Korean govt’s startup bootcamp offers sponsored trips to Singapore, Israel, and Boston

Six months of workshops, mentoring, and sponsored trips to Singapore, Israel, or Boston. For 20 Korean startups, these experiences will be the biggest draw of K-App Global Hub, a startup bootcamp organized by the Korean government.

The program is unique in its global outlook: Held in English, teams can pick one week stints in either Singapore or Israel, with the Boston trip having a separate application process, depending on which markets they’re interested in.

It is forward-looking in how it aims to foster cross-border collaboration for Korean startups, situating itself as part of the trend of increasing porousness in the larger Asia tech ecosystem where startups in disparate parts of the region are increasingly connected to each other via networking events, cross-border partnerships, and tech media.

Singapore is pitched as a gateway into Southeast Asia with its strong business infrastructure and tax incentive programs. Startups will attend the Echelon startup conference and visit the country’s incubators and telcos.

The Israel trip, meanwhile, will see attendees work with the country’s patent office to utilize existing technologies for commercial applications.

Finally, the Boston leg will focus primarily on fundraising, US market strategies, and learning about Boston’s startup scene through working with incubators in the city.

Workshops will be held in Seoul once a month, covering topics like patent strategy, product innovation, global marketing, and user acquisition.

Starting in May, teams will go through the entire product development process in preparation for the fundraising leg in Boston in October. Two teams will even earn trip to Silicon Valley to attend TechCrunch Disrupt.

The entire program, which includes flights, accomodation, and travel expenses, will be sponsored by the SMBA, a government organization for SMEs, and KISED, a government agency for startups and entrepreneurial initiatives.