[Solution Report] Their Startup and Future <16> Gurumi CEO Iranghyeok
Communication-Based Video Conferencing Solution, OS-Independent Accessibility Up
Lee Rang-hyeok, CEO of Gurumi, who started the business because he wanted to go home early, recently smiled awkwardly saying, "I'm actually going home less," as the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has increased the demand for Gurumi's video platform, making him busier. Photo by Kim Hee-yoon
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] "I started my business because I wanted to go home early." On the 2nd, at the startup support center 'Front1' in Gongdeok-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, Lee Ranghyuk (44), CEO of Gurumi, answered this way when asked about the background of his startup. Hidden in his unexpected answer was his longing for work-life balance. Lee, who was in charge of developing video conferencing programs at a major information and communication company, revealed, "As the organization expanded, I also took on the role of project manager, but as my work-life balance deteriorated day by day, I wanted to secure time for my family, so I started my own business." Recently, with the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), more places have been seeking Gurumi's video platform, making him even busier. He smiled sheepishly, saying, "I'm actually going home less often."
Founded in 2015, Gurumi has already built a solid user base by gaining popularity among exam takers and job seekers as a 'CamStudy' platform (a platform where users share real-time footage of themselves studying via camera). Lee explained, "To analyze user usage patterns, we opened the service for free from 2017 and observed the data, noticing that our platform was being used as part of a new study culture among the MZ generation." After launching Gurumi CamStudy, up to 16 participants can share their study sessions with each other. Additional features such as attendance sheets, study time records, and stopwatches were added to enhance user convenience.
The spread of COVID-19 created a new turning point for the online video platform industry, including Gurumi. Lee expressed confidence in overcoming aggressive marketing by foreign companies offering free video programs like Zoom and Webex by leveraging Gurumi's unique strengths. He emphasized, "Unlike global video platform programs that store encrypted data separately, Gurumi developed WebRTC technology that operates on a communication basis without ActiveX, providing a much more stable service."
A performance of the play 'In Ten Years' by the theater company Whale, performed live on Gurumi. Photo by Gurumi
Park Young-sun, Minister of SMEs and Startups, used Gurumi's solution during a non-face-to-face investment briefing for startups in the medical bio sector held in April. When the video connection using Zoom was interrupted during a pilot interactive class attended by Education Minister Yoo Eun-hye, a meeting held right after the online school opening was conducted via Gurumi, proving its stability. Lee said, "Corporate clients, especially public institutions, are steadily increasing. When using foreign programs, large-scale traffic causes connection issues, so they seem to be paying attention to our solution." He added, "No separate program installation is needed, and it can be connected immediately with just an internet access URL and password regardless of operating systems like Windows, Mac, or Android, enhancing accessibility."
As non-face-to-face culture becomes routine, the video conferencing market is rapidly growing. Market research firm Global Market Insights predicted that the global video conferencing market, valued at $14 billion (about 15.5 trillion KRW) in 2019, will grow more than threefold to $50 billion (55.315 trillion KRW) by 2026. Lee explained that post-COVID-19 video conferencing services have become everyday consumer goods. Video conferencing solutions, which have become essential rather than optional due to remote work and video education, are spreading throughout daily life. They are used in various qualification exams, job interviews, and large-scale employee training. Gurumi recently launched a video interview service, expanding its program scope. Lee said, "To apply the real interview experience to the video platform, we separated the areas for interviewers and candidates and introduced one-to-many and many-to-many interview functions, allowing designated questions for each candidate." He added, "Usage is increasing mainly among companies where face-to-face interviews are difficult due to the recent resurgence of COVID-19."
In October, Gurumi also challenged staging a play using its video conferencing platform. The play 'In Ten Years' by the theater troupe Whale presented a live stage as a comprehensive art form by changing the order and size of screens showing each actor via the video conferencing platform. It was evaluated as a new method born among practitioners in the performing arts field such as theater.
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