Korea has become one of Asia's most important startup hubs. Here is a detailed look at the movers and shakers, support systems, investors and top performing startups in 2017. Compiled by the industry insiders at G3 Partners, we layer analysis on top of facts, stats and lists.
• New investment funds for 2017
• Korean investors & global VCs in Korea
• Korea's biggest investments of 2015 & 2016
• Korea's top accelerators and co-working spaces
• Startup meetups and events in Korea
• Top markets for Korean startups
• Startup support for Koreans and foreigners
• Korean unicorns & top startups
• Tech & startup trends
• Who's who
• And tons more...
Korea has become one of Asia's most important startup hubs. This Slideshare provides a detailed look at the movers and shakers, support systems, investors and top performing startups in 2017. Need connections in Korea - there's a list for that in the deck. Want to know about government support programs for foreigners? We've got info on that too.
Why does Korea deserve attention? It's population is tech savvy. It's tech infrastructure is world class. It's home of the world's top smartphone manufacturer. It has produced more than 10 tech unicorns over the last ten years. The government invests USD $2 billion into startups annually. It's opening up to foreigner entrepreneurs. Global investors have poured billions into it's rising stars. It's one of the world's top 15 economies. There's lots of incubators, accelerators and co-working spaces. There's an increasingly vibrant social scene for startups. Seoulites are social, speak pretty good English and are foreigner friendly.
Enjoy the read and let me know if you have questions or suggestions.
Global Technology Trends & Top Ten Startup Hubs 2016Bernard Moon
Update report that provides an overview of general technology trends, global venture capital trends, and startup trends around the world. Snapshots of the top 10 startup hubs in the world: Silicon Valley, NYC, London, Stockholm, Berlin, Tel Aviv, Beijing, Seoul, Boston, and Los Angeles.
Keynote- Amit Anand, Jungle Ventures at IBM StartupXchange SingaporeJungle Ventures
There is a growing gap between companies that get seed funding and those that are able to secure Series A funding. How do startups increase their chances of crossing this chasm?
Here are top 5 learnings from our portfolio as shared at IBM StartupXchange in Singapore.
SE Asia - The most attractive opportunity in the booming Asian Tech LandscapeJungle Ventures
In this slideshow, we look at the key ingredients which make for good venture ecosystems, and find that South East Asia scores impressively on all fundamental factors, higher than India in almost all categories and even better than China in a few.
We take a deeper look at various data points including addressable population, spending power, infrastructure, technology adoption and usage, business and startup ecosystem quality. Our inference as a result of all these data points is that SE Asian markets present a tremendous opportunity for startups led value creation.
We conclude that there is an extra ordinary opportunity for VCs to back the leading Founders in SE Asia. Given the strong fundamentals, better consumer demographics, the funding gap and the presence of only few local and active VCs, SE Asia presents very attractive dynamics for Venture Capitalists (lower competition for companies and VCs, rational entry valuations, favourable deal timelines, founders’ focus on limited cash burn).
State of South East Asia (SEA) Technology Startup Ecosystem 2016ERIC TAN
Get in touch at rictan0@gmail.com // www.rictan0.com
Private tech market has been experiencing far more superior growth compared to the public market as a whole. This document encapsulates capital flows in SEA tech scene, exits landscape for investors/founders and sectors to watch.
In the appendix, you will find a list of 110 active tech investors in SEA. More direct access here: https://rictan0.com/2017/02/11/resources-110-active-investors-in-south-east-asia-tech-scene-in-2016/
For Sector Deep Dive and Startup Profiles, please reach out to rictan0@gmail.com
Also would love to hear from founders who are interested to learn about the investment/funding landscape.
Korea has become one of Asia's most important startup hubs. This Slideshare provides a detailed look at the movers and shakers, support systems, investors and top performing startups in 2017. Need connections in Korea - there's a list for that in the deck. Want to know about government support programs for foreigners? We've got info on that too.
Why does Korea deserve attention? It's population is tech savvy. It's tech infrastructure is world class. It's home of the world's top smartphone manufacturer. It has produced more than 10 tech unicorns over the last ten years. The government invests USD $2 billion into startups annually. It's opening up to foreigner entrepreneurs. Global investors have poured billions into it's rising stars. It's one of the world's top 15 economies. There's lots of incubators, accelerators and co-working spaces. There's an increasingly vibrant social scene for startups. Seoulites are social, speak pretty good English and are foreigner friendly.
Enjoy the read and let me know if you have questions or suggestions.
Global Technology Trends & Top Ten Startup Hubs 2016Bernard Moon
Update report that provides an overview of general technology trends, global venture capital trends, and startup trends around the world. Snapshots of the top 10 startup hubs in the world: Silicon Valley, NYC, London, Stockholm, Berlin, Tel Aviv, Beijing, Seoul, Boston, and Los Angeles.
Keynote- Amit Anand, Jungle Ventures at IBM StartupXchange SingaporeJungle Ventures
There is a growing gap between companies that get seed funding and those that are able to secure Series A funding. How do startups increase their chances of crossing this chasm?
Here are top 5 learnings from our portfolio as shared at IBM StartupXchange in Singapore.
