Nonprofit director aims to make startups 'places where employees want to work'

Lee Ki-dae, managing director of Startup Alliance, poess for the photo before the press briefing held in southern Seoul. [STARTUP ALLIANCE]

The new head of the Startup Alliance aims to foster a better environment for domestic startups by encouraging corporate venture capital (CVC) investments, in which large corporations directly purchase a stake in newer small firms.

The nonprofit, which serves as a support center for startups, appointed Lee Ki-dae, former head of the Gangwon Center for Creative Economy and Innovation, as managing director.

“With CVC, startups can glean from conglomerates’ capabilities and experience,” Lee said during a press briefing at the organization’s office in southern Seoul. “Startup Alliance hopes to become the bridge between aspiring entrepreneurs and interested companies.”

The organization has hosted a monthly networking program, with multiple conglomerates in attendance, since March, although it refrained from specifying the participants.

“I also want to propose measures where startups can truly become places where employees want to work and grow,” Lee said. “Unlike large companies that offer continuous training and growth opportunities, startups often require constant work without the space for personal development.

“This has created a situation where talented individuals are reluctant to join startups,” Lee added. “To develop our ecosystem, we need to ensure that working at a startup is seen as a rational and attractive career choice. We need to address these issues to make the startup ecosystem more appealing to employees.”

Lee earned a bachelor's degree at Hanyang University and a master’s degree from the University at Buffalo. Lee has held multiple positions at startups in both the United States and Korea.

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]