[For more diverse company information on the startups mentioned in this article, you can view them on Unicorn Factory's big data platform 'Data Lab'.]
"When examining why a startup with a good business idea fails to secure investment, the reasons are almost always similar. In most cases, they fail to convey key information properly during their first meeting with investors. To avoid failure in angel investing, one must develop the discernment not to be swayed by words. One must be able to filter out companies whose founders do not tell their true stories in their own language."
Bae Jun-hak, President of Oracle Venture Investment, who will serve as an instructor for '2026 Angel Investment Executive Program (AIP)'—a joint initiative by MoneyToday startup media platform Unicorn Factory, Hanyang University Graduate School of Entrepreneurship, Korea Angel Investment Association, and Ensl Partners starting in October—is scheduled to teach know-how on correctly interpreting and judging IR decks (investment pitch decks) and corporate valuations from an investor's perspective.
Bae (President) graduated from Yonsei University (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees) and Columbia Business School in the United States (MBA). With over 30 years of experience, he is an investment professional who has worked at venture capital firms (VCs), accelerators (ACs), private equity funds (PEs), and asset management companies. He has worked at Kyobo Asset Management, BNK Asset Management, KTB PE, Magna Investment, and Korea Value Investment. Currently, he leads Oracle Venture Investment, the operator of Scale-up Tips (TIPS).
Bae (President) emphasizes to angel investors the verification of IR decks from an investor's perspective. He stated, "An IR deck should be a diary containing the founder’s management philosophy and experience." He added, "Recently, there is an increase in ghostwritten IR decks outsourced to AI (artificial intelligence) or external institutional investors. Investors must develop the ability to identify contextual inconsistencies and logical gaps through meticulous verification."
For startup IR verification systems, he recommended the 'Investment Review Report' used by VCs. Typically, this report is structured in the following order: △Company Analysis △Market Analysis △Business Viability Analysis △Revenue Analysis △Valuation △Conclusion. When analyzing the market, he advised that it should not be based on simple estimates or qualitative comparisons; rather, it must present quantifiable data such as achievable market size and comparative strengths and weaknesses against competitors in charts and graphs.
Bae (President) noted, "Investing in early-stage companies without revenue or products is a very difficult decision that relies heavily on the founder’s capabilities and the uniqueness of the business model." He added, "It is also a critical matter because the identity of the first investor determines a company's financial structure and growth trajectory." He further stated, "Whether you are an investor or a founder, you must consider what the market wants to hear rather than what you want to say. The answer always lies in the market."
Detailed information on Bae (President)'s strategies regarding early-stage investments can be found in '2026 Angel Investment Executive Program'. In actual lectures, he will reveal practical investment know-how on how corporate equity valuation design and calculations differ across investment stages from seed to pre-IPO. The program also covers methods for calculating management control premiums and case studies on price gaps between strategic investors (SIs) and financial investors (FIs).
The Angel Investment Executive Program will run for 10 weeks, from October 1 to December 3, with weekly Thursday sessions (5 PM–9 PM) at Hanyang University Seoul Campus’s Hanyang Institute of Technology (HIT). Registration closes on September 16. Graduates will receive certification as individual investment partnership business execution partners (GPs) accredited by the Korea Angel Investment Association and a certificate of completion issued in the name of the Dean of Hanyang University Graduate School of Entrepreneurship.
[2026 Angel Investment Executive Program (AIP)]
◇Topic= Theoretical and practical training course to activate angel investment
◇Schedule= October 1–December 3, 2026 (Every Thursday, 5 PM–9 PM, 10 weeks)
◇Target= Executives of large and mid-sized companies and public corporations interested in angel investment; professionals working in the financial sector and specialized fields
◇Capacity= Approximately 30 participants
◇Venue= Yang Min-yong Lounge, Hanyang Institute of Technology (HIT), Hanyang University Seoul Campus
◇Registration Period= August 1–September 16, 2026
◇Consultation Application= https://forms.gle/hwQNYzhHyLywrkYu7
◇Registration Application= https://forms.gle/71KN7gMQiNHn6yp8A
◇Inquiries= Phone 0507-1459-1987 / Email [email protected]
[MoneyToday startup media platform Unicorn Factory]
in FUTURE