SE Asia - The most attractive opportunity in the booming Asian Tech LandscapeJungle Ventures
In this slideshow, we look at the key ingredients which make for good venture ecosystems, and find that South East Asia scores impressively on all fundamental factors, higher than India in almost all categories and even better than China in a few.
We take a deeper look at various data points including addressable population, spending power, infrastructure, technology adoption and usage, business and startup ecosystem quality. Our inference as a result of all these data points is that SE Asian markets present a tremendous opportunity for startups led value creation.
We conclude that there is an extra ordinary opportunity for VCs to back the leading Founders in SE Asia. Given the strong fundamentals, better consumer demographics, the funding gap and the presence of only few local and active VCs, SE Asia presents very attractive dynamics for Venture Capitalists (lower competition for companies and VCs, rational entry valuations, favourable deal timelines, founders’ focus on limited cash burn).
State of South East Asia (SEA) Technology Startup Ecosystem 2016ERIC TAN
Get in touch at rictan0@gmail.com // www.rictan0.com
Private tech market has been experiencing far more superior growth compared to the public market as a whole. This document encapsulates capital flows in SEA tech scene, exits landscape for investors/founders and sectors to watch.
In the appendix, you will find a list of 110 active tech investors in SEA. More direct access here: https://rictan0.com/2017/02/11/resources-110-active-investors-in-south-east-asia-tech-scene-in-2016/
For Sector Deep Dive and Startup Profiles, please reach out to rictan0@gmail.com
Also would love to hear from founders who are interested to learn about the investment/funding landscape.
Planning for an upcoming token sale for your blockchain or cryptocurrency? Here is a full guide for how to prepare for your ICO and how to market it effectively. Case studies from Tezos, Bancor, ICON and Golem.
WATCH THE VIDEO AT http://youtu.be/aU9_a-MyeDg
Joshua Baer from Capital Factory gives a comprehensive overview of the Austin Startup Scene including it's unique elements, some history, the up and coming stars, the organizers, happy hours, meetups, coffee shops, coworking spots, incubators, university resources, venture capital and more.
Welcome to Austin! Here are the things you need to know about the Austin entrepreneurial and tech community.
Most important is that you sign up by email for the Austin Startup Digest, a weekly email with all of the events going on in the Austin entrepreneurship scene.
SIGN UP FOR EMAIL LISTS
Weekly Startup Calendar
http://startupdigest.com/austin
Weekly Video Interview
http://weareaustintech.com/
WATCH THIS VIDEO
Intro to the Austin Startup Scene (1 hour)
http://youtu.be/aU9_a-MyeDg
ATTEND THE NEXT MEETUP
Intro to the Austin Startup Scene Meetup
http://bit.ly/welcome2austin
FOLLOW ON TWITTER
JOIN FACEBOOK GROUPS
READ BLOGS
COWORKING
COFFEE SHOPS DOWNTOWN
COFFEE SHOPS IN THE BURBS
HAPPY HOURS
ENTREPRENEUR MEETUPS
TECHNICAL MEETUPS
HACKING MEETUPS
CLASSES
EVENTS
INCUBATORS
VENTURE CAPITAL
DEV SHOPS
LEGAL
PRESS CONTACTS
PUBLIC RELATIONS
REAL ESTATE
ACCOUNTS & TAXES
RECRUITING
EVENT PLANNING
ASSOCIATIONS
STARTUPS TO WATCH
ATX EQUATION
PHILANTHROPY
AUSTIN FUN
10 things you can expect from being involved in a Malaysian startup as an investor, founder, or employee. 10 signals of what's to come... compiled from various sources by Khailee Ng, co-founder of SAYS.com (merged with Catcha), Groupsmore (acquired by Groupon) and Venture Partner at 500 Startups, covering Southeast Asia. Presented at http://awsxgoap.eventbrite.com as part of Geeks on a Plane, Southeast Asia.
Intro to the Singapore Startup CommunityAdrian Tan
Introduction to the Singapore Startup Community
This is an orientation to help newcomers to the startup scene get acquainted with the exciting world of tech in Singapore. We will give you the inside scoop on Singapore's key events and meetups, people, companies, VCs, blogs, programs, and more. This class is best attended by those who are already in business and either have employees or are consultant/freelancers looking to step up their game.
Do also check out Arnaud Bonzom's more detailed slides on the Singapore Startup ecosystem: http://www.slideshare.net/arnaudbonzom/singapore-startup-ecosystem-and-entrepreneur-toolbox
TVCA’s Thai Startup Founders Survey 2016 explores the background and opinion of 30 founders/co-founders of technology startup companies based in or focusing on Thailand market on various topics including the founders’ background, company profile and their opinion on the Thailand ecosystem in general.
George Deeb, Managing Partner at Chicago-based Red Rocket Ventures (http://RedRocketVC.com) summarizes Chicago's exploding startup ecosystem. Includes a summary of all the major players in Chicago that are fueling that growth.
Internet Hall of Fame: Things to Know about the World of Internet CompaniesWorld Startup Report
World Startup Report research on the biggest Internet companies across 50 countries. The insights that will make you look outside Silicon Valley and the US.
Full research at: worldstartupwiki.org
Peering into Thailand's Startup Ecosystem by Ardent Partner Tee SuraphongchaiArdent Capital
Ardent Capital Partner and Head of Ventures, Tee Suraphongchai, examines Thailand's Startup Ecosystem including why Thailand, a market overview, an analysis of the current Thai startup ecosystem, and growth and future opportunities.
