On November 17, the Grand Championship of “Challenge! K-Startup 2021” was held at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul. “Challenge! K-Startup” is the largest startup competition in Korea, jointly operated by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) and various government ministries.
Preliminary rounds hosted by individual ministries were held from March to August, followed by the integrated main rounds, finals, and Grand Championship from September to November. Given the intense competition carried out continuously over several months, deciding to participate is no easy task. While the challenge may seem daunting, participants ranged widely in age—from 16 to 86 years old. The number of participating teams also reached a record high, with a total of 7,352 teams competing.
Promotional poster for “Challenge! K-Startup 2021.” (Source: Ministry of SMEs and Startups)
Operating structure of Challenge! K-Startup. (Source: Ministry of SMEs and Startups)
A total of 10 government ministries participated, an increase of three more than last year, with the aim of discovering promising startup ideas and fostering a culture of entrepreneurship. Each ministry operates its own preliminary league: the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) runs the Innovative Startup League and the Youth League; the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science and ICT run the Student League; the Ministry of National Defense operates the Defense League; the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism runs the Tourism League; MSS and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family jointly operate the Women’s League; the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korean Intellectual Property Office run the Intellectual Property League; the Ministry of Environment operates the Environment League; and the Korea Forest Service runs the Forestry League. Through these leagues, teams advancing to the integrated main round are selected.
Out of a total of 7,352 teams, only 20 teams advanced to the Grand Championship. In the final presentation evaluation, each team was given five minutes for a PPT presentation and five minutes for a Q&A session with the judges. The final presentations were conducted both online and offline and live-streamed on YouTube, and the final winners were determined based on evaluations by seven judges and 20 audience evaluators.
A presentation by Day1Lab, the Grand Prize–winning team of the Preliminary Startup League. Due to COVID-19, the presentation was delivered on a virtual stage.
The presentation evaluations for teams advancing to the Grand Championship, which began at 12:00 p.m. on the day of the event, were first conducted by 10 teams from the Preliminary Startup League. After a short break, presentations by 10 teams from the Startup League began at 2:15 p.m. All presentations were held remotely due to COVID-19. Teams presented from a virtual stage behind the scenes and appeared in front of the audience only during the Q&A sessions. After all teams completed their presentations by 4:20 p.m., scores were compiled and the winners were selected.
The Grand Prize in the Preliminary Startup League was awarded to Day1Lab, which developed next-generation plastics. Two teams received the Excellence Award: Goi Funeral Research Institute, which developed a funeral platform for pre-arranged burial planning, and Wrtn Technologies Co., Ltd., which provides an online document-writing tool for Generation Z.
The Grand Prize in the Startup League was awarded to AU Co., Ltd., which possesses a human-detection radar sensor designed to prevent suffocation and heatstroke among people left inside vehicles. Two teams received the Excellence Award: MedInTech Co., Ltd., which develops AI-powered smart endoscopes, and Proxy Healthcare Co., Ltd., which developed a non-vibrating microcurrent electronic toothbrush designed to improve gum inflammation.
List of winners at the Grand Championship of Challenge! K-Startup. (Source: Ministry of SMEs and Startups)
We interviewed the award recipients.
Q. Please introduce your startup item and explain the motivation behind its development.
[Startup League] Grand Prize – AU Co., Ltd. / CEO Baek-hyun Kim (34):
“I developed a human-detection radar sensor after seeing news reports about children who died after being left inside vehicles during the summer. We are developing a high-precision, ultra-compact radar sensor–based occupant detection system in collaboration with Hyundai Mobis.”
Excellence Award – MedInTech Co., Ltd. / CEO Chi-won Lee (33):
“Currently, 100% of reusable flexible endoscopes for screening are imported, and 90% of them are Japanese products. In order to overcome this situation, we developed a smart endoscope that utilizes motorized control methods and artificial intelligence.”
