koreabizcast

John Park [https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-park-b4301014/], Managing Director of Sparklabs Korea [https://www.linkedin.com/company/sparklabs---global-accelerator/] speaks with Alex Jensen [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-jensen-68a2a4137/] from KBLA [https://www.linkedin.com/company/korea-business-leaders-alliance/] about Korea’s growing startup scene and in particular what differentiates those teams that really kick on from those that don’t. John describes the intense nature of the Sparklabs accelerator experience. The three-month program bootstraps a company’s growth and provides mentoring, support and skill development. For many startup founders running an office efficiently, paying people and handling government certification and regulation are skills they never thought they would need. Sparklabs helps them develop those skills. However, the core focus is setting demanding weekly KPIs and working hand-in-hand with the teams. As John says, “Working with a startup team is both a science and an art. We deep dive into their data at a granular level and keep them on track with weekly KPIs. But we also look at the team chemistry. Are they resilient and hungry enough to push beyond what' they did yesterday? You need a team that will push past the hurdles, the challenges and deliver for you consistently.” With an increasingly large section of Korea’s young talent seriously considering the startup scene as a career alternative, Sparklabs provides the structured opportunity to test themselves and find out what they are really capable of. Today’s episode is sponsored by Innovation Center Denmark [https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/seoul/]. Creating innovation and business opportunities by building relationships between Korean and Danish R&D intensive companies, research institutes and universities

Even before COVID changed the world, workplace flow and workplace communications were seen as being important. Still major firms relied upon on tools such as Kakao, Line and WhatsApp to organize teams and meet deadlines. This was possible because people were meeting face-to-face every day. When COVID sent us all home, companies had to either develop their own tools or find a robust solution that was easy to use, secure and could cope with all their demands. Headquartered in Seoul, Toss Labs In. Developed Jandi a workplace tool suited to the COVID and post-COVID eras. Alex Jensen talks Jandi with Yang Jinho [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jinho-yang-a85b361a/] Head of Business at Toss Labs [https://www.linkedin.com/company/toss-lab-inc-/] about the 8-year story of the startup and their flagship solution, Jandi. Like his solution, Jinho was born in Korea, but grew up across Asia and the Pacific. In 2021, Jandi has more than two million users across 300k teams across APAC. As Jinho says, “pre-COVID, people never imagined having to manage workflow away from the office. But now, it's vital that communications are omnipresent and instant.” Although the pandemic pushed Jandi’s growth into overdrive, the post-pandemic world has not slackened the demand. Many firms are not asking their employees to return full-time to the workplace. Many others are using this time as a reset. To evolve their workplaces to become more efficient and more attractive to younger talent. Companies also know that the MZ generation will not stay at workplaces that are not agile or smart. MZers think every day about employer branding. They demand a reputable corporate culture, simplified work process, with accessibility to information and to decision makers. As the pace of digitalization continues to increase, companies like Toss Labs and their solutions will continue to be vital. Today’s episode is brought to you by Eastpoint Partners [https://www.eastpoint.asia/]. Offering an unparalleled Asia-wide network connecting you with corporates, investors and governments.

Alex Jensen [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-jensen-68a2a4137/] from KBLA [https://www.linkedin.com/company/korea-business-leaders-alliance/] speaks to Eric Thorpe [https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-thorpe-1b7722b/] and Jeffrey Bohn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-bohn-31b4907/], Managing Partners and Co-founders of Edge Communications [https://www.linkedin.com/company/edge-communications-inc-/], a Seoul-based Public Relations firm that has just celebrated its fourteenth anniversary.The firm differentiates itself from other PR firms through building a culture of work-life balance in its team. This builds consistency and quality in their client services as well as allowing relationships to deepen. As Jeff puts it, he was asked by a client one day to, “Give us a reason to hire you.” His answer was that “It really comes down to the individual at the time in the room. You're sitting there and you're looking across at the people who are going to be working with you, can they establish and maintain those relationships that are really going to make the difference to your business.” In Jeff’s view, PR companies are all cut the same way. They propose similar things, in a similar fashion so it’s the people on your team, and their ability to build better relationships. From Eric’s perspective, Edge’s other point of differentiation is blending their strong business acumen with content and writing skills. As Eric says, “There is a misconception that public relations firms need to be run by journalists, because it's about content, and writing. While content and writing is obviously important, you also need to be able to communicate, share your expertise and advise strategically by utilizing business acumen across industry sectors. I think that's what really cuts through and makes the difference in terms of relationships.” A great company culture, commitment to long-term relationships, excellent communications content and strategic advice. These are the skills that Edge Communications has built since 2004. Today’s episode is brought to you by The Four Seasons Hotel Seoul [https://www.fourseasons.com/seoul/]. Stylish Elegance in the very heart of the city.

Alex Jensen [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-jensen-68a2a4137/] and Choi Kyungmi [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyungmi-choi-6889a7b3/] KBLA [https://www.linkedin.com/company/korea-business-leaders-alliance/]’s special issue reporter discuss the recent #bts successes in the United States and the potential importance of BTS, Kpop Bands and other cultural products in spurring Korea’s economic recovery.Not only was BTS stunningly successful in their recent Las Vegas concerts selling out over 200,000 tickets over four nights, the entire city was transformed into a mecca for their loyal fans. Coming back home, the impact of the BTS and other cultural content exports is hard to overestimate. It has been estimated that its estimated that each BTS concert generates between KRW 620B and KRW1.2T worth of economic activity. But perhaps more significantly, The Korea ExIm Bank reports that a rise in music exports correlates to an amazing 17X rise in other Korean consumer goods. This economic discussion happens as the issue of the BTS members’ national service reemerges. The economic benefit and the super-group is seen as being more than enough by many to have them excluded in the same way as Korean champion athletes are. Others argue that it is a better policy that the members complete their national duty in some way.

Alex Jensen [https://kbla.net/alex-jensen/] talks with Thomas Sommer [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sommerthomas/], CFO of SG Entertainment [https://www.linkedin.com/company/sggroup/] about investing in NFTs.As many know, HYBE the management company behind BTS invested in Dunamu the operator of Upbit with the goal to releasing BTS-branded NFTS. This move was condemned by many in the Army (BTS fan organization) due to the high carbon footprint, which was seen as contradictory to the band’s pro-environment stance. Since then, however, other Kpop management companies such as YG Entertainment, SM Entertainment. Fantagio, Abyss and now JYP Entertainment have all announced interest in releasing artist-themed or branded NFTs. Thomas [https://www.linkedin.com/in/sommerthomas/] and Alex describe the why and the how of this trend. As well as looking into what exactly you are buying when you invest in an NFT. They also discuss the various ways in which you can protect yourself when investing. Today’s episode is brought to you by the Innovation Center Denmark [https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/seoul/], Seoul Office. Creating innovation and business opportunities and build up relations between Korean and Danish R&D intensive companies, research institutes and universities.