Want to know more about building your brand and engaging your target audience? This presentation covers these topics plus the latest in talent migration trends in Ireland.
Thailand Fintech landscape 2016 special report by techsauce Techsauce Media
Thailand Fintech landscape 2016 by techsauce.co including:
- What is Fintech?
- Fintech in Asia
- Fintech in Thailand
- Collaboration between big enterprises and startups
Planning for an upcoming token sale for your blockchain or cryptocurrency? Here is a full guide for how to prepare for your ICO and how to market it effectively. Case studies from Tezos, Bancor, ICON and Golem.
WATCH THE VIDEO AT http://youtu.be/aU9_a-MyeDg
Joshua Baer from Capital Factory gives a comprehensive overview of the Austin Startup Scene including it's unique elements, some history, the up and coming stars, the organizers, happy hours, meetups, coffee shops, coworking spots, incubators, university resources, venture capital and more.
Welcome to Austin! Here are the things you need to know about the Austin entrepreneurial and tech community.
Most important is that you sign up by email for the Austin Startup Digest, a weekly email with all of the events going on in the Austin entrepreneurship scene.
SIGN UP FOR EMAIL LISTS
Weekly Startup Calendar
http://startupdigest.com/austin
Weekly Video Interview
http://weareaustintech.com/
WATCH THIS VIDEO
Intro to the Austin Startup Scene (1 hour)
http://youtu.be/aU9_a-MyeDg
ATTEND THE NEXT MEETUP
Intro to the Austin Startup Scene Meetup
http://bit.ly/welcome2austin
FOLLOW ON TWITTER
JOIN FACEBOOK GROUPS
READ BLOGS
COWORKING
COFFEE SHOPS DOWNTOWN
COFFEE SHOPS IN THE BURBS
HAPPY HOURS
ENTREPRENEUR MEETUPS
TECHNICAL MEETUPS
HACKING MEETUPS
CLASSES
EVENTS
INCUBATORS
VENTURE CAPITAL
DEV SHOPS
LEGAL
PRESS CONTACTS
PUBLIC RELATIONS
REAL ESTATE
ACCOUNTS & TAXES
RECRUITING
EVENT PLANNING
ASSOCIATIONS
STARTUPS TO WATCH
ATX EQUATION
PHILANTHROPY
AUSTIN FUN
10 things you can expect from being involved in a Malaysian startup as an investor, founder, or employee. 10 signals of what's to come... compiled from various sources by Khailee Ng, co-founder of SAYS.com (merged with Catcha), Groupsmore (acquired by Groupon) and Venture Partner at 500 Startups, covering Southeast Asia. Presented at http://awsxgoap.eventbrite.com as part of Geeks on a Plane, Southeast Asia.
Intro to the Singapore Startup CommunityAdrian Tan
Introduction to the Singapore Startup Community
This is an orientation to help newcomers to the startup scene get acquainted with the exciting world of tech in Singapore. We will give you the inside scoop on Singapore's key events and meetups, people, companies, VCs, blogs, programs, and more. This class is best attended by those who are already in business and either have employees or are consultant/freelancers looking to step up their game.
Do also check out Arnaud Bonzom's more detailed slides on the Singapore Startup ecosystem: http://www.slideshare.net/arnaudbonzom/singapore-startup-ecosystem-and-entrepreneur-toolbox
TVCA’s Thai Startup Founders Survey 2016 explores the background and opinion of 30 founders/co-founders of technology startup companies based in or focusing on Thailand market on various topics including the founders’ background, company profile and their opinion on the Thailand ecosystem in general.
George Deeb, Managing Partner at Chicago-based Red Rocket Ventures (http://RedRocketVC.com) summarizes Chicago's exploding startup ecosystem. Includes a summary of all the major players in Chicago that are fueling that growth.
Internet Hall of Fame: Things to Know about the World of Internet CompaniesWorld Startup Report
World Startup Report research on the biggest Internet companies across 50 countries. The insights that will make you look outside Silicon Valley and the US.
Full research at: worldstartupwiki.org
Peering into Thailand's Startup Ecosystem by Ardent Partner Tee SuraphongchaiArdent Capital
Ardent Capital Partner and Head of Ventures, Tee Suraphongchai, examines Thailand's Startup Ecosystem including why Thailand, a market overview, an analysis of the current Thai startup ecosystem, and growth and future opportunities.
Want to know more about building your brand and engaging your target audience? This presentation covers these topics plus the latest in talent migration trends in Ireland.
Thailand Fintech landscape 2016 special report by techsauce Techsauce Media
Thailand Fintech landscape 2016 by techsauce.co including:
- What is Fintech?
- Fintech in Asia
- Fintech in Thailand
- Collaboration between big enterprises and startups
Therefore in order to acknowledge some of the greatest contributors of excellence in the remittance services space, Insights Success has shortlisted “The 10 Most Trusted Remittance Service Providers, 2018”
FinTech: Business Opportunity or Disruptor? - tryb @ FIDE Forum KL 4 Aug 2016tryb
tryb was invited to speak to 90+ Board of Directors of Malaysia Financial Institutions. In 90 min the audience learned about the impact of technology in finance, how banks respond to the trends and what kind of technology companies tryb sees in the market.