Excellence Award – Proxy Healthcare Co., Ltd. / CEO Young-wook Kim (43):
“We focused on the fact that the number of patients with periodontal disease is increasing every year, along with the associated costs, which amount to KRW 1.5 trillion. We then completed a technology specialized in removing biofilms using microcurrents at levels similar to those of the human body, and launched ‘Tromatz,’ the first commercialized microcurrent toothbrush based on this technology.”
Merit Award – Flatforce Co., Ltd. / CEO Young-jun Shin (51):
“This is a cloud-based mobile gift certificate platform that allows anyone to issue and sell gift certificates without upfront costs. Previously, only large corporations could issue mobile gift certificates due to high costs and long development timelines. We founded the company to address this market challenge.”
Merit Award – Lafique Co., Ltd. / CEO Beom-joo Lee (42):
“Before founding the company, I worked in the cosmetics industry for 13 years. I felt there was a problem with plant extracts being used in cosmetics merely for marketing purposes without real efficacy, so I decided to create cosmetics that are genuinely effective. We possess a technology that allows plants to be added directly into cosmetics without extraction, enabling us to produce products that deliver 100% of the plants’ inherent efficacy.”
A Q&A session with Lafique Co., Ltd., a Merit Award winner in the Startup League.
[Pre-Startup League] Grand Prize – Day1Lab / CEO Ju-bong Lee (32):
“We are developing next-generation plastics that completely decompose and disappear within seven days in the ocean and within two months in soil, in order to address the issues of microplastics and greenhouse gas emissions. I have been deeply interested in solving plastic-related problems since my undergraduate studies. I went on to graduate school, earned a Ph.D. through research on enhancing material properties, and after graduation, began full-scale development of next-generation plastics together with my team.”
Excellence Award – Wrtn Technologies Co., Ltd. / CEO Se-young Lee (24):
“Wrtn is an online document-writing tool similar to Google Docs. We incorporated features that help writing for Generation Z, who often struggle with writing. We are also developing a natural language processing–based AI engine to further support users in their writing.”
Encouragement Award – Cosmos Medic / CEO Ji-hoon Kim (32):
“We developed an AI program called ‘Ssi-ssi’ to reduce emergency room length of stay. While serving as a military doctor, I became aware of the shortage of emergency room beds, which motivated me to develop this solution.”
Encouragement Award – Juda / CEO Jae-sung Yoo (26):
“For security reasons, soldiers have been receiving parcels through post office P.O. boxes for more than 70 years. However, since most social commerce platforms do not use the postal service, soldiers have had to send packages to their homes, after which their parents re-submit them through the post office. To resolve this inconvenience, we created ‘Millivery,’ a package forwarding service for military personnel.”
A Q&A session with Ji-hoon Kim, CEO of Cosmos Medic, a winner of the Korea Forest Service Commissioner’s Award in the Preliminary Startup League.
Q. How do you feel about receiving the award? How do you plan to use the prize money, and what are your future goals?
Ju-bong Lee, CEO of Day1Lab (32):
“We were able to win this award thanks to the team members who conducted research together with me. We aim to become a company that opens a new era in the global plastics market with Korea’s sincere technological capabilities. The prize money will be used for production, research, and development costs to support scale-up.”
Baek-hyun Kim, CEO of AU Co., Ltd. (34):
“There were many teams that were just as strong as, or stronger than, ours, so it is an honor for us to receive this award. We plan to use the entire prize money for research and development. By moving forward with full-scale mass production, we aim to generate tangible results in both sales and exports.”
Chi-won Lee, CEO of MedInTech Co., Ltd. (33):
“All the preparations leading up to the Grand Championship were only possible because of our team members, and I am deeply grateful to them. We plan to use the prize money for endoscope R&D and for testing and inspections required for regulatory approval. We will devote ourselves to product development until it can be used in real clinical settings. In the field of gastrointestinal endoscopy, Korean medical professionals possess world-class expertise and knowledge. We will build trust in the domestic market first and then move onto the global stage.”
