Seoul National University of Science and Technology completed the on-site program of 'Global Investors Bridge', part of a global corporate collaboration program, in the United States from November 2 to November 9 (local time), over a period of 6 nights and 8 days.

Global Investors Bridge is a program designed to enhance localization capabilities for startups aiming to enter the U.S. market successfully. It assists in building networks with U.S. market partners and industry stakeholders, exploring collaborations with global corporations, and establishing investor relations (IR) strategies for foreign investors. Nine companies participating in the Seoul National University of Science and Technology's global corporate collaboration program, along with Draper Startup House Korea, took part.

Participants first visited the 'GBC (Global Business Center)' in New York, USA, to review the startup nurturing strategies and institutional support status there. They also shared information on procedures for residency and shared office use, as well as startup support facilities and infrastructure.


Subsequently, they participated in the 'Draper University Program' operated by Draper Startup House, where they learned strategies for entering the U.S. market, localization methods, and pitching techniques to captivate investors. The quality of education was enhanced by the participation of startup experts and investment stakeholders from Silicon Valley.

On the second day, participants engaged in the '1:1 Business Partner Matching Day', focusing on corporate sales and market expansion strategies. They began with expert lectures and Q&A sessions, followed by startups formulating step-by-step strategies for entering the U.S. market. Seoul National University of Science and Technology assisted in reviewing meeting partners, selecting customized pitching methods and agenda organization, and checking IR materials and products/services according to the growth stage of the startups.

In the subsequent 1:1 matching with meeting partners, startups met various U.S. market stakeholders to refine their strategies. Startups that met with U.S. government agency officials learned about the types of support programs and the regulations and systems to comply with. Some startups completed discussions on market suitability and entry potential, as well as Proof of Concept (PoC) with industry partners. Others discussed market development and product/service introduction conditions with potential partner companies.

On the third day, 'Investors Day' was held, including various educational sessions and practical 1:1 IR pitching. Participants listened to lectures on attracting U.S. investment and entry from 804 Venture Partners, engaged in Q&A, and identified the keys to successful localization and settlement in the U.S. market. They then conducted IR pitching in front of New York VCs, showcasing their technology, marketability, and growth potential. In the subsequent 1:1 pitching round, individual meetings were held with New York VCs most closely related to the activity sectors of the participating companies.


On the fourth day, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, along with participants, embarked on a 'Startup Ecosystem Tour'. They learned about ▲ Bloomberg's investment insights and data utilization methods, a data-driven innovation platform ▲ Mastercard's AI system exploration and case studies, a global payment network service ▲ Morgan Stanley's introduction to the North American investment ecosystem and startup investment programs, the world's largest investment bank. Participants who experienced the industry-converged startup ecosystem in New York, USA, further learned about user-centered market access methods and B2B/B2G-centered urban PoC models, resolving queries through Q&A.

On the final day, participants solidified relationships through follow-up meetings with U.S. stakeholders they met during 'Meetup Day', 1:1 matching, and 1:1 IR pitching. Seoul National University of Science and Technology discussed follow-up support and cooperation plans for the Global Investors Bridge program at the meetup with U.S. stakeholders. They also achieved the creation of a sustainable network to help Korean startups effectively utilize U.S. acceleration programs and startup incubation spaces. Draper Startup House is also known to have proposed ways to utilize the infrastructure in the western U.S.

Jung Kyung-hee, Deputy Director of the Startup Support Division at Seoul National University of Science and Technology, stated, “Through the Global Investors Bridge program, startups could lay a practical foundation for global expansion by directly meeting actual investors and industry partners, beyond mere market exploration.” She expressed a commitment to further expand cooperation with overseas accelerators and startup support institutions to consistently assist startups in their global entry and settlement.

※Seoul National University of Science and Technology operates various programs to assist Korean startups in their global expansion. IT Donga, with support from Seoul National University of Science and Technology, introduces the achievements of these programs.

IT Donga Reporter Cha Joo-kyung (racingcar@itdonga.com)

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