Chinaccelerator, in cooperation with Tech Temple and GWC, once again hosted their program-annual 10X10 Beijing on March 8th, 2014.
The Geeks on a Train tour takes the Chinaccelerator startups on a ride from Shanghai to Beijing, then back down to Hangzhou before returning to Shanghai.
As part of the tour, the 10x10 conference brings attendees 10 tech pioneers (in this case we had 12!) and top VC's from the startup ecosystem in China. This is an amazing opportunity for attendees to have a peek at the first startup accelerator program in China, meet interesting people and listen to amazing speakers.
As always, each of them takes attendees on a 10-minute tour of their own startup trials and tribulations, wins and losses, then give some great advice and maybe a secret or two about what they learned to help make them the superstars they are today.
These are their slides, we hope you enjoy them. Thank you for supporting Chinaccelerator and entrepreneurship worldwide.
Crowdfunding, p2p lending and other online investing models are not a platform that makes some match making, it is to build a larger ecosystem that follows local and global laws and regulations and meet the needs of different of kind of investors and assets. It is not only for crowd, but also for institutional investors, family offices and funds. Data and research are also an important part of that.
Australia's Ultimate Startup & Growth Conference.
Actionable insights from the world’s best, to help you build a bigger, better, faster company through growth and marketing tactics.
2014 Tech M&A Monthly - Quarterly ReportCorum Group
The third quarter of 2014 has been marked by soaring deal values, a surge of megadeals and the largest IPO in history. What does this mean to your company? Tune in to the Tech M&A Quarterly review webcast, where we look at the key deals, megadeals, valuations and trends impacting the global M&A market for software and related technology companies. We’ll examine:
The hot gaming market, including Twitch, Mojang, Bally and more
More megadeals, including Concur, Cars.com, Trulia and many others
What does Alibaba’s IPO—the largest tech IPO ever—mean to your company?
Deal reports from India to Seattle
Valuation metrics for all six tech markets and 26 subsectors
And much, much more—don’t miss the Tech M&A Monthly Q3 2014 Report.
Tech Cocktail_2012 startup accelerator reportEugene Kim
20-page startup accelerator report that outlines five key factors for startups to consider when choosing an accelerator. Accelerators offer entrepreneurs a chance to spend several months intensely focused on their product and business – fueled by funding and mentorship, and often in shared office space – before pitching in front of investors at “demo day.”
Topics discussed include: Does location matter? Which programs are more hands-on? Which ones have the biggest networks? The report also includes a list of 70 accelerators around the country.
20 most innovative companies in Fintech IndustrySumit Roy
Global fintech financing has more than trebled in the past three years to an estimated US$3 billion annually and the level of innovation in the financial services sector has been unprecedented over the past 12 months. The level of spend and intensity of focus will – and already has – led to the development and release of products and solutions that will change the way customers view and interact with their financial services
How to Build a Diversified Investment Portfolio.pdfTrims Creators
Building a diversified investment portfolio is a fundamental strategy to manage risk and optimize returns. For both novice and experienced investors, diversification offers a pathway to a more stable and resilient financial future. Here’s an in-depth guide on how to create and maintain a well-diversified investment portfolio.
Explore Sarasota Collection's exquisite and long-lasting dining table sets and chairs in Sarasota. Elevate your dining experience with our high-quality collection!
Salma Karina Hayat is Conscious Digital Transformation Leader at Kudos | Empowering SMEs via CRM & Digital Automation | Award-Winning Entrepreneur & Philanthropist | Education & Homelessness Advocate
Textile Chemical Brochure - Tradeasia (1).pdfjeffmilton96
Explore Tradeasia’s brochure for eco-friendly textile chemicals. Enhance your textile production with high-quality, sustainable solutions for superior fabric quality.
What You're Going to Learn
- How These 4 Leaks Force You To Work Longer And Harder in order to grow your income… improve just one of these and the impact could be life changing.
- How to SHUT DOWN the revolving door of Income Stagnation… you know, where new sales come into your magazine while at the same time existing sponsors exit.
- How to transform your magazine business by fixing the 4 “DON’Ts”...
#1 LEADS Don’t Book
#2 PROSPECTS Don’t Show
#3 PROSPECTS Don’t Buy
#4 CLIENTS Don’t Stay
- How to identify which leak to fix first so you get the biggest bang for your income.
- Get actionable strategies you can use right away to improve your bookings, sales and retention.
Best Crypto Marketing Ideas to Lead Your Project to SuccessIntelisync
In this comprehensive slideshow presentation, we delve into the intricacies of crypto marketing, offering invaluable insights and strategies to propel your project to success in the dynamic cryptocurrency landscape. From understanding market trends to building a robust brand identity, engaging with influencers, and analyzing performance metrics, we cover all aspects essential for effective marketing in the crypto space.
Also Intelisync, our cutting-edge service designed to streamline and optimize your marketing efforts, leveraging data-driven insights and innovative strategies to drive growth and visibility for your project.
With a data-driven approach, transparent communication, and a commitment to excellence, InteliSync is your trusted partner for driving meaningful impact in the fast-paced world of Web3. Contact us today to learn more and embark on a journey to crypto marketing mastery!