Young-wook Kim, CEO of Proxy Healthcare Co., Ltd. (43):
“It is a great honor to receive such a prestigious award from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. The prize money will be used to provide bonuses to employees who have worked hard together to achieve results, as well as for marketing expenses. Beyond oral care, we aim to grow into a company that expands its business into medical devices and industrial equipment in the future.”
A Q&A session with the CEO of MedInTech, winner of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Award in the Startup League.
Q. Over the long journey to the Grand Championship, what have you gained or felt along the way?
Ju-bong Lee, CEO of Day1Lab (32):
“Each time we received feedback, we were able to refine our presentation materials and think more deeply. I believe that was the greatest takeaway.”
Baek-hyun Kim, CEO of AU Co., Ltd. (34):
“We met many teams that were truly outstanding—some even better than ours. Meeting them gave me an opportunity to re-examine our own team and look for areas where we could further improve.”
Se-young Lee, CEO of Wrtn Technologies Co., Ltd. (24):
“I remember continuously revising our presentations by reflecting the questions and feedback we received from the judges through multiple rounds of evaluations. That process itself helped us develop our ability to explain our idea to others and strengthen our IR capabilities.”
Young-wook Kim, CEO of Proxy Healthcare Co., Ltd. (43):
“Compared to when we first applied, Challenge! K-Startup became an opportunity for us to sharpen the message and direction of our business much more clearly.”
창업리그 중기부장관상 수상팀 (주)프록시헬스케어.
Q. 왕중왕전 당일, 정말 떨리셨을 것 같습니다. 예행연습이 9시 30분이었는데, 몇 시에 도착하고, 어떤 준비를 했는지 궁금합니다.
㈜플랫포스 신영준 대표(51) : 8시 30분에 도착해서 마음을 가라앉혔습니다. 제가 참가자 중에서 나이가 가장 많았어요. 같이 발표하는 젊은 도전자들과 비슷해 보이고 싶어서 급하게 미용실에 가서 머리 손질도 하고 화장도 했습니다. 순서를 기다리는 동안 계속 발표 연습을 했습니다.
주다 유재성 대표(26) : 저는 부산에 거주하고 있어서 전날 밤 10시에 서울에 도착했고 왕중왕전 당일에는 오전 9시에 발표 장소에 도착했습니다. 도착하자마자 발표 연습을 하는데 정말 많이 떨렸습니다. 회사의 자금을 끌어와야 한다는 다짐 하나로 버티면서 발표를 준비했습니다.
코스모스 메딕 김지훈 대표(32) : 행사 당일 새벽 6시 30분에 도착했습니다. 너무 긴장해서 밥을 먹을 수가 없더라고요. 물만 마시며 발표 연습에 전념했습니다. 세상에 처음으로 내 기업과 나의 사업 아이템을 공개하는 자리라는 마음가짐으로 임했습니다.
A Q&A session with Proxy Healthcare Co., Ltd., winner of the Minister of SMEs and Startups Award in the Startup League.
Q. You must have been extremely nervous on the day of the Grand Championship. The rehearsal was at 9:30 a.m.—what time did you arrive, and how did you prepare?
Young-jun Shin, CEO of Flatforce Co., Ltd. (51):
“I arrived at 8:30 a.m. to calm myself down. I was the oldest participant among the presenters. I wanted to look similar to the younger challengers presenting alongside me, so I rushed to a hair salon to get my hair styled and even put on makeup. While waiting for my turn, I kept practicing my presentation.”
Jae-sung Yoo, CEO of Juda (26):
“I live in Busan, so I arrived in Seoul at 10:00 p.m. the night before, and on the day of the Grand Championship, I arrived at the venue at 9:00 a.m. As soon as I got there, I started rehearsing, and I was extremely nervous. I prepared my presentation by holding onto one firm resolve—to secure funding for the company.”
Ji-hoon Kim, CEO of Cosmos Medic (32):
“I arrived at 6:30 a.m. on the day of the event. I was so nervous that I couldn’t eat anything. I focused solely on practicing my presentation while drinking only water. I approached the event with the mindset that it was the first time in the world I was publicly presenting my company and my business idea.”
