• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.39-48
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• 2018

Despite the fact that Daejeon has excellent technology infrastructures such as government-funded research institutes, Daedeok Innopolis, and KAIST, the infrastructure for initial investment and growth support for technological start-ups is not sufficient. In particular, the amount of venture capital supply in Daejeon is relatively low compared to other innovation infrastructures. The purpose of this study is to suggest the implications of the venture capital ecosystem in Daejeon area through the analysis of what evolution process has been undergoing and what improvements and complementary points are needed in the future. First, the role of public finance system should be strengthened in order to stimulate angel investment and private capital inflows to start-up companies. Second, in order to cultivate investment professionals in the region, it is necessary to grant local funds to local institutions, and to run investment expert training courses in universities. Third, cooperation between related agencies is needed to add accelerator functions to existing incubators and to foster new accelerators. Fourth, in order to expand the role of local governments, it is necessary to establish funds, to open innovation mindset of public officials, and to communicate effectively with the central government. Fifth, basic venture ecosystem infrastructures such as inflow of excellent manpower, prevention of technology deception, improvement of rechallenge environment should be expanded. Sixth, it is necessary to reorganize the step-by-step start-up financing policy of 'Establishment - Growth - Exit - Rechallenge'. This study is meaningful in that it has grasped the current status of venture start-up financial ecosystem in Daejeon, which is changing rapidly. In particular, it is different in that it identifies financial difficulties venture companies in Daejeon and finds ways to utilize existing financial ecosystem efficiently.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.29-35
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• 2021

Fintech, a new form of financial industry that converges IT, is developing rapidly in developed countries such as the US and China. The U.S. and China lowered barriers to entry through deregulation to develop and expand the fintech industry, and, for example, encouraged startup companies to incorporate various ideas through negative regulations that are more relaxed or do not apply regulations for a certain period of time. The U.S. and China did not apply existing financial regulations to the fintech industry, providing an environment where fintech startups could grow more easily. Currently, in Korea, fintech technologies such as 'Samsung Pay', 'Toss' and 'Kakao Pay' have been developed and are being activated, and also their scale is expanding. Although various systems are being reorganized and regulated for the development of Fintech, Fintech's growth rate is slow due to unfriendly and unopened regulations in the financial sector and various markets. This paper examines the status of fintech, focusing on advanced fintech and Korea, and examines fintech-related regulations that hinder the development of the fintech industry. We propose a more flexible way of easing excessive regulation in the financial sector, such as post-regulation.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1-17
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• 2022

This study studied the effect of the TIPS support project of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups on the entrepreneurship of TIPS start-ups. The Tips start-up company, which is the subject of the study, was selected for the TIPS support project, participated in all commercialization funds, incubation facilities, and capacity building programs, and was selected as a company that received private investment. One-on-one in-depth interviews were conducted for about eight weeks from January 14, 2022 to March 11, 2022. For this study, the TIPS support project was subdivided into four categories: commercialization funds, incubation facilities, capacity building programs, and private investment attraction, and entrepreneurship factors were classified into four categories: innovation, challenge spirit, leadership, and risk-taking. As a result of the in-depth interview, the influence of the TIPS support project on entrepreneurship factors was in the order of challenge spirit, innovation, risk-taking, and leadership. Specifically, it was found that commercialization funds influenced innovation and risk-taking, incubation facilities had a challenge spirit and risk-taking, competency-building programs had a challenge spirit and leadership, and attracting private investment had an influence on innovation and challenge spirit. The implications of this study are that the TIPS support project, a private investment-led technology start-up support program, was introduced in 2013 and as of the end of March 2022, and a report was prepared focusing on visible performance such as private investment performance and employment rate. However, through this study, by analyzing whether the TIPS support project contributed to the cultivation of entrepreneurship for TIPS start-ups, it was found that it had a positive influence not only on quantitative growth but also on qualitative growth.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.59-70
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• 2020

