Korea Startup Accelerators and Early Stage Investors Association (K-AIA) and Ewha Womans University Technology Holding announced on the 20th that they successfully wrapped up the jointly hosted 8th KAIA Representatives' Club House (CLUB HOUSE).
The event was held on the 18th at Ewha Womans University ECC Isambong Hall. Marking the 10th anniversary of Ewha Womans University Technology Holding, it took place under the theme "Technology that changes the world, entrepreneurship for all, Ewha opening the future." President Lee Hyang-sook of Ewha Womans University and honorary distinguished chair professor Oh Youngju attended, along with about 150 stakeholders from the early investment and university startup ecosystem, including KAIA member investment firms. Investment institutions such as Seoul National University Technology Holding, Yonsei University Technology Holding, Hanyang University Technology Holding, CNTTech, Seoul Center for Creative Economy & Innovation, and Kairos Ventures also joined.
Part 1 proceeded under the theme "The past, present, and future of the Ewha startup ecosystem." Following opening remarks by co-CEO Noh Tae-young of Ewha Womans University Technology Holding, President Lee Hyang-sook highlighted the significance of the 10th anniversary in a welcome address. Key attendees declared the "future vision for the Ewha startup ecosystem" and shared the direction Ewha will take over the next 10 years.
Part 2, "KAIA Club House," began with an opening by co-CEO Seo Ji-hee and a welcome address by KAIA President Jeon Hwa-sung. Jeon congratulated Ewha Womans University Technology Holding on its 10th anniversary and emphasized the need for collaboration between universities and the investment industry.
Next, Mok Seung-hwan, Deputy Minister for Startup and Venture Innovation at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, gave a presentation on "A major shift to an entrepreneurial nation and K-Silicon Valley." Mok presented a "national startup era" as a new growth engine to overcome low growth and population decline, and explained the need to transition to a polycentric structure that expands startup hubs—where universities, industry, and regions converge—across multiple areas.
In a panel discussion on "New roles for technology holdings," co-CEO Seo Ji-hee served as moderator. Panelists included CEO Park Hoon-gi of Busan United Technology Holdings, Executive Director Kim Hoon-bae of Yonsei University Technology Holding, and Executive Director Jang Eun-young of Bluepointpartners, who discussed the roles and directions for university technology holding companies to evolve into deep-tech investment platforms.
Im Jung-wook, head of Startup Alliance, delivered a keynote on "The next stage of the Korean startup ecosystem." Im said that while venture investment has been recovering recently around artificial intelligence (AI) and deep tech, capital has been contracting in early investment, women's entrepreneurship, impact, and globalization.
In the subsequent panel discussion, KAIA Director General Gong Sung-hyun moderated, and panelists Jang Jae-hee, partner at Antler Korea, Lee Soon-yeol, CEO of Qnesti, and Cheon Ye-seul, CEO of VIVID HEALTH, discussed strategies to expand global outreach of the startup ecosystem, scale up impact investing, and energize women's entrepreneurship.
KAIA President Jeon Hwa-sung said, "The Representatives' Club House is more than simple networking; it is a platform where the investment industry forms practical partnerships," adding, "With this 10th anniversary event of Ewha Womans University Technology Holding as a starting point, we expect collaboration between the university technology commercialization ecosystem and the early investment ecosystem to expand further."