We’ll be your wings: supporting newly admitted startups…Summer 2023  Entrepreneurship Practical Education ‘Startup Essential’ 

The Startup Institute (Director= Jungbien Moon) of Korea University Business School (Dean=Sang Yong Kim) has organized a practical on-and-offline entrepreneurship education program called "Startup Essential" to support the stabilization of early-stage startup businesses in the summer vacation 2023. The program aims to enhance the capabilities of startups in addressing financial, tax, legal, customer, and market validation challenges encountered during the entrepreneurial process. It targets move-in occupants from Iljin Center for Startup Incubation, Crimson Startup Support Foundation, and Anam Campus Town, which are all affiliated with Korea University. 

On June 27th, an orientation for the participating companies was held to mark the beginning of the program. The event was attended by distinguished guests from the Startup Institute, including Director Jungbien Moon, Director Jaiho Chung, and Director Jinkyu Park as well as newly admitted startup companies. The following startups have joined as the 15th Choo-choo: △Delper △BarunPet △Block Security Chain △Space Jump △Unboxing Dreams △SPAD △Walga △Generative Lab △Photorage and △Hoxi Mobility. 

To start with, the introduction of the startups admitted through the ‘2023 Startup Express Summer Season’ followed. Director Jungbien Moon of the Startup Institute expressed his excitement, stating it was a "very exciting day" to welcome the companies. He also mentioned how delighted he was to be among young individuals filled with energy and ideas, saying, "I'm curious about what you want to achieve and what you want to 30 years from now." 

Among the startups, Unboxing Dreams expressed their aspiration to become a common noun in their business field, reflecting their ambition. BarunPet expressed their desire to be immediately associated with their pet-related services when people think of the pet industry. Impressed by the determined ambitions of the startup representatives, Director Moon remarked, "You will strive towards Choo-choo Day one year from now”. He further expressed his conviction that everything learned throughout the one-year process would serve as a foundation for long-term growth. 

Therefore, Director Moon sincerely welcomed the new startup occupants to the Startup Institute emphasizing that one of the most valuable experiences they can have at a young age is starting and growing a company. He also highlighted the institute’s role as a platform for entrepreneurship and innovation. 

Next, Director Jaiho Chung of Iljin Center for Startup Incubation provided detailed explanations about various projects and activities conducted in the Startup Institute, including PPT presentations. He especially said that "We have channels open 24/7 to communicate with the occupants, and those representatives who frequently contacted us have made progress quickly." He expressed his hope for comfortable and frequent communication on any topic, whether it be concerns, networking, or anything else. 

This education program combines both online Zoom sessions and offline activities and is structured to include mentor lectures, practical training, and networking events. The mentor lectures, which will be conducted in two sessions, will focus on the common mistakes made by early-stage entrepreneurs in areas such as taxation, legal matters, patents, and business operations. Each session will feature experts in the respective fields delivering lectures. The practical training component of the program will cover topics such as team building, hypothesis testing for ideas, customer validation, revenue generation, and finance. This training will provide hands-on experience in startup operations and will span eight sessions, aiming to enhance the capabilities of the startups. Lastly, the program will conclude with three networking events, fostering networking skills and building a sense of community among the startups.