder and CEO of NextShark. “Journey Optics is a great example of what happens when you start from a real need within the community and build from there.”

Tarn added, “This isn’t just about eyewear—it’s about representation in product design. Partnering with NextShark allows us to tell that story at scale and connect with the audience this was built for.”

Journey Optics enters a growing category of products designed specifically for Asian consumers, addressing long-standing gaps in industries that have historically overlooked differences in facial structure and fit.

Founder Bryan Tarn, who previously worked in tech sales, built the company from the ground up, developing new molds and designs tailored to this underserved market.

With the partnership in place, the companies aim to scale Journey Optics into a leading performance eyewear brand within the Asian diaspora and beyond.

Initial campaigns will focus on sports, Asian culture, and everyday lifestyle content.

Journey Optics low bridge fit and Asian fit sunglasses are now available.