A Q&A session with AU Co., Ltd., the Grand Prize winner in the Startup League.
Q. We’re curious about what kinds of support you received from the ministry-specific league.
Ju-bong Lee, CEO of Day1Lab (32):
“We received information on research and development facilities from the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute, as well as guidance on support programs offered by the Ministry of Environment. They also proposed rehearsal mentoring ahead of the Challenge! K-Startup presentation, but unfortunately, we were unable to participate because we were finalizing our production facility testing schedule up until the day before the presentation. We are very grateful that they continue to think carefully about what kinds of support we need.”
Young-wook Kim, CEO of Proxy Healthcare Co., Ltd. (43):
“We received pitching skills mentoring at each stage as we passed the evaluations. They brought in highly renowned mentors from the industry, so it didn’t feel like a formality at all. Instead, we felt that we received high-quality mentoring that genuinely helped us progress all the way to the Grand Championship.”
Jae-sung Yoo, CEO of Juda (26):
“In the Student League, they helped us thoroughly prepare both our presentation materials and presentation content. Thanks to that support, we were able to achieve a good result. I would like to express my gratitude to the staff at the Korea Entrepreneurship Foundation, the organizing institution, as well as to the mentors from Nanum Angels who supported us through mentoring.”
A group photo from the awards ceremony of the Challenge! K-Startup Grand Championship.
Q. Do you have any advice for founders who plan to apply for Challenge! K-Startup next year, or for those who are still hesitant to take on the challenge?
Baek-hyun Kim, CEO of AU Co., Ltd. (34):
“Believe in yourself, believe in your team, believe in your company, and keep moving forward. Always think about where you may be lacking and try to find the answers. Good results will follow.”
Se-young Lee, CEO of Wrtn Technologies Co., Ltd. (24):
“Every stage of the competition is an opportunity to build an entrepreneur’s capabilities. Apply first, then grow. Regardless of whether you have already started a business, simply being able to participate in the largest and most prestigious startup competition in Korea is, in itself, a tremendous opportunity for any entrepreneur.”
Young-wook Kim, CEO of Proxy Healthcare Co., Ltd. (43):
“Rather than all applicants being evaluated in a single pool, the competition begins in segmented leagues that take into account business type and industry. Because of this, there are many things founders can gain from government ministries throughout the process, such as investment mentoring and consulting. If there is any team hesitating to apply, I would say—just try. You will grow through the process.”
Woo-jin Kim, CEO of Business Canvas Co., Ltd. (32):
“Even if you think it’s too early, just go for it! When we applied, we were an early-stage startup with less than 10 months since founding. We considered waiting until we had grown more, but decided to apply anyway. By making it all the way to the Grand Championship, we grew tremendously and rapidly. Take on the Challenge! K-Startup!”
Young-jun Shin, CEO of Flatforce Co., Ltd. (51):
“For those considering senior entrepreneurship like myself, there will be many challenges. Through Challenge! K-Startup, doors open to receive various forms of support. If the business model you are envisioning can benefit society and become your dream, I would strongly encourage you to take the leap and apply.”
Beom-joo Lee, CEO of Lafique Co., Ltd. (42):
“I was eliminated in the preliminary rounds for the past three years, so I challenged myself this year thinking it would be my last attempt. The competition motivated me to refine my business idea every month, and I believe there is no opportunity quite like Challenge! K-Startup to promote a company so quickly and powerfully. Please—definitely give it a try!”
Challenge! K-Startup is the largest and most prestigious startup competition in Korea. While startup competitions are often thought of as simply ranking business ideas, these interviews reveal that the program functions as a policy platform that actively drives the growth of business ideas. It is exciting to look forward to what kinds of support will be offered next year to foster the growth of entrepreneurs. Challenge! K-Startup is highly recommended for all founders who dream of growth tomorrow.