Ready to elevate your Web3 project to new heights? Contact InteliSync now and unleash the full potential of your crypto venture!
When listening about building new Ventures, Marketplaces ideas are something very frequent. On this session we will discuss reasons why you should stay away from it :P , by sharing real stories and misconceptions around them. If you still insist to go for it however, you will at least get an idea of the important and critical strategies to optimize for success like Product, Business Development & Marketing, Operations :)
Reflect Festival Limassol May 2024.
Michael Economou is an Entrepreneur, with Business & Technology foundations and a passion for Innovation. He is working with his team to launch a new venture – Exyde, an AI powered booking platform for Activities & Experiences, aspiring to revolutionize the way we travel and experience the world. Michael has extensive entrepreneurial experience as the co-founder of Ideas2life, AtYourService as well as Foody, an online delivery platform and one of the most prominent ventures in Cyprus’ digital landscape, acquired by Delivery Hero group in 2019. This journey & experience marks a vast expertise in building and scaling marketplaces, enhancing everyday life through technology and making meaningful impact on local communities, which is what Michael and his team are pursuing doing once more with Exyde www.goExyde.com
8. 53 M People
(26 M in greater Seoul)
Top 15
Global Economy
(GDP over US$1 TN)
2 BILLION CONSUMERS WITHIN
A 3-HOUR FLIGHT
#1
#2
9. Highly Developed
Tech Infrastructure &
Mobile Broadband
ACCESS TO MOST PROFITABLE
MARKETS IN ASIA
#3
#4
Sophisticated,
Fickle &
Demanding Tech
Consumers
10. OPTIMAL TEST BED FOR NEW
TECH INNOVATIONS
#5
#6
Good Test Market
For Asia
65%College
Graduates, Many With
International Education
11. THE WORLD’S MOST
TECH-OBSESSED POPULATION
#7
#8
Reasonable Levels
Of English,
Especially Among
Startups
Home Of Global
Brands (Samsung,
Hyundai, LG, Posco)
12. BEST STARTUP ECOSYSTEM IN ASIA
#9
#10
FTAs With 52
Countries
(Includes 74% Of
Global GDP)
Foreigner-Friendly
Government And
Population
15. Author’s note
www.g3partners.asia
Are you surprised that Facebook is not Korea’s dominant social media platform, that Google
doesn’t dominate search and that Apple commands just 12% of Korea’s smartphone market?
Korean consumers are perhaps the most mature technology consumers in the world. Local
brands are so dominant because they are experts at catering specifically to Korean tastes in a
way that the most successful global tech global brands have so far failed to do.
Korea presents a great opportunity for global tech firms, but localisation is absolutely critical.
Your marketing strategy will NOT copy/paste in Korea and translation is NOT equivalent to
localisation. Nimble startups could stand a better chance than lumbering giants.
Coming up - a few examples of foreign tech firms that are making an impact in Korea.
19. Author’s note
www.g3partners.asia
When I arrived in Korea for the first time in 2004, foreign brands were
rare. As FTAs have opened up trade with Korea and as Koreans garner
more disposable income their thirst for luxury has increased
dramatically.
Along with this a number of new industries have emerged quickly and
present opportunities for foreign firms. These include Pop music, TV
dramas, cosmetics and cosmetic surgery, PC & mobile gaming.
20. We’re a fast-growing team of marketers, PR pros and communication experts. We
help startups expand beyond their home markets through practical marketing
support that helps them achieve real business goals like securing customers and
partners and raising investment.
We’re based in Asia, but have roots in the West. We’re super-connected to the Asian
and Silicon Valley startup ecosystems.
www.g3partners.asia
* COMMERCIAL BREAK* (1/3)
G3 Partners Are ‘Asia’s Startup Marketing Experts’
21. - Website design, development, content creation and re-writes
- Social media strategy, management & ads
- Multimedia content creation and ads
- Marketing brochures, banners and flyers
- Public Relations, media outreach, press releases
- Crowdfunding campaigns, including strategy, campaign page development, pre-marketing
and full campaign execution
- Pitch coaching and investment support
www.g3partners.asia
* COMMERCIAL BREAK* (2/3)
Marketing, PR & Cross-border Growth for Startups
22. Access to innovation is essential for large corporations. We understand the startup
ecosystem in Asia and we’re perfectly positioned to help organizations gain access.
We're always happy to provide information and introductions to our extensive
startup networks.
www.g3partners.asia
* COMMERCIAL BREAK* (3/3)
How We Help Corporations Connect To Innovation
24. Author’s note
www.g3partners.asia
I started working with startups in Korea back in 2012, just as the current ‘startup boom’ was kicking off.
Back then there was precious little infrastructure to support startups, there was just one accelerator,
around ten VCs, a small discreet Angel investment community and practically no government support.
In the last five years the scene has changed beyond belief. There’s now 20+ accelerators, tons of
coworking spaces and startup events, a vibrant Angel and early stage investment scene and over that
period literally billions of dollars in investment by big name global investors like Black Rock, Sequoia,
Softbank, Tencent and others. The government has also jumped headlong into a wide range of fiscal and
logistical support.
What’s more, there’s clear signs of success, in the form of a more active M&A and tech IPO environment.
