2023 W-Startup Awards Grand Prize
First Ever for a Prospective Entrepreneur
Kyobo Life Insurance's in-house venture 'Haenda Company' won the grand prize at a startup competition hosted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.
Kyobo Life Insurance announced on the 10th that 'Haenda Company' received the Minister of SMEs and Startups Award, the grand prize, at the '2023 W-Startup Awards (24th Women Startup Competition)' hosted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, held on the 7th at Tipstown in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
The W-Startup Awards, held annually since 2000, is the only competition in Korea exclusively for women entrepreneurs. So far, it has produced over 360 winning teams. Haenda Company is the first to receive the grand prize as a prospective startup.
A total of 1,044 teams participated in this competition, and 26 teams were selected. Winners receive up to 20 million KRW in prize money, up to 5 million KRW in initial commercialization funds per company, support for investment attraction, and connections to acceleration programs. They also earn the right to advance to the finals of 'Challenge K-Startup 2023,' the largest startup competition in Korea operated collaboratively by 11 government ministries including the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.
Haenda Company developed the application 'Ohu 1si' (1 PM), used by working moms and their children, which manages children's schedules and routes to address safety issues, and supports the improvement of children's self-directed abilities through habit management using gamification. Notably, the 'Mom's Letter' feature helps overcome physical distance and fosters emotional bonding between mother and child.
A Kyobo Life Insurance official said, "The implementation of the in-house venture system aims to secure future new growth engines by spreading a culture of challenge and creativity-driven innovation," adding, "We have created an environment where any employee with an idea can take on the challenge of realizing their entrepreneurial dreams."
On the 7th, at Tipstown in Yeoksam-dong, Seoul, Kang Moon-young, CEO of Haenanda Company, who won the grand prize at the '2023 W-Startup Awards (Women Entrepreneurship Competition)', is taking a commemorative photo with Byun Tae-seop, Director of Small Business Policy at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. (Photo by Kyobo Life Insurance)
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