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https://www.korea.kr/news/reporterView.do?newsId=148895973
On November 17, the Grand Championship of “Challenge! K-Startup 2021” was held at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul. “Challenge! K-Startup” is the largest startup competition in Korea, jointly operated by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) and various government ministries.
Preliminary rounds hosted by individual ministries were held from March to August, followed by the integrated main rounds, finals, and Grand Championship from September to November. Given the intense competition carried out continuously over several months, deciding to participate is no easy task. While the challenge may seem daunting, participants ranged widely in age—from 16 to 86 years old. The number of participating teams also reached a record high, with a total of 7,352 teams competing.
Promotional poster for “Challenge! K-Startup 2021.” (Source: Ministry of SMEs and Startups)
Operating structure of Challenge! K-Startup. (Source: Ministry of SMEs and Startups)
A total of 10 government ministries participated, an increase of three more than last year, with the aim of discovering promising startup ideas and fostering a culture of entrepreneurship. Each ministry operates its own preliminary league: the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) runs the Innovative Startup League and the Youth League; the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Science and ICT run the Student League; the Ministry of National Defense operates the Defense League; the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism runs the Tourism League; MSS and the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family jointly operate the Women’s League; the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korean Intellectual Property Office run the Intellectual Property League; the Ministry of Environment operates the Environment League; and the Korea Forest Service runs the Forestry League. Through these leagues, teams advancing to the integrated main round are selected.
Out of a total of 7,352 teams, only 20 teams advanced to the Grand Championship. In the final presentation evaluation, each team was given five minutes for a PPT presentation and five minutes for a Q&A session with the judges. The final presentations were conducted both online and offline and live-streamed on YouTube, and the final winners were determined based on evaluations by seven judges and 20 audience evaluators.
A presentation by Day1Lab, the Grand Prize–winning team of the Preliminary Startup League. Due to COVID-19, the presentation was delivered on a virtual stage.
The presentation evaluations for teams advancing to the Grand Championship, which began at 12:00 p.m. on the day of the event, were first conducted by 10 teams from the Preliminary Startup League. After a short break, presentations by 10 teams from the Startup League began at 2:15 p.m. All presentations were held remotely due to COVID-19. Teams presented from a virtual stage behind the scenes and appeared in front of the audience only during the Q&A sessions. After all teams completed their presentations by 4:20 p.m., scores were compiled and the winners were selected.
The Grand Prize in the Preliminary Startup League was awarded to Day1Lab, which developed next-generation plastics. Two teams received the Excellence Award: Goi Funeral Research Institute, which developed a funeral platform for pre-arranged burial planning, and Wrtn Technologies Co., Ltd., which provides an online document-writing tool for Generation Z.
The Grand Prize in the Startup League was awarded to AU Co., Ltd., which possesses a human-detection radar sensor designed to prevent suffocation and heatstroke among people left inside vehicles. Two teams received the Excellence Award: MedInTech Co., Ltd., which develops AI-powered smart endoscopes, and Proxy Healthcare Co., Ltd., which developed a non-vibrating microcurrent electronic toothbrush designed to improve gum inflammation.
List of winners at the Grand Championship of Challenge! K-Startup. (Source: Ministry of SMEs and Startups)
We interviewed the award recipients.
Q. Please introduce your startup item and explain the motivation behind its development.
[Startup League] Grand Prize – AU Co., Ltd. / CEO Baek-hyun Kim (34):
“I developed a human-detection radar sensor after seeing news reports about children who died after being left inside vehicles during the summer. We are developing a high-precision, ultra-compact radar sensor–based occupant detection system in collaboration with Hyundai Mobis.”
Excellence Award – MedInTech Co., Ltd. / CEO Chi-won Lee (33):
“Currently, 100% of reusable flexible endoscopes for screening are imported, and 90% of them are Japanese products. In order to overcome this situation, we developed a smart endoscope that utilizes motorized control methods and artificial intelligence.”