That’s also fostering a more high-skilled mentor pool. There’s still plenty of work to do, but the signs are
that tech entrepreneurship in Korea is becoming a big deal and Seoul’s claim to being one of Asia’s
premiere startup hubs is gaining legitimacy fast!
25. Seed Series A Later Stage
K Cube Ventures DSC Investment Anchor Equity Partner
Bon Angels Neoplux LB Investment
TIPS DS Asset Mgmt. Partners Investment
Fast Track Asia Smilegate Investment Stonebridge Capital
Yello Financial Group Capstone Partners SL Investment
The Ventures Korea Investment Partners KTB Network
Magellan Tech Investment Premiere Partners STIC Investment
Atinum Investment
Korean Investors
www.g3partners.asia
26. Seed Series A Later Stage
500 Startups Formation 8 Softbank Ventures
Strong Ventures Bain Capital Goldman Sachs
Y Combinator Qualcomm Altos Ventures
Harbor Pacific Cap. Big Basin Capital Hillhouse Capital
KOISRA Partners DT Capital Partners Tencent
Rakuten Ventures Bluerun Ventures Goodwater Capital
Bluerun Ventures Storm Ventures Rose Park Advisors
Harbor Pacific Capital Acheron Capital BlackRock
Global VCs With Korean Portfolio
www.g3partners.asia
27. ● Investment in 2016 increased
by 23% from previous year
● Number of companies invested
increased 50% to 313
● Data does not include outliers
(see next slide)
Early Stage Investment Trends
www.g3partners.asia
Source: Platum
Million USD # of Startups Invested
30. Woowa Bros
FOOD DELIVERY
• USD $50M
• Hillhouse Capital
consortium
Lezhin Entertainment
ONLINE PUBLISHING
• USD $43M
• IMM Private Equity
Memebox
COSMETICS, HEALTH & BEAUTY
• USD $120M
• Formation Group,
Goodwater Capital,
Altos Ventures
www.g3partners.asia
The Biggest Winners in 2016
Source: Platum
31. Socar
CAR SHARING & RENTAL
• USD $55M
• SK, Bain Capital
Zigbang
REAL ESTATE
• USD $50M
• Stonebridge Capital,
Capstone Partners,
Goldman Sachs
Consortium
Yello Mobile
MOBILE SERVICES
• USD $48M
• Formation 8
www.g3partners.asia
The Biggest Winners in 2015
Source: Platum, Startup
Investment Report
32. Startup to Unicorn
www.g3partners.asia
Source: Platum
Kakao
Messaging, O2O, Gaming, Fintech
• IPO in 2014
• Valued at $5Bn
Netmarble
Mobile Gaming
• Set to IPO in 2017
• Valued at $10Bn
Forward Ventures
E-Commerce
• Valued at $10Bn
Yello Mobile
Mobile Services
• $2.5Bn ~
$3.5Bn
33. Korea’s Top Accelerators
> Sparklabs
> KStartup
> Lotte Accelerator
> Samsung C-Lab
> SK Planet
> Shift.
> Orange FAB
> Future Play
> The Ventures
> Primer
> Fast Track Asia
www.g3partners.asia
> Actner Lab
> Neoply
> Bon Angels
> Mashup Angels
> Dreamplus
34. > Google Campus
> Maru180
> D Camp
> WeWork
> MyWorkSpace
> The Bitcoin Center
> Seoul GSC
> Hive Arena
> Fast Five
> 10K
> Seoul Global Center
> CoWnDoG
Seoul’s Best Co-working Spaces
www.g3partners.asia
35. > Startup Grind
> Drink Entrepreneurs
> Wine On Wednesday
> First Thursdays
> Koreans in Mobile (KIM)
> Seoul Tech Society
> Entrepreneurs in Seoul
Check these for up-to-date info:
>> Google Campus, Maru180, D Camp, Startup Alliance &
Hive Arena websites
>> OnOffMix and Eventbrite
>> Startup Digest newsletter for Seoul
>> Facebook groups:
> Marketing in Korea
> Entrepreneurs in Seoul
> Seoul Startups #1
> Seoul Startups #2
> South Korea Startup Club
Monthly Meetups for Startup People
www.g3partners.asia
37. Rank 2014 2015 2016
1st USA S.E.Asia China
2nd China USA S.E.Asia
3rd S.E.Asia China USA
Desired Overseas Market
www.g3partners.asia
Source: Startup Alliance,
2016 Startup Trend Report
38. Author’s note
www.g3partners.asia
The last slide indicates that Korean founders’ most desired market for expansion is China. But
I’m not aware of any Korean startups that are successful in China. Literally, not one and I’ve
been working in the scene for over five years.
Three years ago it was the USA. Similar story - I’m aware of a couple of Korean startups that
are doing well - that means big revenues and decent profit margins.
Of Korea’s recent stand out successes (Kakao, Coupang, Baedal Minjeok, etc) - none have
found success beyond Korea.
All this to say that while there’s some very positive signs of success, Korea still needs some big
overseas success cases to prove that she’s ready to take on the big boys overseas and begin
attracting the top global talent that can further speed up her claim to being one of Asia’s top
startup hubs.
