Expat Startups

Today we Pankaj Agarwal on the show with us. Pankaj is the founder of Taghive, a tech company which bridges the gap between physical and digital worlds to provide interactive play & learning experiences for kids. Their flagship product is the Class Saathi which is an Affordable Classroom Clicker Solution to combat the dropout rate of kids in primary schools across India. Taghive is based in South Korea with operations in India and the startup is seed-Funded by Samsung Ventures.

Pankaj has helped to successfully launch 2 additional toy products and has also filed 21 IPs of which 9 are already registered.

Pankaj is originally from India, where he received his engineering degree from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur and also holds an MBA degree from Harvard. 

You can check out tag-hive.com to learn more about Pankaj's startup and also subscribe to ExpatStartups.com and tune in to more stories.

In today's episode we discuss the following: 

• Originally business idea before forming Taghive
• Creating a hardware and software solution
• Building the solution: Class Saathi (Saathi in Indian is Friend)
• Targeting India as core market
• Identifying business partners to sell to schools in Korea
• Differences between the two markets served
• Pricing products strategically against competitors
• To do a business you need  people, money, and the right Idea
• Offline solution is necessary in India
• Majority of startup costs were development costs
• Working with an Indian Marketing Agency
• Education differences in Korea / India / US
• Emphasis on Academys in Korea vs. global
• Challenges of running a business as an expat in Korea
• Comfort zone shrinks everyday
• Learn by trial and error
• Understand the industry that you operate in 

THANKS FOR LISTENING! If you liked what you heard, please give us your feedback and review on your favorite podcast platform, it would mean so much.

Check us out at ExpatStartups.com or get in touch with us on FB: fb.com/ExpatStartups

Expat Startups is brought to you and hosted by Jun Yoon. 

Ryu Dang is the co-founder of Bitgosu, one of the largest cryptocurrency media platforms in Korea. His cofounder is one of Korea's biggest social media influencers in the cryptocurrency + blockchain space, who goes by the name of Spunky. Together Ryu and Spunky founded Bitgosu delivering content related to blockchain through Youtube and 2 of the largest financial TV channels in Korea with a reach of over 15 million korean viewers. Bitgosu also offers seminars on how to trade cryptocurrency and hosts many events around blockchain at their studio and headquarter in Gangnam. 

Ryu was born in Vietnam and is a Belgian citizen. He founded several businesses in Europe and Asia prior to launching Bitgosu. In this episode we discuss why Ryu chose to start the business in Korea, the business model of Bitgosu, and all things related to crypto market trends along with the challenges of running his business. 

In this episode, we discuss the following:

• How and why Ryu came to Korea
• How Bitgosu was formed
• Events offered at Bitgosu and Spunky’s live Youtube streams, technical Analysts, updates on ICOs and acclerating projects (Nexo, Coinbit)
• Cost of Seminars are free
• Business model for Bitgosu
• Crypto market trends from 2017-present
• Founder roles and managing staff of 20 employees
• Macro perspective of Bitcoin and why BTC will do well in 2020 (1st-2nd-3rd bitcoin halving)
• Predictions, opportunities, and concerns for crypto market
• Possible effects of Bitcoin Halving
• Challenges of running a business as an Expat
• 2020 plans: Become the crypto landmark of Korea
• Due diligence team during listing (never below ICO price)
• Crypto space is still in infancy

THANKS FOR LISTENING! If you liked what you heard, please give us your feedback and review on your favorite podcast platform, it would mean so much.

Check us out at ExpatStartups.com or get in touch with us on FB: fb.com/ExpatStartups

Expat Startups is brought to you and hosted by Jun Yoon. 

Learn how Tai Kersten works in the decentralized asset space to build tools, smart contracts, and products for companies looking to adopt blockchain technology into their business model. Together with his co-founders Mike De’Shazer and David VanIsacker, Tai is working with Quorum, a technology introduced by JP Morgan, to build out concepts for trade financing, education, and developer quality of life. 

