The startup scene in Korea is really struggling due to COVID-19. It was harder than ever for your startup to stand out in Korea. There were no more meetups, startup events, or conferences for the time being in Seoul. This was only temporary and now in 2023 things are back up again, even if it is done slowly. Therefore this could be the perfect time to set up your startup before things go back on the upswing. However, with so many talented startups in one small country, how can you make your startup stand out in Korea? We’re here to show you how with these 4 failproof methods.

How to Make Your Startup Stand Out in Korea

Have a Story to Tell

There are many different reasons why customers decide to buy from startups instead of the brands they’ve grown up loyal to. Especially in Korea, there is a lot of loyalty from Korean consumers and many are eager to help support Korean startups.

However, the most compelling reason of all is the connection that startups can make with customers through their stories. Koreans love a great story. This is one of the main reasons why Korean dramas are so successful in Korea.

When you’re presenting your business to the Korean market, whether that be to your customers or potential investors, you need to take the facts and craft them into a compelling story. Your brand’s story should be captivating, and clever, and demand an emotional response from your audience.

Stories that work best?

While covering many startups in Korea, I’ve noticed that Koreans like to read success stories from real people. Therefore, make sure you provide real and honest information when telling your company’s story. Maybe there’s an intriguing tale behind your business idea. Or maybe you have a unique supply chain that gives back to vulnerable groups. Why did you start the startup in the first place? These stories have the potential to attract a large audience in Korea.

Whatever it is, make sure you share it with your audience via social media posts, articles, or YouTube videos.

Know What Makes You Stand Out

Standing out is all about having a unique selling point. What’s yours? To survive in the business world, you must have something that makes you different and memorable. And, when you work out what that is, you need to reiterate it over and over and over again. You will need to do this online. Therefore you will start by creating an online reputation. This should have been done even before launching your startup. It is vital for any entrepreneur in Korea to have some kind of online presence whether via YouTube, LinkedIn, or even Facebook. This will be a great way for you to deliver information about your upcoming company. Even if you didn’t do this it is never too late to start. You will need to constantly explain what separates you from the competition which in turn will help you build that reputation. Remember to not talk down about your competition but the difference.

Startups in Korea should always remember that entrepreneurship isn’t about reinventing the wheel. It’s about taking the wheel and making it better. Korean startups can get massive inspiration from innovative ideas from all around the world and try to bring that innovation to Korea. Even if you just make one small change to an already existing business model, you now have a unique selling point and should be ready to shout about it to the world!

Cater to your Audience

As a startup in Korea, you’ll find yourself talking about your business to a lot of different groups of people: investors, potential partners, reporters, competitors, and, of course, customers.

However, one of the biggest mistakes that startups make is using the same spiel to talk to every single person.

Remember that what makes your business memorable to an investor is completely different from what makes you stand out to a customer. Why’s that? Because, they have different interests, of course.

If you know your audience well and keep their own unique interests in mind every time you speak to them, you can really make your startup stand out in Korea.

Develop a mobile app to cater to Korean consumers

As you may already know, Korea has the highest smartphone usage. Everyone seems to have a smartphone. Therefore it is vital your startup has a strong, reliable, and interactive mobile app. Make it for not only Android but for IoS. If you just have a website, make sure it is mobile-friendly and responsive to the most commonly used web browsers in Korea.

Find an Amazing Partner

Korea is awash with talent in every industry; from tech to marketing and communications. As a startup, you might think that it’s best to bootstrap and do things on your own. But, having an amazing partner could be the key to your business success. There are even Korean investors that will provide capital because they believe in you and won’t get in your way. However, it is more productive to find an investor that can bring additional value to your startup. There are many great accelerator programs in Korea that offer a large network of global mentors.

If you are looking for the right partner in Korea, contact us and we will help you find the right partnership your company needs.

If you find someone who can enhance the parts of your business that you struggle with, your startup will go from strength to strength. It’s true what they say, sometimes: two heads really are better than one!