On March 9, Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggi Small & Medium Business Center inaugurated an open-ended platform for startups at Gwanggyo

The platform offers a step-by-step customized support system including ideas for startups all the way to commercialization

Programs including ‘Idea Blue Ocean’, ‘G-Mentor’s Consulting’ and more will be offered by the platform

◇ On March 9, Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil, Economic and Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Science Technology Committee Chairman Lee Dong-hwa, Gyeonggi Small & Medium Business Administration Chief Seo Seung-won, and Gyeonggi Small & Medium Business Center CEO Yoon Jong-il participated in the opening ceremony for the ‘G-Base Camp’ on the 10^th floor of the Advanced Institute of Convergence Technology in Gwanggyo Techno Valley, Suwon City. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News, Heo Seon-ryang

An open-ended startup support center is now available to provide prospective entrepreneurs with opportunities to gather and share experiences as well as information, and to interact with startup mentors. 

Gyeonggi Province and the Gyeonggi Small & Medium Business Center created the G-Base Camp, an open-ended platform for startup businesses based on creativity and innovation. The opening ceremony for the G-Base Camp took place on March 9 on the 10^th floor of the Advanced Institute of Convergence Technology in the Gwanggyo Techno Valley, Suwon City. 

More than 150 guests including Gyeonggi Province Governor Nam Kyung-pil, Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Economic and Science Technology Committee Chairman Lee Dong-hwa, Gyeonggi Small & Medium Business Administration Chief Seo Seung-won, Gyeonggi Small & Medium Business Center CEO Jong-il Yoon, and prospective entrepreneurs attended the ceremony. 

At the event, Governor said, “Youth unemployment is a global issue, and the national economy’s future depends on how it is resolved. To that end, Gyeonggi Province spares no effort in creating quality employment opportunities for younger generations.” Governor Nam added, “I hope the G-Base Camp becomes a place where prospective young entrepreneurs who abound with passion can fulfill their dreams. Gyeonggi Province will do its best to help resolve the myriad of problems we face.”

Gyeonggi Provincial Assembly Economic and Science Technology Committee Chairman Lee Dong-hwa commented, “While unemployment rates continue to increase and the number of work opportunities for young people diminish, I think G-Base Camp is indeed the best alternative.” He also requested: “Please do your utmost so that prospective entrepreneurs can receive systematic support from this group.”

Gyeonggi Province prepared a supplementary budget last September and undertook planning to establish the G-Base Camp that was completed this past January. The decision was made based on the assessment that despite the large number of people as well as small to medium enterprises and related organizations willing to start new businesses in Gyeonggi Province, it lacked a proper platform for discussion and cooperation on these issues. 

The G-Base Camp is equipped with an idea networking room, cooperation and community room, lecture and seminar room, café, library and more. The G-Base Camp covers the overall process of starting up a new business from startup ideas to commercialization. It offers step-by-step customized support policies that include the startup preliminary phase and startup growth phase’.

Moving forward, various programs will be offered at the G-Base Camp including Creating Idea Blue Oceans, G-Mentors Consulting, and G-Startup Agent Support to develop creative people capable of starting up new businesses. These programs are expected to provide a spark that propels startups for prospective entrepreneurs by establishing a network-type startup support system that concentrates the capacity of core regional assets such as related organizations and universities. 

◇ In his speech, Governor Nam Kyung-pil said, “I hope the G-Base Camp becomes a place where young future entrepreneurs who abound with passion and talent can fulfill their dreams. Gyeonggi Province will do its best to help resolve the myriad of problems we face.” ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Heo Seon-ryang 

◇ Governor Nam Kyung-pil stands with Kyonggi University President Kim Ki-un (left), Gyeonggi Small & Medium Business Administration Chief Seo Seung-won (second on the right), and Dankook University Vice President Kim Byeong-riang (right) after signing the agreement with organizations expected to play a role in promoting the G-Base Camp. ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News Heo Seon-ryang

Able.D, a company that moved into the G-Base Camp last week, develops walking applications for the blind. Yang Jun-mo (29) of Able.D said, “The government opened an office for me in Seoul based on my track record in winning an award at a social venture competition hosted by the Korea Social Enterprise Promotion Agency, but I came to the G-Base Camp because it offers a better location and better conditions.” He added, “It’s great that I can share information with other startups and use a wide range of convenient facilities. In particular, I expect to be able to reduce trial and error by communicating with startup mentors who went through the startup process before me.”

Meanwhile, G-Base Camp startup mentors were appointed at the ceremony as well. Eleven entrepreneurs, professors and other professionals including Tamnet CEO Lee Jeong-ha and Smartoos CEO Kim Moon-soo were selected as mentors.

Through G-Mentors Consulting, the G-Base Camp aims to go beyond a unilateral mentoring system by experts and become a bilateral mentoring system through which various mentors – consisting of unsuccessful/successful/retired entrepreneurs and experts in economics and/or technology – help prospective entrepreneurs. 

Tamnet CEO Lee Jeong-ha, who was appointed as a mentor, said, “Over the past 20 years in business, I have faced a lot of difficulties because I didn’t have the right place to openly discuss my concerns. I am happy that I can be of help to future startups.” He added, “I hope the G-Base Camp can be used as an official channel between startup mentors and mentees for vigorous interaction.”

Moreover, Gyeonggi Province, the Gyeonggi Small & Medium Business Administration, Kyonggi University, Dankook University, and Korea Polytechnic University signed an agreement to provide administrative and financial support to and promote the operations of the G-Base Camp.

Anyone interested in starting up a new business, looking for new ideas, or those who have ideas but face difficulties commercializing them, can use the G-Base Camp. Please contact the Enterprise Support Division (031-8030-3013) or the Startup Support Team at the Gyeonggi Small & Medium Business Center (031-259-6094) for more information. 

◇ Governor Nam and accompanying personnel inspect products maed by companies located in the G-Base Camp. ⓒ Gyeonggi G News Heo Seon-ryang

ⓒ Gyeonggi G-News | Roh Kyeong-hee khrohh@kg21.net 

http://gnews.gg.go.kr/news/news_detail.asp?number=201503091652507055C048&s_code=C052