Korean Startups & Entrepreneurs

What Korean Startups & Entrepreneurs does

Korean Startups & Entrepreneurs (KSE) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community organization that cultivates and develops the technology startup ecosystem in the United States with an emphasis on Korean-American and South Korean-founded companies. Founded in 2012 as a Meetup group for Korean-American technology entrepreneurs in New York City, the organization has expanded over 12 years to include hundreds of entrepreneurs, affiliated partners, advisors, and investors. KSE is headquartered at 500 7th Ave in New York's Silicon Alley and operates across multiple US cities (New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Washington D.C.) with cross-border presence in South Korea.

KSE's core offerings are community-building services rather than technology products. Its portfolio comprises the K-Start Podcast (distributed via Spotify and YouTube, featuring Korean founders including Bernard Moon of SparkLabs, Dawoon Kang of Coffee Meets Bagel, and Robert Lee of Rescuing Leftover Cuisine), annual events and conferences (Korean Startup Summit, Innovation Weekends, Startup Pitch Nights, networking mixers), a mentorship program connecting startups with experienced entrepreneurs, and ongoing virtual and in-person networking meet-ups. KSE does not develop proprietary software, mobile applications, or APIs.

KSE operates on a donation and corporate sponsorship revenue model consistent with its 501(c)(3) status; membership and event participation are free for entrepreneurs. Funding flows through PayPal donations, in-kind event sponsorship, and strategic partnerships with South Korean governmental agencies (KOTRA, KOSME), trade associations (KITA, KFA), the Korea Society, and pan-Asian community organizations (World OKTA NY, Korean Tech Network, Asian Hustle Network). The organization is volunteer-powered with a 1-10 headcount and a leadership team of seven across President, Vice President, two Directors, Steering Committee, Head of Marketing & PR, and General Manager roles.

Name

Korean Startups & Entrepreneurs

Legal name

Korean Startups & Entrepreneurs

Website

https://koreanse.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

KSE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community organization that cultivates the Korean-American and South Korean technology startup ecosystem through mentorship programs, networking events, conferences, and a podcast across multiple US cities and South Korea.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Community and Entrepreneurship Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Entrepreneurship & Small Business Workforce Programs (EDAAAOAM), Marketing, Branding & Sales Skills (EDAMAHAG)

Keywords

• Entrepreneur networking community
• Startup mentorship programs
• Korean-American founder events
• Tech ecosystem conferences
• Founder pitch nights

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations & Sponsorship: KSE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that operates on donations and corporate sponsorships to fund its community programs, events, podcasts, and educational initiatives.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Korean Startups & Entrepreneurs (KSE) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community organization that cultivates the Korean-American and South Korean technology startup ecosystem in the United States. Its core offerings are four community programs: the K-Start podcast showcasing Korean innovators, in-person events and conferences (Innovation Weekends, Pitch Nights, Founder Series), a mentorship program connecting emerging founders with experienced entrepreneurs, and virtual and in-person networking events. All programs are offered free to participants and funded through donations and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

Korean Startups & Entrepreneurs (KSE) is a non-profit community organization (501(c)(3)) that offers a portfolio of community-building services rather than a traditional technology product. The core offerings consist of the KSE Podcast (K-Start) for showcasing Korean innovators, Events & Conferences including Innovation Weekend and Startup Pitch Nights, a Mentorship Program connecting startups with experienced entrepreneurs, and Networking Events for community engagement. These services work together to foster mentorship, networking, and innovative opportunities for Korean entrepreneurs globally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KSE Podcast (K-Start) Podcast series showcasing and celebrating Korean innovators, sharing their stories, lessons, and insights with a global audience to inspire and raise awareness about the Korean entrepreneurial ecosystem. Available free on Spotify and YouTube.
• KSE Events & Conferences Annual conferences and events that serve as gathering points for Korean and Korean-American entrepreneurs to learn, pitch, network, and gain insights from industry leaders. Includes Innovation Weekend, Startup Pitch Nights, Founder Series, and the Korean Startup Summit.
• KSE Mentorship Program Program connecting emerging Korean-American startups with experienced entrepreneurs and industry professionals to provide guidance, share knowledge, and accelerate growth.
• KSE Networking Events Virtual and in-person events and meet-ups bringing together like-minded individuals and businesses, fostering collaboration and mutual growth within the Korean entrepreneurial community across New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., and South Korea.

