Last year, the Center for Global Strategies and Planning (GSP) and Startup KAIST launched the Global Entrepreneurship Summer Camp (GESC), a two-week camp that gave KAIST students the opportunity to experience Silicon Valley firsthand. Following its immense success, KAIST has revamped the program to the bigger and better Global Entrepreneurship Summer School (GESS). For this month’s issue of The KAIST Herald, we interviewed Dr. Sooa Lee, a research assistant professor from GSP, and Yeseon Kim, an administrative staff of GSP. 

What are the objectives of the GESS?

Lee: We wanted KAIST students to [become] global leaders in the future through understanding the global entrepreneurship mindset of Silicon Valley, the global hub of startups. Our final goal is not to produce as many startup owners as possible right after the camp, but to train potential entrepreneurs [for] 10, 20, or 30 years later. We [hope] the students target the global market when they open their own companies someday in the future.

How did the idea for this entrepreneurship program come about?

Lee: Since 2021, KAIST has driven its QAIST New Culture Strategy, which stands for questions, advanced research, internationalization, startup, and trust. The idea for launching this global entrepreneurship program came from this new strategy of KAIST, but because we were not able to make an international trip with students during the pandemic, last summer was the [first] attempt for us.    

What can the students expect to experience during the GESS?

Lee: Last year, we conducted the first week [of the GESC] at KAIST in collaboration with startup KAIST and taught the participants very basic business classes like establishing business models and team building, and basic presentation skills. And then the students went to Silicon Valley, where they met KAIST alumni speakers who are now startup CEOs. We also invited local mentors such as VCs and field specialists. In the end, we did a pitch competition in the Plug and Play, one of the top accelerators for startups. This year, we will hold the domestic training from April to June, and [participating students] will stay in Silicon Valley for 10 days instead of seven days [as they did] last year.

What convinced KAIST to renew the GESS?

Lee: The most important reason to renew the program was that the students said that it was a life-changing experience for them. Before the camp, many students [hadn’t] considered challenging their life outside of Korea, but after the camp, they said that they now have the confidence to pursue a future outside Korea. [Some students commented], “I should aim [to open] my own company in Silicon Valley someday after graduating from KAIST, and then come back to this camp as a lecturer.” By seeing students grow even in this short period of time, our team was convinced to renew the program.  

What are the main features of GESS 2023 compared to the last program?

Kim: Reflecting feedback from the last batch, GSP is designing a lot more student-friendly programs. First of all, [we extended] the summer school period to give enough time [for] participants to develop and execute their ideas. We also tried to enhance diversity among the speakers and mentors [by] including female KAIST alumni CEOs. For the Silicon Valley program, we expect to visit global big tech companies such as Google and Apple, where we didn't [have a chance to] stop by last year. Furthermore, a lot of on-site activities in Silicon Valley are being prepared, for example, customer/mentor interviews, real elevator pitching, and networking.

What are the points that distinguish the GESS from other startup programs?

Lee: You will dive into the real battlefield of global startups, Silicon Valley, only if you are ready to be a global entrepreneur! We don't ask [for] any expertise in startups. After GESS, you may also extend your dream through a series of GSP's global entrepreneurship education programs depending on your situation and need. Also, our education program has a strong network among alumni. The first batch of the [program from] last year is organizing diverse workshops and networking events regularly.

What is the target audience of the program?

Kim: The target audience of the GESS program is individuals who are interested in developing a global entrepreneurship mindset. We welcome students from any year of study, both undergraduate and graduate, who are eager to learn and have a passion for entrepreneurship. Additionally, students can apply regardless of their academic background or field of study. Therefore, we encourage all KAIST students to join our program and contribute to the growth of collaboration and innovative learning environment of the current and next generations of global entrepreneurs. 

What are the main points that the selection committee considers when reviewing the applications?

Lee: The selection committee seeks for the students with Creativity, Challenging, and Caring (3C) spirit, which [aligns] with the KAIST core values. All GESS participants are required to show their vision and passion to be global entrepreneurs through their applications. It is encouraged to [clearly present] your own motivations and objectives [for joining] this program, [along] with your unique experience.

Can you tell us a bit about the experiences of past participants?

Kim: 2022 GESC program had quite a successful impact on many of our students by inspiring them to reach their entrepreneurial goals and dreams. Many students continued working on their business ideas [and] started to take business courses at KAIST with the goal of launching their own startups in the future. One of our alumni [of the GESC], Sanghwa Lee from the “Bored KAIST Yacht Club” [team], actually ended up starting his own company after the summer camp applying the knowledge and skills [he] gained. [Another one] of our students was so inspired by our program that he decided to take an academic leave of absence to intern in the Silicon Valley and become one of the first steppers of the Global Entrepreneurship Internship Program (GEIP). Additionally, our alumni group keeps in touch and collaborate with one another, sharing their experiences and insights to help each other in many spheres.

Can you tell us more about the GEIP Program?

Kim: The Center for Global Strategies and Planning (GSP) at KAIST decided to offer partial financial support for students undertaking an internship at a startup company in the US. The internship duration under this support is between 6 [to] 12 months. The aims and objectives of this program are to help the students realize their potential and to support their journey to be global entrepreneurship leaders in the future. This program offers successful applicants the chance to obtain valuable work experiences at startup companies in the US. So, students with a global entrepreneurial mindset looking for hands-on startup experiences are encouraged to apply.

Could you introduce other GSP global entrepreneurship education programs?

Lee: GSP also provides the Global Startups Internship Fair (GSIF) for those who want to experience real life [at] US startups. If you have already started a startup, you may apply for the Global Entrepreneurship Mentoring Program (GEMP). GSP is constructing the featured KAIST startups ecosystem through the global entrepreneurship education program series. More detailed information will be available at GSP's global entrepreneurship education program official website which will open at the end of March.

For aspiring entrepreneurs in KAIST, the GESS is an opportunity that one simply cannot miss. An all-expense-paid 10-day stay in the Silicon Valley with some of the best alumni KAIST has ever produced will surely be a life-changing experience for every participant.