Tai is an American expat originally from Montana and is an avid supporter and fan of cryptocurrencies and its underlying tech, Tai hopes to help bring the next generation of decentralized finance to South Korea. 

In this episode, we discuss the following:

• What is a smart contract and how does it work?
• Definition and purpose of D-apps (Decentralized apps) and D-fi (decentralized finance)
• Introduction to the gateway application (Tau)
• How does Proof generate revenue? (fee structure, messenger free)
• Opening the code on Github for developers, designers
• Participating in events (Hackathans, Devcon) to interface and gain insight with people in the space
• Founding team members
• Possible recession in 2020
• Looking back at how etrade/scottrrade was perceived vs. Ethereum/bitcoin
• Regulatory, financial, and technologist viewpoints of blockchain technology
• Mastering Bitcoin: Unlocking Digital Cryptocurrencies by Andreas Antonopoulos
• “South Korea doesn’t need Blockchain” - Andreas Antonopoulos
• Less presence of D-fi/d-apps in Korea
• Quick adoption and quick abandoning trends in Korea
• San Francisco as global tech leader in blockchain
• Blockchain events: Block Show, Dev Con, Korea Blockchain Week
• Pros and cons of being an expat in Korea
• Don’t just take advice - learn by doing.

THANKS FOR LISTENING! If you liked what you heard, please give us your feedback and review on your favorite podcast platform, it would mean so much.

Check us out at ExpatStartups.com or get in touch with us on FB: fb.com/ExpatStartups

Expat Startups is brought to you and hosted by Jun Yoon. 

Learn how Thomas Sommer launched a K-pop entertainment agency in Korea, combining a creative arts academy with a music production studio that helps incubate, train, and manage creators. 

Thomas is originally from Strasbourg, France and has over 8 years of experience in startups, mobile, and adtech. 

In this episode, we discuss the following:

• How the academy business was formed in Korea
• Challenges in forming and launching the business
• Business model of entertainment agency
• Curriculums and classes available
• Monetizing the business from the beginning
• Revenue stream opportunities
• Expenses and startup capital required
• Life as an expat in Seoul

THANKS FOR LISTENING! If you liked what you heard, please give us your feedback and review on your favorite podcast platform, it would mean so much.

Check us out at ExpatStartups.com or get in touch with us on FB: fb.com/ExpatStartups

Expat Startups is brought to you and hosted by Jun Yoon. 

Learn how Hindson and Robbie started one of the biggest recreational sports communities for expats in Korea. They are building a business to become the hub of sports in Korea by offering a variety of sports including basketball, volleyball, and dodgeball events with over 3000+ members from over 30 different nations. let’s jump right in to hear how they started their business in Korea. They also operate Project Ball Academy, working directly with international schools and local businesses providing sports training classes for students while helping students to develop fundamental skills on-and-off the courts.

In this episode, we discuss the following:

* Hiring and staffing for team

* Oasis visa (D-8 visa - $100-$200K investment) enrolled in program (classes, info, IP, etc.)

* Monetizing business through memberships, sponsorships, partnerships

* Forming the YMCA of Korea

* Forming the team process for sports events

* Meetups, Using Naver (Google of Korea) for Marketing, partnering with Classting

* Doing what you love

* Tips for running business in Korea

THANKS FOR LISTENING! If you liked what you heard, please give us your feedback and review on your favorite podcast platform, it would mean so much.

Check us out at ExpatStartups.com or get in touch with us on FB: fb.com/ExpatStartups

Expat Startups is brought to you and hosted by Jun Yoon. 

Learn how Simon launched a social tech startup in Indonesia, called Artemis which aims to create appreciation for doing good by focusing on key sustainable development goals leveraging a token system. Simon's company aims to provide transparency into the current landscape of volunteering. Simon also started a hydroponic farm in Jakarta, managing and growing tomatoes with his brother. Tune in to hear more about Simon’s story.