Excellence Award – Proxy Healthcare Co., Ltd. / CEO Young-wook Kim (43):
“We focused on the fact that the number of patients with periodontal disease is increasing every year, along with the associated costs, which amount to KRW 1.5 trillion. We then completed a technology specialized in removing biofilms using microcurrents at levels similar to those of the human body, and launched ‘Tromatz,’ the first commercialized microcurrent toothbrush based on this technology.”
Merit Award – Flatforce Co., Ltd. / CEO Young-jun Shin (51):
“This is a cloud-based mobile gift certificate platform that allows anyone to issue and sell gift certificates without upfront costs. Previously, only large corporations could issue mobile gift certificates due to high costs and long development timelines. We founded the company to address this market challenge.”
Merit Award – Lafique Co., Ltd. / CEO Beom-joo Lee (42):
“Before founding the company, I worked in the cosmetics industry for 13 years. I felt there was a problem with plant extracts being used in cosmetics merely for marketing purposes without real efficacy, so I decided to create cosmetics that are genuinely effective. We possess a technology that allows plants to be added directly into cosmetics without extraction, enabling us to produce products that deliver 100% of the plants’ inherent efficacy.”
A Q&A session with Lafique Co., Ltd., a Merit Award winner in the Startup League.
[Pre-Startup League] Grand Prize – Day1Lab / CEO Ju-bong Lee (32):
“We are developing next-generation plastics that completely decompose and disappear within seven days in the ocean and within two months in soil, in order to address the issues of microplastics and greenhouse gas emissions. I have been deeply interested in solving plastic-related problems since my undergraduate studies. I went on to graduate school, earned a Ph.D. through research on enhancing material properties, and after graduation, began full-scale development of next-generation plastics together with my team.”
Excellence Award – Wrtn Technologies Co., Ltd. / CEO Se-young Lee (24):
“Wrtn is an online document-writing tool similar to Google Docs. We incorporated features that help writing for Generation Z, who often struggle with writing. We are also developing a natural language processing–based AI engine to further support users in their writing.”
Encouragement Award – Cosmos Medic / CEO Ji-hoon Kim (32):
“We developed an AI program called ‘Ssi-ssi’ to reduce emergency room length of stay. While serving as a military doctor, I became aware of the shortage of emergency room beds, which motivated me to develop this solution.”
Encouragement Award – Juda / CEO Jae-sung Yoo (26):
“For security reasons, soldiers have been receiving parcels through post office P.O. boxes for more than 70 years. However, since most social commerce platforms do not use the postal service, soldiers have had to send packages to their homes, after which their parents re-submit them through the post office. To resolve this inconvenience, we created ‘Millivery,’ a package forwarding service for military personnel.”
A Q&A session with Ji-hoon Kim, CEO of Cosmos Medic, a winner of the Korea Forest Service Commissioner’s Award in the Preliminary Startup League.
Q. How do you feel about receiving the award? How do you plan to use the prize money, and what are your future goals?
Ju-bong Lee, CEO of Day1Lab (32):
“We were able to win this award thanks to the team members who conducted research together with me. We aim to become a company that opens a new era in the global plastics market with Korea’s sincere technological capabilities. The prize money will be used for production, research, and development costs to support scale-up.”
Baek-hyun Kim, CEO of AU Co., Ltd. (34):
“There were many teams that were just as strong as, or stronger than, ours, so it is an honor for us to receive this award. We plan to use the entire prize money for research and development. By moving forward with full-scale mass production, we aim to generate tangible results in both sales and exports.”
Chi-won Lee, CEO of MedInTech Co., Ltd. (33):
“All the preparations leading up to the Grand Championship were only possible because of our team members, and I am deeply grateful to them. We plan to use the prize money for endoscope R&D and for testing and inspections required for regulatory approval. We will devote ourselves to product development until it can be used in real clinical settings. In the field of gastrointestinal endoscopy, Korean medical professionals possess world-class expertise and knowledge. We will build trust in the domestic market first and then move onto the global stage.”