39. • $33B USD pledged for building “creative
economy” (over 5 years)
• $2B+ pledged for 2017, just for startups
• Helped to legitimize entrepreneurship
• Beginning to support foreign-owned startups
• K-Startup Grand Challenge provides
acceleration, government funding, and business
support for foreign startups
Government Support: Overview
www.g3partners.asia
41. New Entrepreneur/ Early
Stage Support
• 12 programs
• Funding from $17K to $85K
• Ex) TIPS: Angel investment
of $35M in select startups
Global Expansion Support
• 3 programs
• Funding, local incubation and
acceleration, global marketing
expense paid
• Ex) K-Global Smart Mobile
Tech Startup Support
• 9 programs
• Funding, development
support, international patent
expense paid
• Ex) K-Global Startup
Female Entrepreneur Support
• 2 programs
• Small funding, startup camp
• Ex) Women Venture Care Program
Re-Startup Support
• 3 programs
• Funding from $25K to $250K
• Ex) K-Global Re-Startup
www.g3partners.asia
Government Support in 2016
Source: Brunch.co.kr
42. Ministry of Science, ICT and Future
Planning
• USD $127M
• Science/Tech focused
• Focused on establishing infrastructure for
basic science and new growth sectors
Ministry of Culture, Sports and
Tourism
• USD $100M from 2015 to 2019
• Tourism focused
• USD $17M to be invested in 2017
• Early stage
• Operated by AJ Capital
www.g3partners.asia
New Government Funds for 2017
Source: Platum
43. >> USD $43M
>> Media/content focused
>> Early stage with proprietary tech for media
>> Seeks to stimulate an ecosystem for individuals to create and share contents
New Corporate Funds for 2017
www.g3partners.asia
>> Pledged $420M investment in startups over the next 5 years
>> Including $84M fund with Mirae Asset to invest in AI, IoT, VR, and autonomous driving
>> Providing IR services for 300 startups
>> Partnership with accelerators and VCs to match them with startups
44. Author’s note
www.g3partners.asia
The last few slides demonstrate an amazing level of government and private
support, but it’s gone too far. I believe the government in particular MUST back off a
bit and let the ecosystem begin managing and funding itself. There’s so many
programs that many fail because there simply aren’t enough relevant startups.
It’s also so easy to startup right now meaning that the talent pool is spread so thinly
that VCs are really struggling to find good deals.
There will be a correction and it’s likely to begin in January 2018.
45. > K-Startup Grand Challenge
Launched in 2016 K-Startup Grand Challenge
invites foreign-founded startups for three
months all expenses paid acceleration in Seoul.
in 2016 40 startups participated and 20
startups were awarded follow-on funding of up
to USD $130K. Of the many government
funded programs I’ve been involved with over
the years I can honestly say that this is one of
the best. It will return in 2017.
FINALLY... Support For Foreigners
www.g3partners.asia
> Seoul Global Center
With several facilities around Seoul, this organisation
provides legal,financial and other useful advice for foreign
business people in Seoul, as well as office space. Worth
checking out.
> Seoul Global Startup Center
Seoul GSC is a brand new facility in the heart of Seoul,
specifically set up for foreign startups. It offers free
coworking and office space, networking events, courses and
seminars and of course free coffee, pizza and the occasional
beer. If you’re keen on exploring Seoul as a base in Asia, this
is a good place to check out.
46. Author’s note
www.g3partners.asia
Support for foreigners and foreign entrepreneurs in Korea is an extremely good sign.
The Korean startup ecosystem has been too homogeneous until now (just 17% of
founders are non-Korean, compared to 53% in London). I’ve advocated for a long
time that every Korean startup that is serious about going global needs to hire a
foreigner. It’s also important for the ecosystem as a whole to have more
foreign-founded companies as they bring knowledge of other markets and a more
cosmopolitan view of the world.
Thanks to a huge increase in the number of foreign students in Seoul there’s also a
growing talent pool of foreigners that local startups can hire from.
47. Author’s note
www.g3partners.asia
You’re probably thinking, “I’m a foreign entrepreneur, how easy is it to set up shop in
Korea?”
Quick answer: Not very, and you’ll need to be committed. That means registering a
patent locally, attending a 3-week government course (the OASIS program),
committing USD $100K to the cause… or marrying a local.
It’s great to see programs opening up for overseas startups and they may also be
your best bet to test the market with minimal outlay and risk.
Contact me for more on this if you’re interested (nathan@g3partners.asia)
48. >> The Bad:
“There are just too many startups;
investors are reeling back, and some
are even starting startups to put them
on their resumes.”
“Stagnant economy and lackluster
policy performance.”
>> The Good:
“Korea hasn’t fully told its story yet.”
- Eric Kim, Goodwater Capital
“The public’s perception of startups is improving,
and there are ever more support for startups.”
“The quality of startup workforce is improving.”
www.g3partners.asia
Korean Founder Sentiment
Will Next Year Be Better for Startups?
