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Kakao Ventures announced on the 19th that it will open 'Temps Seoul (/tmp Seoul)', a founder community where solo entrepreneurs gather in one space to focus on product development, this September.
Temps Seoul is a space where 'Solo Founders' (solo entrepreneurs) concentrate on developing their respective products together for a set period. It operates not as a boarding-style facility requiring accommodation, but by having participants gather and work together for a designated duration.
The name was derived from the '/tmp' directory in computer operating systems used to store temporary files. It embodies the meaning of a 'temporary community,' where entrepreneurs gather in one space for a period to develop products intensively before moving on to their next individual steps.
Temps Seoul will host serial entrepreneurs who have achieved results through prior entrepreneurial experience alongside early-stage founders equipped with rapid execution capabilities and technical expertise. So far, individuals and companies that have founded ventures or led technology organizations in Silicon Valley, grown them to a certain scale, and then launched new startups have decided to join.
The structure involves serial entrepreneurs sharing their accumulated experience and decision-making criteria, while early-stage founders share rapid technology utilization and experimentation methods with peers. The goal is for entrepreneurs with diverse experiences and strengths to work closely together, influencing each other in the product development process and decision-making.
Operational methods designed to support deep focus by founders will also be introduced. A 'Ship Night' held every Friday will allow participants to share their weekly development results and review what was created and validated during the week. Regular retrospectives and weekly one-on-one meetings will further clarify next goals.
To support product development by residents, Kakao Ventures will collaborate with OpenAI and Amazon Web Services (AWS). Residents will receive technical resources and benefits provided by partners, including ChatGPT and Codex subscriptions, API credits, and technical workshops.
The program also supports exchanges with global entrepreneur communities and meetings with senior entrepreneurs. Currently, partnerships have been established with well-known overseas hacker houses to promote interaction among residents and connect them to a global network. Related partnerships and support programs are planned for gradual expansion in the future.
Oh Young-taek, Head of Kakao Ventures, will lead Temps Seoul operations. Having served as a founding engineer at blockchain company Hatch Labs and an evaluator at AlToss Ventures, Oh has gained experience in both technology and investment fields. As a community leader at Temps Seoul, he plans to establish the initial culture and facilitate interaction and collaboration among participants.
Oh stated, "I want to create a space that solo founders would surely want to be part of when starting their entrepreneurial journey or embarking on new challenges," adding, "We will foster a culture where participants share their experiences and strengths, allowing them to deeply immerse themselves in their respective critical issues."
Additional resident recruitment will target early-stage entrepreneurs. Selection will focus on capabilities to quickly define and validate problems, as well as attitudes toward sharing experiences with peers.
[MoneyToday startup media platform Unicorn Factory]
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