Investor and Startup Meeting Event 'Gwanak S Valley Demo Day'

Gwanak-gu Opens a Meeting Place for Investors and Startups: 2023 ‘Gwanak S-Valley Demo Day’ Starts

Targeting Venture and Startup Companies Located in Gwanak-gu Within 7 Years of Establishment... Helping Startups Secure Investment Amid Investment Winter

First Event on May 31 at Nakseong Venture Startup Center, Applications Accepted Until the 18th... Support Including Mentoring for 6 Finalist Companies

Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Junhee) is hosting the ‘2023 Gwanak S-Valley Demo Day’ to attract investment for local venture and startup companies with excellent technology and high growth potential.

Demo Day is an event where startups and investors meet in one place, allowing startups to promote and propose their business direction, business model, and startup items to investors to help secure investment.

Last year, six Demo Days were held, resulting in 20 investment connections and 1.5 billion KRW in investment attraction for startups.

This year, starting with the first Demo Day on May 31 at the Nakseong Venture Startup Center, Gwanak-gu plans to hold regular monthly Demo Days until November in collaboration with Seoul National University Campus Town Project Group and Seoul Startup Center Gwanak to actively create investment opportunities for startups.

Venture and startup companies located in Gwanak-gu within 7 years of establishment are eligible to participate. Applications including business plans can be submitted via email to the person in charge by May 18. Detailed information can be found in the announcement posted on the Gwanak-gu Office website (News - Notices).

In 2022, networking is taking place between participating companies and investors at the Demo Day.

The district will select 10 companies through document screening on May 19 and finalize 6 companies for the finals after a presentation evaluation on May 23.

The selected 6 companies will receive support for composing their company presentation materials (Pitch deck), mentoring for practical IR (Investor Relations), and pitching coaching for practical IR.

Meanwhile, the company that wins the Demo Day on the 31st will receive the Mayor’s Award and the privilege to advance to the finals of the ‘Gwanak S-Valley Festival Demo Day’ scheduled for October this year.

A district official said, “We hope that despite the global economic downturn and contraction of the investment market, companies will successfully secure the investment they desire through Demo Day.”

Gwangjin-gu Holds ‘1st Corporate Communication Forum’ Listening Closely to the Voices from the Field

On the 9th, Invited 10 Small and Medium-sized Entrepreneurs from Various Industries for a Free Communication Session

Seeking Multifaceted Measures to Create a Business-Friendly Environment by Listening to Corporate Voices

Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Kyungho) held the ‘1st Corporate Communication Forum’ for coexistence with businesses on the 9th.

The district invited 10 small and medium-sized entrepreneurs to freely communicate in order to listen to various voices from the business field and seek multifaceted improvement measures to create a business-friendly environment.

During the forum, the district provided information on ▲Gwangjin-gu’s current status and commercial districts related to businesses ▲business support projects such as management support and employment support ▲urban planning 2040 Gwangjin Plan, which help companies’ long-term management.

Following this, participating companies had time for suggestions on regulatory and policy improvements and free remarks. Since entrepreneurs from various fields such as construction, manufacturing, education, and employment placement attended, diverse opinions were raised.

The entrepreneurs stated the need for ▲attracting knowledge industry centers to build business-friendly infrastructure and create jobs ▲supporting industries suitable for Gwangjin-gu ▲activating job fairs to resolve recruitment difficulties ▲holding specialized manufacturing exhibitions. Additionally, they proposed policy improvements such as ▲expanding education voucher programs ▲establishing school vehicle stops for children’s safe boarding and alighting.

The district plans to carefully review the proposed opinions and actively reflect them in district administration. The 2nd Corporate Communication Forum targeting mid-sized companies is scheduled for June.

Mayor Kim Kyungho said, “Please feel free to request any necessary points or suggestions from the business field at any time,” and added, “We will create a business-friendly Gwangjin-gu through continuous communication with entrepreneurs.”

Nowon-gu Promotes Social Economy Enterprises with ‘Our Neighborhood Marketer’

Recruiting 10 Resident SNS Activists from the 11th to 23rd, Providing Online Marketer Training and Practice

Establishing a Sustainable Online Marketing Foundation through an Integrated Online Platform

Providing Customized Support through Social Value Indicator Measurement Education and One-on-One Consulting

Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seungrok) announced the recruitment of resident SNS activists to revitalize the social economy.

According to last year’s survey of about 60 social economy enterprises in the region, the areas facing operational difficulties were distribution channel establishment (23%) and promotion/marketing (21%). Social economy enterprises, which have an average of 8.1 small-scale employees, recognize the importance of online platform marketing but face difficulties and limitations due to lack of dedicated personnel and digital capabilities.

Accordingly, the district has launched a program to train resident SNS activists and build an integrated online platform to establish a sustainable foundation for online marketing.

First, the district is recruiting 10 resident SNS activists until the 23rd. Selected residents will have the opportunity to work as ‘Our Neighborhood Marketer’ after completing training. Residents and social economy enterprises interested in online promotion will be mutually matched, providing learning opportunities for residents and supporting enterprises in enhancing brand image and increasing sales through SNS activities.

Anyone who is currently active on SNS or interested in it can apply. In June, education will be provided on the operating principles and marketing techniques of channels such as Instagram, blogs, and Smart Store, as well as a basic understanding of social economy enterprises.

Customized Education for Social Economy Enterprises' Needs

From July to November, participants will create two pieces of Instagram and blog content per month individually, monitor consumer responses, and receive expert feedback. The training is free, and a small activity fee will be paid per content produced. Even after the program ends, support will be provided to continue activities as ‘Our Neighborhood Marketer’ in consultation with enterprises. For applications and details, refer to the Nowon Social Economy Support Center website.

Next, an integrated online platform will be established to intensively promote social economy enterprises. Enterprises and products will be promoted through Instagram and blogs, and after reflecting customer responses and selecting products, sales will be conducted via Smart Store and live commerce.

This year, about 10 companies suitable for SNS channel marketing and sales will be selected for a pilot operation. For sales businesses, priority is given to companies that ▲have offline stores ▲engage in online marketing activities ▲have product sales experience; for service businesses, priority is given to companies that can operate ▲education ▲experience pilot programs. The plan is to first improve brand and product promotion and preference, then gradually expand to small business owners through monitoring.

The district is conducting social value indicator (SVI) measurement education and consulting as a demand-tailored growth support project for social economy enterprises. The social value indicator is becoming essential for management activities as it is increasingly used as eligibility or preferential criteria for participation in various public and private support projects. Accordingly, the district is helping accurate understanding and preparation of the social value indicator.

On the 30th, a group education session titled ‘The Necessity of Social Value Indicator and Understanding of the Indicator’ will be held, and from June to August, one-on-one consulting between experts and companies will be conducted. Specific advice will be given on completing measurement applications and ways to improve scores based on mock measurement results. For details, refer to the Nowon Social Economy Support Center website.

Mayor Oh Seungrok said, “We hope that the training of ‘Our Neighborhood Marketer’ and the establishment of an integrated online platform will activate online marketing for social economy enterprises,” and added, “We will continue to actively support the revitalization and sustainable growth of the social economy in the region.”