Quantifiable outcome

• KSE has grown from a 2012 Meetup group to a community of hundreds of entrepreneurs, affiliated partners, advisors, and investors.
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KOSME (Korea Startup & Venture Company)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKOSME is listed as a valued partner of KSE, supporting the cultivation and development of the Korean startup ecosystem in the United States. The partnership helps connect Korean entrepreneurs with South Korean government-backed startup support resources.
• KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKOTRA is a valued partner and co-organizer of KSE events. KSE and KOTRA New York have collaborated on events such as the NYC Startup Ecosystem seminar and Korean Digital Health & Biotech Startups Pitch Night. KOTRA's IP Desk has also co-hosted Startup Law 101 events with KSE.
• The Korea SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Korea Society is a key partner that co-presents KSE events including the Young Professionals' Night webcast series featuring prominent Korean founders such as Coffee Meets Bagel co-founder Dawoon Kang. The partnership amplifies KSE's reach to a broader audience interested in Korean entrepreneurship.
• KFA (Korea Food for the Hungry)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKFA is listed as a valued partner, supporting KSE's mission to foster the Korean entrepreneurial ecosystem.
• KITA (Korea International Trade Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKITA is listed as a valued partner, contributing to KSE's network of Korean business and trade-related connections.
• World OKTA NYcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerWorld OKTA NY (NY & NJ chapters) is a key co-host partner for KSE events including the 2024 Summer Mixer and the 2024 Winter Innovation Weekend. The partnership brings together the dynamic communities of both organizations for networking events with over 130 attendees.
• Korean Tech Network (KTN)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerKTN is a co-host partner for the KSE Innovation Weekend 2024 Winter, collaborating with World OKTA NY and AHN to deliver interactive workshops and networking sessions.
• Asian Hustle Network (AHN)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerAHN is a co-host partner for the KSE Innovation Weekend 2024 Winter, contributing to the collaborative multi-community event focused on startup growth and networking.
• Hoberman Law GroupcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHoberman Law Group advises entrepreneurs and their investors on building successful businesses and strategically guides them through early, later stages and exits. The firm co-organized the Startup Law 101 & How to Exit a Company 2017 event with KSE and KOTRA NY IP-DESK.
• Nixon Peabody LLPminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerNixon Peabody LLP served as the venue and co-presenter for the Korean Digital Health & Biotech Startups Pitch Night in Los Angeles, supporting KSE's educational and pitch event programming.
• Foley & Lardner LLPcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFoley & Lardner LLP co-hosted the KSE Innovation Weekend Day 1 (2024 Winter), providing its NYC office as the venue and contributing speakers including Matt An & Brian Wheeler for discussions on getting companies venture-fundable.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SparkLabs: SparkLabs is a Korea-headquartered startup accelerator and venture fund with global chapters, including the US. It is directly comparable to KSE because both cultivate Korean and Korean-American founders, run cohort-style programs, and connect startups to investors — and KSE's own podcast has featured SparkLabs' co-founder Bernard Moon as a guest.
• Korean Tech Network (KTN): KTN is a community for Korean-American tech professionals and founders in the US. It is comparable to KSE because both target the same Korean-American founder segment with networking events and educational programming — and KTN co-hosted KSE's 2024 Innovation Weekend.
• Asian Hustle Network (AHN): AHN is a global community and event series for Asian entrepreneurs and professionals. It is comparable to KSE because both serve diaspora founders through networking events, mentorship, and community content — and AHN is already a documented co-host partner of KSE's Innovation Weekend.

Emerging players

• Startup Grind: Startup Grind is a global community and event series supporting startup founders through local chapter events, content, and conferences. It is comparable to KSE because both operate community-led, event-driven models connecting founders with investors and mentors, though Startup Grind is broader in scope.
• Supermomos: Supermomos is a community-driven platform that organizes curated networking events for professionals and founders, including diaspora communities. It is comparable to KSE because both operate community-led, event-based GTM motions targeting entrepreneurs — and KSE's General Manager Katie Lee is associated with Supermomos.

Broad incumbents

• World OKTA (Overseas Korean Traders Association): World OKTA is a global Korean business and trade association with regional chapters, including NY & NJ. It is comparable to KSE because both mobilize Korean-American business communities for networking and professional events — and World OKTA NY is a documented co-host partner on KSE's Summer Mixer and Innovation Weekend.
• KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency): KOTRA is a South Korean government agency promoting trade and investment, with active startup support programs in the US. It is comparable to KSE because both cultivate the Korean-US business bridge and collaborate on events such as the NYC Startup Ecosystem seminar and Korean Digital Health pitch night.
• KOSME (Korea Startup & Venture Company): KOSME is a South Korean government-backed institution supporting startup growth and global expansion. It is comparable to KSE because both focus on the Korean startup ecosystem and are documented mutual partners supporting Korean founders entering the US market.
• Korea Society: Korea Society is a large, established US-based nonprofit promoting Korean culture, arts, and policy, including entrepreneurship programming. It is comparable to KSE because both serve as convening bodies for the Korean-American community and co-present events such as the Young Professionals' Night webcast series.

Others

• Coffee Meets Bagel (co-founder network): Coffee Meets Bagel is a high-profile Korean-American-founded consumer tech company. It is comparable to KSE in a thematic sense: its co-founder Dawoon Kang is a featured KSE speaker, positioning KSE as the convener connecting successful Korean-American operators with emerging founders — though CMB itself is a portfolio company, not a community organization.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/JoinKSE
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@kstartups
• Facebookfacebook.com/KoreanStartups
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/koreanse
• Instagraminstagram.com/koreanstartups

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Korean Startups & Entrepreneurs