The ASAN SANGHOE program was created by The Asan Nanum Foundation, a non-profit organization run by Hyundai Motor Group’s charitable foundation. They provide a variety of curriculums and educational content to help future generations cultivate entrepreneurship. Therefore Asan Nanum Foundation is the perfect place for young entrepreneurs in Korea who dream of starting their own business. In addition, they are stepping up to help social innovators in the non-profit ecosystem to create a better future for the next generation.
Empowering North Korean Resettlers to Become Successful Entrepreneurs
The ASAN SANGHOE program empowers North Korean resettlers (refugees), by helping them become successful entrepreneurs. The goal is to help these refugees start businesses that enable them to build new livelihoods and contribute to the overall Korean startup ecosystem while at the same time restoring their personal dignity. Refugees have similar characteristics as entrepreneurs. Being an entrepreneur, especially in South Korea requires a lot of resilience and patience. These characteristics are very familiar to many refugees. Therefore the Asan Nanum Foundation has developed a personalized program with access to business coaching, industry experts, funding and a chance to work with both foreign and South Koreans.
ASAN SANGHOE Program
The ASAN SANGHOE program is a four-month entrepreneurship boot camp program for North Korean resettlers (“refugees”), South Koreans, and the Korean speaking foreign-born participants. Therefore the program offers opportunities for entrepreneurs regardless of where they come from. Together these groups create startup ideas in a truly multicultural and global entrepreneurship environment. The program builds a solid foundation for real business growth through integrated support such as incubation and acceleration. In addition, they travel to Europe to network and pitch for seed funding, and so far have had a few high profile successes such as North Korean cooking classes and a Coffee shop that trains North Korean refugees. The overall aim of the program is to build a community of strong entrepreneurs.
“ASAN SANGHOE is the Asan Nanum Foundation’s flagship global team entrepreneurship program for North Korean resettlers, foreign, and South Korean youths, who will lead the future businesses of the united Koreas. We hope that through the ASAN SANGHOE program, those who haven’t had opportunities to pursue entrepreneurial path, will be preparing and building together with the future world,” said Jung Hwa Ha, the Asan Nanum Foundation’s Chairman.
Why join the ASAN SANGHOE Program?
- Fully supported and sponsored by the Asan Nanum Foundation. This includes the global marketing trip to Europe.
- The Asan Nanum Foundation graduation certificate will be given upon the competition of the ASAN SANGHOE Incubation process.
- 3 million won for those that move on to Startup Acceleration phase
- A matching grant from the Asan Nanum Foundation for investment. This can be up to 50 million won.
- MARU 180 benefits for all teams that complete the ASAN SANGHOE Program.
So who can apply?
The program is for North Koreans, South Koreans, and foreign youth that are no older than 39 years old. They must be willing to start a business and are also willing to start a business with North Korean resettlers. The entrepreneur must have at least intermediate proficiency in Korean.
- The program will select 30 participants and the online application will end on April 23rd, 2020 at 5 pm.
- The first round of candidates announced on April 25th.
- These candidates interviewed on April 28th – April 29th.
- The 30 finalists participants announced on May 6th.
The Asan Nanum Foundation will individually contact the 30 participants.
Entrepreneurship Incubation (May 18th – September 25th)
This program will take 4 months. During this time, there will be a hackathon and a basic team entrepreneurship course. Then they will go to Europe to visit entrepreneurship-related institutions, global pitching events, and networking events. The incubation program will allow entrepreneurs to hear from special lectures with experts and visit startup related organizations. The incubation will end with a showcase of teams for acceleration based on their presentations.
Location: The Asan Nanum Foundation (Yaksu Office, MARU 180)
Startup Acceleration (September – December 18th)
Those that move on to the Startup Acceleration Program will have 4 weeks of startup team building and business model evaluation. Then they will establish their startup and launch their product or service. During this process, the teams will have expert mentoring and get funding for project commercialization. It will end with a Demo Day where the teams will pitch to potential investors.
Location: The Asan Nanum Foundation (Yaksu Office, MARU 180)
![Demo Day]()
Investment and Support
Investment and SupportThere will be a matching grant to help support startups with their investment. In addition, the teams will have the full support of co-working space MARU 180 and the alumni association of the Asan Nanum Foundation.
Asan Youth-Preneur
The Asan Youth-Preneur program is focused on cultivating youth entrepreneurship in Korea and help spread the culture of entrepreneurship in the Korean education system. It helps young entrepreneurs discover interests and find their talents. In addition, they learn about economic ideas, business models, and what it takes to start a business in Korea. There are three main themes to the program and it is conducted in 10 sessions each for one semester. This program, as well as many others below, takes place at the Asan Entrepreneurship School.
Asan Teacher-Preneur
The Asan Teacher-Preneur is an entrepreneurship training program for middle and high school teachers. The problem has a basic course and an advanced course. Both courses help teachers develop entrepreneurial attitudes to help students develop an entrepreneurial mindset.
The basic course includes key elements of entrepreneurship. Such elements as the concept of entrepreneurship, the mindset of an entrepreneur, and content development methods.
The advanced course is on entrepreneurship theory and practice. In addition, there is an entrepreneurship education curriculum that shows the entire process of entrepreneurship. This includes the starting-up theory, capturing ideas, and developing a business model. Furthermore, the course studies global success stories by going to innovative educational institutions abroad.
The program gives teachers in Korea the tools to create their own curriculum to nurture entrepreneurship for this class.
Entrepreneurship Let’s Go
The Entrepreneurship Let’s Go program raises awareness of entrepreneurship and expands the entrepreneurship education ecosystem. The purpose of the program is to enable Korean elementary, middle, and high school students, parents, and teachers to find ways to foster entrepreneurship. In addition, the program is divided into three categories (Attitude, Skill, and Knowledge). The skill section that focuses on the actual skills needed for entrepreneurship (coding, robotics, etc.).
Asan Entrepreneurship Review
The Asan Entrepreneurship Review is a case study that focuses on the concerns related to startups and venture companies in Korea. Students who take this course learn about the problems entrepreneurs face when growing a startup through actual case studies. Therefore, students will be able to experience entrepreneur decision-making, analyze business models, the investment process, and organizational strategies and decisions. Overalls, students will gain an in-depth understanding of the Korean startup ecosystem.
Asan Seowon
Asan Seowon is an educational institution. It was established in collaboration with the private think tank, Asan Policy Research Institute. 50 students are admitted every year to the Asan Bachelor. They receive education in history, philosophy, politics, and economics. In addition, they will experience internships in international think thanks around the world including the US and China.
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