Young-wook Kim, CEO of Proxy Healthcare Co., Ltd. (43):
“It is a great honor to receive such a prestigious award from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. The prize money will be used to provide bonuses to employees who have worked hard together to achieve results, as well as for marketing expenses. Beyond oral care, we aim to grow into a company that expands its business into medical devices and industrial equipment in the future.”
A Q&A session with the CEO of MedInTech, winner of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Award in the Startup League.
Q. Over the long journey to the Grand Championship, what have you gained or felt along the way?
Ju-bong Lee, CEO of Day1Lab (32):
“Each time we received feedback, we were able to refine our presentation materials and think more deeply. I believe that was the greatest takeaway.”
Baek-hyun Kim, CEO of AU Co., Ltd. (34):
“We met many teams that were truly outstanding—some even better than ours. Meeting them gave me an opportunity to re-examine our own team and look for areas where we could further improve.”
Se-young Lee, CEO of Wrtn Technologies Co., Ltd. (24):
“I remember continuously revising our presentations by reflecting the questions and feedback we received from the judges through multiple rounds of evaluations. That process itself helped us develop our ability to explain our idea to others and strengthen our IR capabilities.”
Young-wook Kim, CEO of Proxy Healthcare Co., Ltd. (43):
“Compared to when we first applied, Challenge! K-Startup became an opportunity for us to sharpen the message and direction of our business much more clearly.”
창업리그 중기부장관상 수상팀 (주)프록시헬스케어.
Q. 왕중왕전 당일, 정말 떨리셨을 것 같습니다. 예행연습이 9시 30분이었는데, 몇 시에 도착하고, 어떤 준비를 했는지 궁금합니다.
㈜플랫포스 신영준 대표(51) : 8시 30분에 도착해서 마음을 가라앉혔습니다. 제가 참가자 중에서 나이가 가장 많았어요. 같이 발표하는 젊은 도전자들과 비슷해 보이고 싶어서 급하게 미용실에 가서 머리 손질도 하고 화장도 했습니다. 순서를 기다리는 동안 계속 발표 연습을 했습니다.
주다 유재성 대표(26) : 저는 부산에 거주하고 있어서 전날 밤 10시에 서울에 도착했고 왕중왕전 당일에는 오전 9시에 발표 장소에 도착했습니다. 도착하자마자 발표 연습을 하는데 정말 많이 떨렸습니다. 회사의 자금을 끌어와야 한다는 다짐 하나로 버티면서 발표를 준비했습니다.
코스모스 메딕 김지훈 대표(32) : 행사 당일 새벽 6시 30분에 도착했습니다. 너무 긴장해서 밥을 먹을 수가 없더라고요. 물만 마시며 발표 연습에 전념했습니다. 세상에 처음으로 내 기업과 나의 사업 아이템을 공개하는 자리라는 마음가짐으로 임했습니다.
A Q&A session with Proxy Healthcare Co., Ltd., winner of the Minister of SMEs and Startups Award in the Startup League.
Q. You must have been extremely nervous on the day of the Grand Championship. The rehearsal was at 9:30 a.m.—what time did you arrive, and how did you prepare?
Young-jun Shin, CEO of Flatforce Co., Ltd. (51):
“I arrived at 8:30 a.m. to calm myself down. I was the oldest participant among the presenters. I wanted to look similar to the younger challengers presenting alongside me, so I rushed to a hair salon to get my hair styled and even put on makeup. While waiting for my turn, I kept practicing my presentation.”
Jae-sung Yoo, CEO of Juda (26):
“I live in Busan, so I arrived in Seoul at 10:00 p.m. the night before, and on the day of the Grand Championship, I arrived at the venue at 9:00 a.m. As soon as I got there, I started rehearsing, and I was extremely nervous. I prepared my presentation by holding onto one firm resolve—to secure funding for the company.”
Ji-hoon Kim, CEO of Cosmos Medic (32):
“I arrived at 6:30 a.m. on the day of the event. I was so nervous that I couldn’t eat anything. I focused solely on practicing my presentation while drinking only water. I approached the event with the mindset that it was the first time in the world I was publicly presenting my company and my business idea.”
