The esteemed tradition of British entrepreneurship has been shared with some of South Korea’s most dynamic young and female entrepreneurs through a partnership between Kickstart Asia and the Social Enterprise Academy (SEA).
SEA has become the largest Institute of Leadership and Management Centre in Scotland, working with over 1000 adults annually while extending its model globally.
Neil McLean and Jess Kemp from SEA, alongside Taeje Park from Kickstart Asia, have collaborated to translate British entrepreneurial principles into acceleration programmes tailored for Korean and Asian startups. These programmes focus on ethical innovation and have equipped numerous young entrepreneurs in Korea with the tools and inspiration needed for success.
As a result, many Korean entrepreneurs have been inspired and influenced by these initiatives. Furthermore, several British entrepreneurship experts have established valuable connections with Korean startups, fostering a strong network of international collaboration.
Leading these efforts is Taeje Park, a young and ambitious accelerator and policy advisor from Korea. As the Chair of Kickstart Asia, Park has been instrumental in advancing the UK-Korea entrepreneurial ecosystem collaboration. His work also encompasses doctoral research on entrepreneurship policy at the Manchester Institute of Innovation Research, bridging the gap between British and Korean experts.
Park has connected respected organisations such as SEA, Firstport, Grassmarket, Nesta, UCL, London Accelerator, and The Chartered Institute for IT with Korean governmental bodies and prestigious universities. These connections have established a robust support system that fosters opportunities and growth for young and female entrepreneurs.
Taeje Park said: “It is fantastic to see the impact the British entrepreneurial principles have had on those who have participated in our accelerator programs.”
“Thanks to these collaborative initiatives, we are enhancing the entrepreneurial capabilities of startups in Asia and empowering Asian startups to pursue sustainable and transformative innovations, driving positive change across the region.”
For more information about the accelerator programs, visit www.kickstart.asia.
