After passing the first hurdle of a startup competition, it is necessary to transform ideas into concrete business models and implementation plans. Re-evaluating the market and customers, and organizing technology, intellectual property, and commercialization strategies into a single plan, is essential to proceed to the next evaluation and investment discussions. While generative AI can reduce the time spent on data analysis and business plan writing, its utility is maximized when combined with the founder’s judgment and expert feedback. The Daejeon Creative Economy Innovation Center has set out to strengthen the practical capabilities of local entrepreneurs who advanced to the second round of the ‘Startup Project for All.’
On the 10th, the Daejeon Creative Economy Innovation Center held an orientation and AI utilization training for the participants of the second round of the ‘Everyone’s Startup Project’ from the Daejeon region at the 2nd floor of the Daejeon Startup Park headquarters.
This event was organized to support prospective and early-stage entrepreneurs in the Daejeon region who passed the first round of competition in preparing for the next stage of evaluation and commercialization. It focused on enhancing the specificity and execution capabilities of business items by combining education, mentoring, and networking among participants.
Business Analysis & AI Plan Practice… One-on-One Consultation with Three Mentor Organizations
In the first program, Han Eun-young, Director of the Daejeon Innovation Center, provided guidance on the detailed support contents and preparations for Round 2. She also introduced Hannam University, the operating institution in the Daejeon region, and its intellectual property education program.
The participants took part in a ‘Slogan Challenge’ where they summarized the goals they wanted to achieve during the startup process in a sentence. Afterwards, they shared their business fields and experiences through networking and explored potential for collaboration among the participants.
At the site, the second cohort mentor organizations—Sloan Ventures, Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water), and Company A—operated consultation booths. Experts from each organization met one-on-one with the entrants to discuss directions for improving business items and possibilities for technology and business cooperation.
In the subsequent training session, CEO Kim Seung-hwan explained the business elements to be checked during the evaluation phase and the direction of preparation under the theme of “Business Analysis for Round 2 of Startups for Everyone.” CEO Moon Ye-jin introduced methods for writing business plans using generative AI and conducted a practical session where participants applied the techniques themselves.
The Daejeon Innovation Center plans to strengthen its role as a regional hub institution starting with this program. It intends to diagnose the commercialization stages and necessary capabilities of the first round of challengers and new challengers participating additionally, and continue providing customized support such as mentoring, education, and investment linkages.
Park Dae-hee, CEO of the Daejeon Creative Economy Innovation Center, said, “The participants advancing to the second round are the future leaders of startups in the region who have demonstrated innovative ideas and a willingness to take on challenges,” adding, “We will cooperate with professional mentoring agencies to provide close support so that the participants can leap to the next stage.”