A Q&A session with AU Co., Ltd., the Grand Prize winner in the Startup League.
Q. We’re curious about what kinds of support you received from the ministry-specific league.
Ju-bong Lee, CEO of Day1Lab (32):
“We received information on research and development facilities from the Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute, as well as guidance on support programs offered by the Ministry of Environment. They also proposed rehearsal mentoring ahead of the Challenge! K-Startup presentation, but unfortunately, we were unable to participate because we were finalizing our production facility testing schedule up until the day before the presentation. We are very grateful that they continue to think carefully about what kinds of support we need.”
Young-wook Kim, CEO of Proxy Healthcare Co., Ltd. (43):
“We received pitching skills mentoring at each stage as we passed the evaluations. They brought in highly renowned mentors from the industry, so it didn’t feel like a formality at all. Instead, we felt that we received high-quality mentoring that genuinely helped us progress all the way to the Grand Championship.”
Jae-sung Yoo, CEO of Juda (26):
“In the Student League, they helped us thoroughly prepare both our presentation materials and presentation content. Thanks to that support, we were able to achieve a good result. I would like to express my gratitude to the staff at the Korea Entrepreneurship Foundation, the organizing institution, as well as to the mentors from Nanum Angels who supported us through mentoring.”
A group photo from the awards ceremony of the Challenge! K-Startup Grand Championship.
Q. Do you have any advice for founders who plan to apply for Challenge! K-Startup next year, or for those who are still hesitant to take on the challenge?
Baek-hyun Kim, CEO of AU Co., Ltd. (34):
“Believe in yourself, believe in your team, believe in your company, and keep moving forward. Always think about where you may be lacking and try to find the answers. Good results will follow.”
Se-young Lee, CEO of Wrtn Technologies Co., Ltd. (24):
“Every stage of the competition is an opportunity to build an entrepreneur’s capabilities. Apply first, then grow. Regardless of whether you have already started a business, simply being able to participate in the largest and most prestigious startup competition in Korea is, in itself, a tremendous opportunity for any entrepreneur.”
Young-wook Kim, CEO of Proxy Healthcare Co., Ltd. (43):
“Rather than all applicants being evaluated in a single pool, the competition begins in segmented leagues that take into account business type and industry. Because of this, there are many things founders can gain from government ministries throughout the process, such as investment mentoring and consulting. If there is any team hesitating to apply, I would say—just try. You will grow through the process.”
Woo-jin Kim, CEO of Business Canvas Co., Ltd. (32):
“Even if you think it’s too early, just go for it! When we applied, we were an early-stage startup with less than 10 months since founding. We considered waiting until we had grown more, but decided to apply anyway. By making it all the way to the Grand Championship, we grew tremendously and rapidly. Take on the Challenge! K-Startup!”
Young-jun Shin, CEO of Flatforce Co., Ltd. (51):
“For those considering senior entrepreneurship like myself, there will be many challenges. Through Challenge! K-Startup, doors open to receive various forms of support. If the business model you are envisioning can benefit society and become your dream, I would strongly encourage you to take the leap and apply.”
Beom-joo Lee, CEO of Lafique Co., Ltd. (42):
“I was eliminated in the preliminary rounds for the past three years, so I challenged myself this year thinking it would be my last attempt. The competition motivated me to refine my business idea every month, and I believe there is no opportunity quite like Challenge! K-Startup to promote a company so quickly and powerfully. Please—definitely give it a try!”
Challenge! K-Startup is the largest and most prestigious startup competition in Korea. While startup competitions are often thought of as simply ranking business ideas, these interviews reveal that the program functions as a policy platform that actively drives the growth of business ideas. It is exciting to look forward to what kinds of support will be offered next year to foster the growth of entrepreneurs. Challenge! K-Startup is highly recommended for all founders who dream of growth tomorrow.
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