Korea Startup Podcast Korea Startup Podcast

Today´s guest is Pascal Kurzawa, the CGO of Wallet engine and the co-founder of Verso Finance. Both fintech and web3-related companies.



In this episode we will talk about “Super apps”:


Concept of super apps and business model.


Benefits and disadvantages for both companies and users


Branch of services of super apps


Most successful examples (Wechat, Kakao, Grab..)


The reason behind their popularity in Asia and not in the rest of the world


Embedded finance in Super apps (Peer-to-peer payments, loans, investment..)


Future of super apps (Example: Facebook's intention to become a super app)



Additionally, Pascal will share his experience as a VC Advisor for web3 and fintech projects both globally and in Korea.

It's commonly assumed that startups are the primary source of innovation, while large companies struggle to innovate at the same level. In this episode, we've invited Dmitrii Vastianov, who worked in Santander Bank's innovation department in the UK for several years and gained firsthand experience with various strategies for promoting internal innovation.

We are going to explore how the innovation department of a corporate operates by getting to know Dmitrii´s experience building “My Home Manager”, a platform that brings together services to help Santander mortgage customers manage and get more from their homes.

He will also share his opinion on the differences between entrepreneurship (building a product externally) and intrapreneurship (building a product inside a company), in terms of speed, access to capital, autonomy, and the benefits and disadvantages for the entrepreneurs. We hope you enjoy this insightful discussion.

Hello and welcome to a new episode of Korea Startup Podcast.

Today we invited Miseung Seon, CEO and co-founder at Splab, a meeting scheduling platform for businesses and individuals.

She will be sharing: the experience of entering into the startup world while being a university student, the keys to making a SaaS work successfully, 500 and Sparklabs acceleration programs, generating trust on the field for pre-seed investment, and her multiple learning from trying out anything!

Hope you enjoy it!

The gaming industry has experienced significant growth in recent years, with South Korea emerging as a prominent leader in the field.

Today's guest is Genya Smagin, Who has been in charge of strategic investment in the field of Game and Metaverse in SK Telecom for several years. With his help, we will explore this industry globally and locally, talking about the types of business models, differences between mobile and PC/console games, delving into the role of startups in the industry, which is primarily dominated by large studios, and ultimately, uncovering the reasons behind Korea's success in the gaming world.

We will also take advantage of Genya's expertise in investments to discuss the investment climate in South Korea. This will include valuable insights into the IPO market and strategic investment tips.

Hope you enjoy!

Sarah used to be a professional dancer who decided to switch her career to move to Korea and become an entrepreneur.

In Seoul, she founded VSLB, a creative studio which specializes in curating virtual spaces for brands.

In this episode, we will be inspired by Sarah's story, which illustrates the connection between creativity and business and proves that starting your own business does not require a specific educational background, but rather, a passion and a willingness to learn along the way.

Additionally, we will explore the potential of virtual reality and virtual spaces in marketing, as well as their future applications in the metaverse.

Do you imagine air taxis? Well, In today`s  episode, we delve into the exciting world of eVTOLs (Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) (Electric Aircrafts for the rest of us…)

Our special guest is Minyoung, the COO and CSO of PLANA, the first South Korean startup to develop this type of aircraft. Recently, PLANA raised 10 million dollars in funding.

During this episode, we will explore the eVTOL market, its key players, leading countries, and growth projections. We'll also discuss the benefits and challenges of eVTOLs and their potential applications in various markets such as urban air mobility, cargo, military, and healthcare.

Lastly, Minyoung will share insights on the fundraising process for hardware startups and PLANA's plans for the newly acquired funds.