Young entrepreneurs have different challenges to face nowadays in a really competitive and fast changing market. Moreover, the companies mastering the most innovative technologies have to fulfill demanding regulatory requirements, build up sales & distribution channels and tighten alliances. Networking is one of the keys to connect the players in the same market developing ideas and strengthen relations to succeed.

During the startup workshop, young entrepreneurs from Switzerland and Korea had the chance to develop mutual trust while understanding the potential of their technologies in the two countries through in-depth discussion with both Korean and Swiss mentors selected from different contexts (accelerators, venture capitalists, business hub, etc). The workshop was co-organized and moderated by Abir Oreibi, CEO of Lift and Innosuisse advisor.

10 startups participated to the startup workshop. Feedbacks from the startup’s side were positive and men-tors renewed the intention to support us in the future. Thanks to the Business Hub for his active participation in both startup workshops.

The workshop was followed by a visit of LG Science Park for the delegation and the opportunity for separate discussions/showcase for Swiss startups with experts from LG.

Closed event on invitation only

Participants: Selected startups from Switzerland and Korea offering solutions in the fields of:

Mobility, security, inclusiveness, real estate, energy, sustainability, AI, VR/AR, IoT, machine learning, etc.

Criteria:

– Early stage startups interested in cooperation projects with Korean/Swiss companies

– Mature startups ready for internationalization

Organizer:

Science and Technology Office, Embassy of Switzerland in Seoul, Lift 

Moderator:

Abir Oreibi, CEO of Lift, Innosuisse advisor

Goals

– Understanding the Korean/Swiss market by meeting a number of stakeholders

– Identifying the various R&D and strategic partners models

– Discovering the investment landscape in Korea

– Meeting investors and potential partners

Related Topics (mentors expertise)

– Scaling of business operation to a different market/continent

– Strategic Partnership models – R&D partnerships: Incentives, Driving forces, etc

– Investors’ Perspective

– Market Access Entry to Korea and Switzerland

Swiss mentors belong to:

– Impact Hub Zürich >< Largest creators’ community in Switzerland

– Innovaud >< Main startups’ accelerator in Canton Vaud (Region of Lausanne)

– SBB >< Swiss Railroad and Real Estate

– Sensirion >< World’s leading manufacturer of digital micro sensors and systems

– AAAccell >< High-tech company in Risk- and Asset management

Confirmed Swiss startups

– Creal3D >< High image quality light-field for Virtual Reality

– Technis >< Smart flooring as a service

– GaitUp >< Combining sensors, algorithms and biomechanics to provide world leading motion analysis

Confirmed Korean mentors:

– SparkLabs >< Korean business accelerator providing investment solutions and mentoring for startups

– WeWork Labs >< Space, community and programming for early-stage startups

– D.Camp Banks Foundation for Young Entrepreneurs >< Non-profit foundation/association of Korean banks focused on helping young entrepreneurs.

– LB Investment >< IT Healthcare Tech investment, industry and tech analysis

– Switzerland Global Enterprise >< Swiss export promotion

Korean startups:

– GenesisLab >< Emotion recognition technology through micro expression

– Deepixel >< Visual intelligence company developing a natural 3D interface for mobile VR

– Impressivo >< Next-generation input solution for wearables and IoT devices

– bitsensing Inc. >< Develops radar for various applications to improve safety and convenience in people’s daily life

– GreenS Systems Co., Ltd >< Connected solution monitoring Real-time freshness, Product ID, Logistics info based on smart sensor & product control system.

– FATOS >< Develops global maps and navigation solution

– AWAIR >< smart devices that help track and improve indoor air quality

Schedule

Pitching Breakfast

08.00 – 08.15: Registration
08.15 – 08.30: Introduction to workshop & to mentors – Context & goals of the day (Abir Oreibi)

08.30 – 09.30: Swiss and Korean Startups Pitch (Product & differentiation/Where do you stand or Biggest challenge or worry at the moment/Plan with Korea/Switzerland) 5’ per startup

Order: Deepixel, Fatos, GaitUp, GreenS, GenesisLab, Creal3D, Bitsensing, Impressivo, Technis, Awair

09.30 – 09.40: Talk: Scaling your business & Market Access to Korea and Switzerland
Roger Zbinden Swiss Business Hub Korea

09.40 – 10.40: First round – Intensive coaching

2 discussion sessions 30’each, participants rotate*

10.40 – 10.50: Talk: What is the Korea investors landscape?
Eugene Kim, Sparklabs

10.50 – 11.50: Second round – Intensive coaching

2 discussion sessions 30’each, participants rotate*

11.50 – 12:00: Talk: From K-Startup Grand Challenge program to a subsidiary in Seoul: the case of AAAccell
Julian Osborne, Asia BD AAAccell

12:00 – 13:00 Lunch

13.00 – 13.10: Talk: Driving forces and incentives of R&D and strategic partnerships
Stefan Guggisberg, Swiss Federal Railways and Real Estate (SBB)

13.10 – 14:10: Third round – Intensive coaching

2 discussion sessions 30’each, participants rotate*

14:10 – 14:30: Group Exchange, Observations, Wrap-up & What’s next?

*Mentors’ tables per expertise:
1. Acceleration and investment

Table 1.1 Didier Schwarz, Innovaud
Table 1.2 Eugene Kim, SparkLabs

2. Market entry and export

Table 2. Roger Zbinden, Swiss Business Hub Korea

3. Investor perspective

Table 3.1 Siwan Kim, D.Camp
Table 3.2 Jason Junghwe Koo, LB investment

4. Strategic partnership models, regulatory environment, market access

Table 4 Julian Osborne, AAAccell

5. Reliability, market scaling, R&D partnerships, strategic partnership models

Table 5.1 Michael Janser, Sensirion
Table 5.2 Stefan Guggisberg, Swiss Federal Railways and Real Estate (SBB)
Table 5.3 Jean-Henry Morin, University of Geneva

6. Co-working spaces, strategic partnership models, strategic purchasing and trends

Table 6 Michael Hunkeler, Impact Hub Zurich and Jason Jason Minkee Kim, WeWork Labs