On the 24th, SK Telecom's Ye Ji-young, Head of the Open Collaboration Group (third from the left in the top row), and the participating companies of the second batch of 'Impact Ups' are attending the online launch ceremony.
[Asia Economy Reporter Seolgina Jo] SK Telecom announced on the 25th the launch of the second cohort of 'IMPACTUPS,' a program that utilizes the latest ICT such as 5G and artificial intelligence (AI) to solve social issues. Operating since last year, 'IMPACTUPS' is a program that supports startups with excellent technological capabilities to simultaneously achieve social value realization and business growth.
To expand the social value ecosystem with more startups, SK Telecom selected 10 additional innovative startups following the first cohort of 11 companies and held an online launch ceremony for the second cohort of 'IMPACTUPS' on the 24th. Participating companies were selected comprehensively based on innovative technology, ability to solve social problems, growth potential, and synergy with SK ICT family companies among domestic startups.
SK Telecom plans to provide practical benefits to strengthen the competitiveness of 'IMPACTUPS' participating companies and promote systematic win-win cooperation, including ▲startup nurturing program 'True Innovation Accelerator' ▲joint participation in domestic and international exhibitions and events ▲creating opportunities for investment attraction. Along with this, collaboration items for creating social value will also be discovered with the participating companies.
Especially this year, to help 'IMPACTUPS' participating companies expand their growth despite the acceleration of non-face-to-face and digital transformation due to COVID-19, SK Telecom plans to expand 'untact trend customized support.' SK Telecom will produce promotional videos for participating companies and conduct online consulting, as well as increase opportunities to participate in online investor briefings.
One of the companies participating in the second cohort of 'IMPACTUPS,' E2ON (CEO Choi Jae-chan), provides AI-based big data analysis solutions. In particular, based on collaboration experience with various local governments and public institutions to improve public safety services, E2ON plans to jointly promote the 'Social Safety Net Information Service' project with SK Telecom to contribute to creating a safer society.
Another participating company, Sensi (CEO Seo In-sik), developed braille conversion software for the visually impaired. This technology drastically reduces the time and cost of producing braille content, enabling the production of a 300-page book in one day. Sensi plans to improve information accessibility for the visually impaired, contributing to enhancing their quality of life and resolving inequality.
In particular, continuous collaboration between SK Telecom and the first cohort companies is evaluated to be bearing fruit in tangible business results. Han Dae-gon, CEO of Can Filter, a company developing fine dust reduction filters, said, "We introduced fine dust reduction technology at SK Telecom's Jongno 5G Smart Office, and next month, we plan to promote related technology and social value at SK Group's social value festival ‘SOVAC 2020.’"
Among the first cohort companies, some startups have secured opportunities for growth with SK Telecom's systematic support. Superbin (CEO Kim Jung-bin), which developed AI-based waste collection robots, has achieved growth surpassing a corporate value of 100 billion KRW, successfully attracting 20 billion KRW in investment this month from a startup valued at around 20 billion KRW last year.
Ye Ji-young, head of SK Telecom's Open Collaboration Group, said, "'IMPACTUPS' is a win-win cooperation model that supports innovative startups solving social problems through technology to clearly identify social value and help their growth," adding, "We will continue to cooperate with various partners and create social value through 5G era technologies."
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