If you founded an indie K-beauty brand, what would your next step be?

K-beauty now offers a range of "next steps": private-equity money, acquisitions by global groups, IPOs, and even Korean brands buying Korean brands.

Trade-offs people often mention

Sell to a global giant: distribution and capital / many stories of slower decisions dulling the brand's speed after the deal
Take PE investment: growth capital and management systems / pressure to exit within a set window
Join a Korean beauty group or ODM-backed group: shared production and overseas know-how / questions about brand independence
IPO: founder keeps a stake and control / disclosure and earnings pressure
Stay independent: speed and culture / limited funds for global expansion

There's no right answer, but a common industry refrain is that founders who first decide what they want to protect tend to have fewer regrets.

Poll

Leave your reasoning in the comments. Stories from people actually facing this decision are welcome too.