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Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 3 of Start-Up, the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Bae Suzy as Seo Dal-mi, Nam Joo Hyuk as Nam Do-san, Kim Seon Ho as Han Ji Pyeong, Kang Han Na as Won In Jae, and Kim Hae Sook as Choi Won Deok. We discuss:

• The songs featured during the recap: One Day by Kim Feel and Dream a Dream by Park Sejun. Kim Feel’s music is soulful and widely featured in K Drama OSTs.
• Joanna’s trip to Europe, highlights from Nice and Monaco, and her growing confidence speaking French thanks to Duolingo Max.
• The hilarious and emotional interactions between Nam Do-san and Han Ji Pyeong, including reciting the South Korean national anthem to cover a fake business discussion.
• The poetic metaphor of the music box, representing Nam Do-san as someone full of potential and how Seo Dal-mi’s belief in him gives him the courage to grow.
• The layered sibling rivalry and estrangement between Seo Dal-mi and Won In Jae, and the complex emotions tied to their mother.
• An in-depth explanation of startup funding terms like angel investor, pre-series A, series A, mezzanine financing, and term sheets.
• The theme of equity and control in business, illustrated by how Won In Jae is ousted as CEO due to lack of shares, despite holding the title.
• The metaphorical and literal meaning of taking the elevator to the top—used by Seo Dal-mi as a symbol of her ambition.
• Seo Dal-mi’s bold bet that she’ll be more successful than her sister in three years, likening herself to a future Steve Jobs or Mark Zuckerberg.
• Samsan Tech’s win at the CODA competition, their failed video presentation, and the intrigue by the Korean American judge.
• Sandbox as a metaphorical and literal safe space for entrepreneurs, inspired by the “sandbox” described by Dal-mi’s father.
• The motivations behind each character’s application to Sandbox: Seo Dal-mi wants to take the upper floor elevator, Nam Do-san wants to turn a misunderstanding into reality, and Won In Jae wants to shed her image as “chewed-up gum.”
• A profile of actor Kim Seon Ho, including his traumatic childhood experience, strong theater background, rise through Strongest Deliveryman, and breakout role in Start-Up.

References

• What is a sandbox?
• Venture capital terms you need to know