This study was proceeded to empirically identify the start-up support policy as an element that affects the performance of the early start-ups and measure the effectiveness of the current start-up support policy, in order to suggest the direction future policies according to the study. To accomplish this the influence of the start-up support policy on the early start-ups was analyzed, and the differences according to the industry and growth stage of the start-ups, as the characteristics of the start-ups, were identified. The research subjects collected real data of 297 start-ups of the past three years that were selected for the Initial Start-Up Package project, and performed multiple regression analysis on the influence between variables, and hierarchical regression analysis on moderating effects. The summary of the study is as follows. First, as a result of identifying the influential relationship between the start-up support policy and the performance of the start-up, sales had made a significant impact on the start-up fund, start-up mentoring, and start-up infrastructure(space), while start-up education failed to show a significant effect on the increase in sales. In terms of employment, start-up mentoring was the only field that showed a significant influential relationship. Second, as a result of identifying the moderating effect of the start-up's industry and growth stage, the industry did not have a statistically significant influence, but the interactive effect was seen in start-up education. To be more specific in terms of the sales relationship of each industry, knowledge services turned out to be helpful in improving sales, while manufacturing turned out to be effective in improving sales regardless of being supported with start-up mentoring and start-up infrastructure (space). The sales relationship regarding the start-up growth stage was identified to be statistically significant. The preliminary stage was not statistically significant, while providing start-up mentoring and start-up funding were effective for start-up stage and growing stage, respectively. On the other hand, employment did not perform a significant influence on the start-up growth stage. This study analyzes the effectiveness the start-up support policy for early start-ups, identifies the need in differentiated support policies according to the characteristics of the start-ups, and suggests implications for the direction in which future policies should be made towards.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.141-158
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• 2023

From the perspective of an entrepreneur, one of the most important factors for understanding the inherent limitations of a startup, reducing the risk of failure, and succeeding is the composition of the talent, that is, the founding team. Therefore, a common concern experienced by entrepreneurs in the pre-entrepreneurship stage or the early stage of startup is the choice between independent startups and co-founding start-up. Nonetheless, in Korea, the share of independent entrepreneurship is significantly higher than that of co-founding start-up. On the other hand, focusing on the fact that many successful global innovative companies are in the form of co-founding start-up, the success factors of co-founding start-up were examined. Most of the related preceding studies are studies that identify the capabilities and characteristics of individual entrepreneurs as factors influencing the survival and success of entrepreneurship, and there is a lack of research on partnerships, that is, co-founding start-up, which are common in the field of entrepreneurship ecosystems. Therefore, this study attempted a multi-case study through in-depth interviews, collection of relevant data, analysis of contextual information, and consideration of previous studies targeting co-founders of domestic startups that succeeded in opportunistic startups. Through this, a model for deriving the phased characteristics and key success factors of co-founding start-up was proposed. As a result of the study, the key element of the preliminary start-up stage was 'opportunity', and the success factors were 'opportunity recognition through entrepreneur's experience' and 'idea development'. The key element in the early stages of start-up is "start-up team," and the success factor is "trust and complement of start-up team," and synergy is shown when "diversity and homogeneity of start-up team" are harmonized. In addition, conflicts between co-founders may occur in the early stages of start-ups, which has a large impact on the survival of start-ups. The conflict between the start-up team could be overcome through constant "mutual understanding and respect through communication" and "clear division of work and role sharing." It was confirmed that the core element of the start-up growth stage was 'resources', and 'securing excellent talent' and 'raising external funds' were important factors for success. These results are expected to overcome the limitations of start-up companies, such as limited resources, lack of experience, and risk of failure, in entrepreneurship studies, and prospective entrepreneurs preparing for a start-up in a situation where the form of co-founding start-up is attracting attention as one of the alternatives to increase the success rate. It has implications for various stakeholders in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.131-137
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• 2015

Commercial greenhouse plant factories are highly efficient for controlling external factors such as floods, drought, insects, air pollution etc. However, they require substantial startup & maintenance investments and experimental research to optimize production. These facilities are especially useful for urban farming where high efficiency in small spaces is required. In this study, we investigated whether light emitting diode (LED) lights with mixed dominant wavelengths (650 nm : 550 nm : 445 nm=8:1:1, 650 nm : 445 nm=6:4) can increase the growth rate and bio-active compound content of carrots in comparison to that of fluorescent light (FL). LED with mixed wavelength (650 nm : 550 nm : 445 nm=8:1:1) increased the total weight and root circumference of carrots compared to FL. However, ${\beta}$-carotene contents were not significant in LED (650 nm : 550 nm : 445 nm=8:1:1). However, LED (650 nm : 445 nm=6:4) increased the ${\beta}$-carotene (FL: 7.27, LED: 10.48 mg/g ${\beta}$-carotene dried weight). These results suggested that using LED light at the ideal wavelength, at the antithesis color of the plant, might enhance plant growth and bio-active compound contents.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.55-73
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• 2024

