Founding a successful startup and making it flourish enough to expand to the biggest market in the world — the US — is the ultimate dream of many ambitious students at KAIST.

Since last year, the Center for Global Strategies and Planning (GSP) has been supporting students pursuing this aspiration. In addition to the highly successful and popular Global Entrepreneurship Summer School (GESS), GSP has also put forward the Global Entrepreneurship Internship Program (GEIP) to respond to the overwhelming interest. This semester, it is introducing the Global Startup Internship Seminar (GSIS) to give aspiring entrepreneurs at KAIST an opportunity to interact with founders of established startups and learn relevant skills that will assist them in their career path.

This month, we met Yeseon Kim, an administrative staff at GSP for the second time since March to discuss in more depth how students can approach GSIS.

What is GSIS?

GSIS is an event designed for KAIST students who aspire to develop a global entrepreneurial mindset and gain hands-on experience to prepare for launching their own startup companies. This event provides opportunities for career mentoring sessions with startup CEOs, co-founders, and recruitment representatives based in the US. To support KAIST students with limited experience in international internships, GSIS also features informative sessions on crafting cover letters, resumes, and emails for global startup applications, guidance on J-1 visa applications, and special [lectures by] KAIST students who have previously interned in Silicon Valley.

Why did GSP first decide to plan GSIS?

After the highly successful launch of the GESC, a global entrepreneurship boot camp, in Silicon Valley last year, we observed a significant demand from students who were enthusiastic about securing internships with US startups. In response to this growing interest, our center introduced the GEIP as an initial initiative. Later, acknowledging that many KAIST students were uncertain about the process of applying for startup internships in the US, we made the decision to create GSIS with the goal of equipping them with comprehensive internship-related information.

Who do you most recommend to attend GSIS?

This program primarily targets students with an interest in pursuing global startup internships. It's especially recommended for those students who are enthusiastic about global entrepreneurship but may be uncertain about the initial steps, as well as those who wish to gain hands-on experience and insights into the practical aspects of a global entrepreneurial mindset. Furthermore, even if students feel they may not yet be fully prepared for a global startup internship, they'll have the valuable opportunity to connect with startup founders and HR professionals for career guidance. Therefore, we encourage any KAIST student interested in US startup internships to participate.

How is GSIS structured? Why did you come up with such sessions specifically?

GSIS consists of two main sessions.

The Company Information & Career Mentoring session includes both in-person and online group meetings, along with career mentoring opportunities with startup CEOs, co-founders, and recruiting representatives in the US. It serves as a platform for KAIST students seeking recruitment by US startups and those aspiring to gain work experience in US startup environments.

The Internship Information session delivers crucial information related to internship applications, covering areas such as crafting CVs, cover letters, and emails, as well as obtaining J-1 visas. It also features students who have completed year-long internships with and are currently interning at US startups, offering firsthand insights and experiences.

How will students be selected for the Company Information and Mentoring Session? Do you have any advice for them?

To participate in the Company Information and Mentoring Session, applicants must complete all questions in the registration form, particularly in Section 3-3. Based on the information provided, we will choose a maximum of 10 students for each company. It's essential to emphasize that this session is not a formal internship hiring interview; instead, it serves as an informative session open to all students interested in US startup internships. Selection for this session will be determined by students' levels of interest and enthusiasm for US startup internships.

How did you decide on the companies to invite to GSIS? What was the preparation process for the event like?

Most of the startups participating in this event are associated with KAIST alumni. We decided to collaborate with them based on recommendations from the previously collaborated partners such as KAIST Silicon Valley Alumni Group and KOTRA Silicon Valley.

When we initiated this event last year, we contacted the KAIST Silicon Valley Alumni Group and KOTRA Silicon Valley to promote it. They graciously assisted us in inviting exceptional startups in the US.

What would students get out of this opportunity that is different from other similar events?

As far as I know, KAIST has not previously organized a global (especially US) startup internship seminar like this. I believe this will provide students with the opportunity to venture beyond Korea and immerse themselves in the global startup landscape and a distinctive experience not commonly found at other similar events.

Are there other events run by GSP that you recommend to students aspiring to study or work abroad?

We have three additional prominent global entrepreneurship education programs:

The Global Entrepreneurship Summer School (GESS) is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the global entrepreneurial mindset. It includes lectures, mentoring, team-based business model development, company visits, and team pitching experiences in Silicon Valley, aimed at preparing students for future leadership roles in global business.

The Global Entrepreneurship Internship Program (GEIP) offers financial support to students engaging in internships at startup companies in the US. The supported internships typically last between 6 to 12 months, making it an excellent choice for students with a global entrepreneurial mindset seeking practical startup experience.

The Global Entrepreneurship Mentoring Program (GEMP) provides online technical, legal, and entrepreneurial mentoring sessions for startup teams interested in launching or expanding their global businesses in the US. The online mentoring sessions are customized to match the specific needs of the company or team with local experts.

For additional information, please visit our website at kgep.kaist.ac.kr.

Will there be similar events in the future? If so, how does GSP plan to expand them?

Yes, we intend to continue hosting similar events in the future and strive to broaden and enhance them. We are consistently seeking ways to improve the quality and reach of our programs. This may involve partnering with a broader array of prominent startup companies, extending our network of alumni and industry affiliations, and integrating valuable input from participants to make these events even more advantageous for students aspiring to enter the field of entrepreneurship. Our objective is to provide students with increasingly comprehensive and rewarding prospects in the realm of global entrepreneurship.

Other than events, can students get individual support from GSP when preparing to work abroad?

As we previously mentioned, the Global Entrepreneurship Internship Program (GEIP) of our center provides financial assistance to students participating in internships with US startup companies.

GSP is accepting registrations for GSIS until November 19. More information about the event can be found on their Notion page, and any enquiries can be forwarded to gsp@kaist.ac.kr.