Source: Startup Alliance,
2016 Startup Trend Report
53. “Get a nice job at Samsung, son”
- Ajummas
Until recently it was socially frowned upon to join a startup or be
an entrepreneur, especially for the well educated. Thanks in part
to recent successes demonstrating the viability of tech
entrepreneurship as a career this stigma is changing fast.
www.g3partners.asia
The “Ajumma Factor”
54. > Nathan Millard, CEO @ G3 Partners
> Michael Hong, CEO @ RedHering
> James Jung, CEO @ beSUCCESS
> Jungwook Lim, CEO @ Startup Alliance
> Jeffrey Lim, GM @ Google Campus
> Hee-eun Park, @ Altos Ventures
People to Look Out for /
Connect with in Seoul Startup Ecosystem
www.g3partners.asia
Am I missing someone? Email me (nathan@g3partners.asia)
55. People to Look Out for /
Connect with in Seoul Startup Ecosystem
www.g3partners.asia
Am I missing someone? Email me (nathan@g3partners.asia)
> Seokwon Yang, Manager @ D Camp
> Mike Kim, Manager @ Google Korea
> YJ Min, CEO @ Kono Labs
> Tim Chae, Partner @ 500 Startups Korea
> Minhee Cho, CEO @ RocketPunch
> Louis Ryu, CEO @ Shift.
56. People to Look Out for /
Connect with in Seoul Startup Ecosystem
www.g3partners.asia
Am I missing someone? Email me (nathan@g3partners.asia)
> Hyekyung Hwang, CEO @ Hive Arena
> Kihong Bae, Partner @ Strong Ventures
> Richard Min, CEO @ Seoul Space
> Yer-Hyun Baek, CEO @ Korea Investment Partners
> Douglas Guen, CEO @ Primer
> Junghee Ryu, CEO @ FuturePlay
57. > Elaine Ramirez, Freelance tech writer
> Phil Yoon, CEO @ Big Basin Capital
> Eugene Kim, CEO @ Sparklabs
> Hyemin Lee, CEO @ Finda
> Olivier Mouroux, CEO @ Asiance
> Joon Oh, CEO @ MangoPlate
People to Look Out for /
Connect with in Seoul Startup Ecosystem
www.g3partners.asia
Am I missing someone? Email me (nathan@g3partners.asia)
58. a
Author’s note
www.g3partners.asia
The wonderful people on the previous slide have been selected as ‘go to people’ in
the ecosystem because they’ve been in it for years, speak English, work at companies
I’d classify as ‘ecosystem builders’. They are people whom I know as knowledgeable
and whom I’ve found to be open and willing to give advice and connections.
Many don’t know they’re on the list, but if you mention that you saw their name in
this presentation it should help break the ice.
59. Hot Trends that Foreign
Brands / Startups Can
Leverage
www.g3partners.asia
60. Fintech is one of the most promising areas of
innovation and growth in Korea, which has
suffered from obsolete banking system.
Government is earmarking $2.7 Bn just for
Fintech industry and easing regulation.
www.g3partners.asia
Fintech
61. ● $10 Bn market
● 5 of Top 10 mobile games are foreign
● Foreign games grew by 2X per year for the
last 3 years
● Mobile games constitute ⅓ of total gaming
market
Gaming
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62. ● K-Fashion is a $46 Bn market
● K-Beauty is $8 Bn market
● Industry is ripe for disruption, as local brands still
rely on traditional e-commerce shops
● Opportunities for tech partnerships, e-commerce,
exports
Fashion, Fashion Tech & Cosmetics
www.g3partners.asia
63. ● Trendsetter in Asia (music, film, TV)
● K-Pop mania in Asia (and west?)
● Multi-Channel Networks that promote and
manage social influencers and their content
are thriving
● Foreign content platforms entering market
Pop Content & Visual Media
www.g3partners.asia
64. ● Hyundai pursuing autonomous vehicle
innovation
● Government support
● Opportunities in automotive tech
partnerships
www.g3partners.asia
Automotive
65. ● Korea is one of Asia’s largest
E-commerce markets
● Coupang recently raised $1Bn
● Regulations easing
● Opportunities for import, export,
e-commerce platforms and support
services (payments, analytics, Ads, etc)
www.g3partners.asia
Cross-border Commerce & E-commerce
66. ● Songdo ‘completed’ in 2015
● Samsung & LG pursuing smart home
opportunities (and investing globally)
● Government support
● Koreans love tech
www.g3partners.asia
IoE, Smart Home, Smart City
67. ● Koreans are very tech savvy
● Koreans work hard, so helping them
save time is an opportunity
● Overseas business services doing
well
www.g3partners.asia
Biz-tech Services & Platforms
68. ● Air quality in Korea is worsening,
awareness of environment
increasing
● Heavy reliance of coal power and
fine dust from China are the main
culprits
● Sales of air purifies up 300% in 3
years
www.g3partners.asia
Clean Skies
69. www.g3partners.asia
Services for Singles & Seniors
● Demographic shift in Korea away from
multi-generational households
● Singles have given up on traditions like
marriage, children, home ownership
● 1-person restaurants, delivery, affordable
luxury, home healthcare
70. ● Of course barriers to entry exist
● Government desire doesn’t always mean results
● Samsung (and other conglomerates) are tough to
get into and very conservative
Is There REALLY Opportunity?
www.g3partners.asia
71. ● Early movers have an advantage
● Korea’s a small market, but Koreans are big
spenders
● It’s easier doing business in Korea than Japan or
China
● The Korean market is open for business
www.g3partners.asia
BUT...
72. Got questions or suggestions?
execs@g3partners.asia
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