Unicorn companies are attracting attention around the world as they are recognized for their high corporate value in a short period of time as an innovative business models. Their growth process presents good lessons for the startup ecosystem and have a positive impact on national economic development and job creation. However, previous studies related to unicorn companies are focused on 'event studies' and 'case studies' such as characteristics of founders, environmental factors, business models and success/failure cases of companies already recognized as unicorns rather than a multifaceted approach. The occurrence of unicorn companies and Macroscopic analysis of related factors is lacking. Against this background, this study are considering the characteristics of unicorns examined through previous research and the current status unicorns with a high proportion of technology companies, the purpose was to analyze the impact of the country's technological competitiveness, such as 'technology human resource index', 'R&D index', and 'technology infrastructure index', on the increase in unicorn companies. For statistical analysis, data published by various international organizations, the Bank of Korea, and Statistics Korea from 2017 to 2020 and unicorn company data compiled by CB Insights were used as panel data for 44 countries to be tested by multiple regression analysis. As a result of the study, it was confirmed that the number of science majors had a positive (+) effect on the increase of unicorn companies in the case of technology human resource index, and in the case of R&D index, the total amount of R&D investment had a positive (+) effect on the increase of unicorn companies, while the number of Triad Patents Families and the number of scientific and technological papers published had a negative (-) effect on the increase of unicorn companies. Finally, in the case of technology infrastructure index, it was confirmed that the number of the world's 500th-ranked universities had a positive (+) effect on the increase of unicorn companies. This study is the first to reveal the causal relationship between national technological competitiveness and unicorn company growth based on country-specific and time-series empirical data, which were insufficiently covered in previous studies. and compared to the UN's ranking of the global industrial competitiveness index and the OECD's total R&D investment by country, Korea is considered to have technological and growth potential, while the number of unicorn companies driving growth as leaders of the innovative economy is relatively small, so the research results can be used when establishing policies to discover and foster unicorn companies in the future.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.555-563
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• 2020

This study aimed to distinguish between predisposing factors influencing the entrepreneurial intentions of university and college students who completed an entrepreneurship education course and to empirically determine the relationship between entrepreneurial intention and entrepreneurial behavior. Since company foundation involves uncertainty, potential entrepreneurs are known to fear creating a new company. Entrepreneurship has been confirmed in advanced studies to not only reduce this fear but also positively influence one's entrepreneurial intention. This study presents a research model that connects entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial intention, and entrepreneurial behavior and verifies it via empirical analysis. It was confirmed as a result that entrepreneurial intention is positively influenced by actively engaging with changes of a certain product or service, problem-solving capability, resolving unexpected setbacks during company foundation, and expertise in the business field where the founded company belongs to. It was also confirmed that entrepreneurial intention has a positive influence on entrepreneurial behavior. In the conclusion of this study, importance and necessity of entrepreneurship education are discussed in order to essentially improve entrepreneurial intention and company foundation via entrepreneurship education.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.45-57
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• 2020

Among the fintech businesses that are actively developing around the world, payment and settlement are the most prominent. Korea has a well-developed IT industry and a good existing card payment environment, however, its innovative movement is overwhelmingly slower than that of other countries in the fintech. In this study, we try to assess the regulations on fintech and their impacts on the startup ecosystem by comparing the cases of U.S., China, and Korea. We have found that both the United States and China have lowered barriers to entry for the newly launched fintech industry, allowing startups and IT companies to start fintech businesses at the existing financial sector. Particularly the implementation of predictable regulations in U.S., and the failure to apply the financial regulations in China, help start-up companies' growth in the fintech industry. This finding provides us with a lesson that current positive regulations in Korea should gradually change into negative regulations, and predictable regulations that strictly enforce post-management except major items rather than pre-approval. The policy implications are discussed with the perspective of start-ups in fintech industry.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.49-68
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• 2007

This paper develop self pre-checkup lists for the validity of business model as web business starters can utilize to open business. In particular, self pre-checkup lists invented by Dr. Bruce Merrifield, is reapplied and modified in appropriate to internet shopping mall business. This paper complete many literature reviews to identify appropriate factors of evaluation such as about the characters of internet business, business validity testing theory for internet business model, pros and cons of e-business and startup ventures, factor analysis of technology valuation, and pros and cons for internet shopping mall. This paper define six different factors; scale of sales, the growth rate of market, competitiveness, risk portfolio, industry upside down, and social conditions, as the factors of evaluating the business attractiveness. Meanwhile, it define characters of CEO, content's power, mutual inclusion, commerce, fulfillment, marketing power as the factors of business appropriateness. This paper also conducts several case studies; company I, D, G of applying the former model. This paper sort out internet business model in imaginations by utilizing self pre-checkup lists of business evaluation. Also, the outcomes of evaluation is expected to provide meaningful future business implications.