Dylan Chia
Dylan Chia started DCHToons as a teenager, turning four-panel comics of an original character into a sticker and merchandise brand with retail presence across major Singapore malls. A self-taught artist who studied design at Lasalle College of the Arts, he grew from a bedroom printing operation to a six-figure annual revenue brand by age 21. A viral TikTok strategy peaking at 700 orders a month cemented DCHToons as a recognised Gen Z creative brand in Singapore.
Starting from zero?
Post your first simple comic or design online this week and commit to showing up daily — then test demand cheaply by printing a small batch of stickers to sell at a local market.
Dylan’s journey
The full story. The pivots. The lessons. One path among many.
What Dylan started with
Dylan Chia started DCHToons as a teenager in 2021, self-taught and printing from his bedroom with almost no capital, while later studying design at Lasalle College of the Arts. He began with an audience of zero and built everything organically — no funding, no industry connections.
Every founder starts from a different place. Use this to calibrate — not to compare.
Boba comics
2021
Starts DCHToons as an Instagram account posting four-panel comics about a hamster named Boba.
Battle stories
The hard moments that shaped Dylan.
Content becomes product
Converts an online following into something physical to sell.
Thin early sales
Demand is small and the work feels invisible for a long stretch.
Advice from Dylan
Show up daily
Consistency beats waiting for inspiration — committing to post every day is what eventually triggered virality.
Be ready always
Carry your product everywhere; preparedness is what lets you seize a moment when it comes.
Stay relatable
Punny, local, everyday designs connect harder than generic art — make people see themselves in it.
Craft over hype
Build the skill and the catalogue first so a viral spike converts into a real business, not a one-off.
Start cheap
Test demand with a small sticker batch at a local market before betting on big inventory.
Ask Dylan a question
We review questions and bring the best ones to Dylan in an upcoming interview.
Most asked
- How did you get your first 100 customers?
- What was your biggest financial mistake?
- How much did you really start with?