“Take a train to success!” 2021 Startup Express Winter Season Ends in Success

Korea University Business School (Dean=Johngseok, Bae) Startup Station (Director=Hojung, Shin) completed this season’s startup competition. Amid the passion and unique ideas from future entrepreneurs, the “2021 Startup Express Winter Season” was held at the LG-POSCO SUPEX Hall on Friday, December 3. The event was held offline for the first time in two years, in compliance with the COVID-19 quarantine guidelines.

Hosted by KUBS Startup Station, organized by Seung Myung-ho Entrepreneurship Education Center, and sponsored by ▲Iljin Group ▲Dongwha Group ▲SK SUPEX Social Value Committee and ▲Happynarae, the “2021 Startup Express Winter Season” is a startup competition where students propose creative business items based on entrepreneurship and innovation.

In this season’s competition, △Director Hojung Shin △Managing Director Dongseop Lee △Managing Director Jungbien Moon △Professor Jaiho Chung, and △Professor Jinkyu Park of Station participated as judges, along with △Director Seungpyo Lee of Iljin Global R&D Center △Manager Wonkyung Yoo of the Hankook Ilbo Business Planning Team △Manager Joonhyun Hwang of Donghwa Group Online Service Team △Manager Jinyoung Kim of Happynarae Social Venture Team and △Professor/Partner Myungcheol Shin of KUBS and Kingsbay Capital.

The event began with an introductory speech from Director Dongseop Lee of KUBS Startup Station. Director Lee welcomed the participating teams by saying, “We welcome our young entrepreneurs to the platform of innovation.” He further introduced Startup Express alumni such as and , which became successful businesses.

Next, Dean Johngseok Bae encouraged the participating teams with a congratulatory speech. Dean Johngseok Bae mentioned, “KUBS will continue to support startups so that they can contribute to the betterment and the common good of society.” He added, “We always support the talents of KUBS, who will lead a new society with an entrepreneurial mindset.”

Out of 30 teams that applied to the “2021 Startup Express Winter Season,” 11 teams that passed the preliminary round were invited to the session to present their business items. The 11 teams consisted of △big data-based psychological counseling solution (Maum Wing) △local-based P2P travel platform (Budify) △investment crowdfunding platform that links individuals and small businesses (Hatchery) △hobby kit that protects the seniors and the environment (Know-how) △swipe-based webtoon recommendation platform (Dongju) △space-based short-form video platform (Anam Valley) △copyright trading platform for creators (OurTube) △upcycling store that sells clothing and miscellaneous goods by connecting future designers (Closeup) △data-driven integrated commerce platform for lovers (Lovable) △online collector space community for collectors (Soozip) and △fruit distribution platform that connects small farmers and single-person households (Fruiting).

Each team was given five minutes to present their ideas and another five minutes for a Q&A session. The judges selected the teams based on criteria such as △problem identification △business model and △competence and passion.

By the end of the event, three teams, which include △OurTube (Seung Myung-ho Entrepreneurship Award) △Hatchery (Iljin Entrepreneur Award), and △Fruiting (SK Social Value Award), were awarded and were given a chance to take the “Startup Express” train to success. Four other teams, including △Dongju △Closeup △Soozip and △Maum Wing, were awarded the Participatory Award. The three teams that won △the Seung Myung-ho Entrepreneurship Award △the Iljin Entrepreneur Award and △the SK Social Value Award will be supported with operating expenses in the future, while other teams, including those who won △the Participatory Award, will be given an opportunity to move into the KUBS Startup Station Iljin Startup Support Center. After moving in, each team will receive continuous advice and sponsorship from mentors consisting of senior entrepreneurs, industry experts, and venture capitalists, along with systematic start-up education.

In the closing speech, Director Hojung Shin of KUBS Startup Station mentioned, “Startups exist not to earn money but to make a better world. You have taken your first step today as startup leaders.” He ended the speech by saying, “We hope you become great business leaders who positively contribute to society.”

Editor | Sangbong Chung (College of Political Sciences & Economics, Department of PSIR 17^th)

          Yunghee Chung (School of Media & Communication 20^th)

Photo | Eunbee Cho (Business School 20^th)