In this episode, we discuss the following:

• Moving to Jakarta to start a new business

• Current problems with current Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

• Launching a business in Indonesia

• Business challenges of running a startup in Indonesia

• Finding partners and staff for Artemis

• Funding the business and ways to scale the business

• Staying motivated while bootstrapping business

• Charity work and building community of volunteers

THANKS FOR LISTENING! If you liked what you heard, please give us your feedback and review on your favorite podcast platform, it would mean so much.

Check us out at ExpatStartups.com or get in touch with us on FB: fb.com/ExpatStartups

Expat Startups is brought to you and hosted by Jun Yoon. 

Learn how Craig Latouche, founder of Jobfindr.com - launched a service that provides foreign nationals job opportunities in their adopted homes. Craig also manages Connector, a multicultural community in Seoul for building networks and finding job opportunities. Craig is also leading a project that connects refugees and asylum seekers to qualified experts who can help them build skills that secures them a higher chance of more appropriate at hirechance.org 

THANKS FOR LISTENING! If you liked what you heard, please give us your feedback and review on your favorite podcast platform, it would mean so much.

Check us out at ExpatStartups.com or get in touch with us on FB: fb.com/ExpatStartups

Expat Startups is brought to you and hosted by Jun Yoon. 

Learn how Lin Hwang brought the famous American Halal chain, The Halal Guys, to Korea and started a food reduction tech startup (DamoGO) in Asia. 

Lin manages his business in Korea with plans to expand to Indonesia, Philippines, and Thailand. 

In this episode, we discuss the following:

• Starting The Halal Guys Franchise in Korea
• How the food reduction idea originated
• Finding cofounders and building a team
• Building and funding for a mobile app
• Finding and working with local restaurant partners
• Offering discounted ($2-6:un-touched & fresh) leftover meals from restaurant partners
• Scaling business and strategic outlook with advisors
• Fundraising plans (seed round)
• Staying motivated while bootstrapping business
• Charity work and building community of volunteers
• 1/3 of all food in the world goes to waste

THANKS FOR LISTENING! If you liked what you heard, please give us your feedback and review on your favorite podcast platform, it would mean so much.

Check us out at ExpatStartups.com or get in touch with us on FB: fb.com/ExpatStartups

Expat Startups is brought to you and hosted by Jun Yoon. 

Learn how Aurelien Briant launched an Italian Mineral Water brand (Norda Water) in Asia. 

Aurelien manages his business from Korea and he is also a seasoned investor in the hospitality, tech, fashion, F&B, entertainment and AI industries. 

In this episode, we discuss the following:

• Why do business in Asia? Specifically Shanghai and Korea
• Brainstorming business ideas in Korea
• Startup Costs in Korea (deposits, rents, inventory)
• Bringing the Norda Water Brand from Italy to Asia
• Operations for importing/distributing a water brand in Korea
• Dealing with regulatory hurdles
• Licenses required to operate business
• Sales tactics to expand the water brand in Korea
• Challenges and barriers in the business
• Plans of scaling and growing in Korea
• Partnering with Jessica from SNSD (Girls Generation) 
• Cross promotions with Inter Milan Parntership with Norda Water
• Finding purpose and motivation to drive business forward
• No sales for 11 months and how to deal with business slumps
• Forecasting savings to survive 12-18 months of no sales

 THANKS FOR LISTENING! If you liked what you heard, please give us your feedback and review on your favorite podcast platform, it would mean so much.

Check us out at ExpatStartups.com or get in touch with us on FB: fb.com/ExpatStartups

Expat Startups is brought to you and hosted by Jun Yoon. 

Learn how Jasmine Park, founder of Knockout Global, a social fitness platform that offers premium group fitness & wellness programs.

Jasmine manages her business and also conducts the trainings for her members and is preparing to launch additional studios in Korea and expand to Southeast Asia. Let’s jump right in to hear Jasmine’s story on how she started her fitness startup in Korea.

 THANKS FOR LISTENING! If you liked what you heard, please give us your feedback and review on your favorite podcast platform, it would mean so much.

Check us out at ExpatStartups.com or get in touch with us on FB: fb.com/ExpatStartups

Expat Startups is brought to you and hosted by Jun Yoon.