INTERVIEWS

Podcast/Video Interviews by Stephen Ibaraki

A Chat with Josh Choi: Business Strategy Director of Korea Startup Forum; Executive Director, COMEUP; taking the lead of AI for Good Innovation Factory; past Chief Communications Officer at ICONLOOP; past Programme Lead of Smart ABC; past Head of Visitors' Center at International Telecommunication Union

This week, Stephen Ibaraki has an exclusive interview with Josh Choi.

Josh Choi is one of key figures in the Korean startup ecosystem and is associated with two major organizations - Korea Startup Forum and COMEUP.

His unique combination of experience both in the private and public sector has made him an excellent coordinator and negotiator in the multi-stakeholder business environment.

The Korea Startup Forum is the biggest startup membership organization in Korea with 2,100+ startup members, that aims to support and foster the growth of Korean startups. As the Business Strategy Director of Korea Startup Forum, Josh Choi has been instrumental in creating a vibrant and supportive startup community in Korea. He has been involved in organizing various events and initiatives that help Korean startups connect with investors, mentors, and other stakeholders.

His previous position includes Chief Communications Officer at ICONLOOP which is Korea's No. 1 blockchain enterprise, Programme Lead of Smart ABC (AI, Banking and Cities), Head of Visitors' Center at International Telecommunication Union, UN Special Agency in the ICT, where he worked for nine years. Previously, he was Senior Marketing Manager at Daum Communications, the first Korean web portal of significant size.

One of the most significant events Josh organizes is COMEUP, an annual global startup festival that brings together startups, investors, and other stakeholders from around the world. Josh Choi also serves as the Executive Director of COMEUP, and under his leadership, the event has grown into one of the largest and most influential startup events in Asia. COMEUP provides a platform for startups to showcase their products and services, connect with potential investors and partners, and learn from experts in the field.

Josh Choi is also very active in global cooperation in the startup ecosystem. He is taking the lead of the AI for Good Innovation Factory, which is UN-based startup pitching/acceleration platform to help start-ups grow and scale their innovative AI-powered and SDG-driven solutions, by providing them with opportunities of business matchmaking, mentoring, fundraising and more. He has mentored and advised more than 120 startups from over 30 different countries through the program. He is also actively engaged in training and mentoring startups in developing countries such as Azerbaijan, Senegal, and Cambodia as a part of the Korean government's ODA (Official Development Assistance) program.

Josh Choi is known for his passion for entrepreneurship and his deep understanding of the challenges faced by startups. He has played a key role in promoting Korean startups on the global stage and has helped to position Korea as a leading hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.