KITEE (Korean-American Innovative Technology Engineers and Entrepreneurs), an APS of KSEA, and FELIX (Financial Engineering and Learn Investment through Xchange) jointly held the 2nd KITEE-FELIX Startup Hackathon (KF Hackathon) in New Jersey on April 27~29, 2023. The KF Hackathon aimed to provide a cooperative environment for future aspiring young entrepreneurs in the KSEA and KITEE communities in the NY/NJ/Philadelphia area to (1) network with their future startup partners, (2) learn about the basic practices of starting technology ventures, (3) practice to develop their creative ideas to business possibilities as a team through extensive sessions for 2 days and 2 nights (48 hours), and (4) pitch their business decks to the audience of the KSEA Northeast Regional Conference (NRC) on the 3rd day.
A total of 22 entrepreneurial-minded members, who gathered at Holiday Inn Hasbrouck Heights-Meadowlands in New Jersey to participate in the hackathon, formed five teams of 2 or 3 members each, and attended multiple team sessions of four components: (1) Workshop, (2) Hackathon Sessions, (3) Hackathon Pitch Competition, and (4) Networking events. Each team brainstormed their ideas, researched the market and competitors around their idea, and discussed the possibility of being a promising business model together as a team. The advisory group helped the startup beginners run the event more effectively through multiple Q&A and coaching sessions.
At the Idea Pitch Competition on Day 3, all the participants moved to Montclair State University, the venue of the NRC this year. Each team pitched their business decks to the audience of the NRC to win one of the three awards ($200, $100, and $50 respectively for the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places). The audience of various backgrounds – scientists and engineers, corporate managers, and investors – evaluated the pitches based on their innovativeness, market fit, competitiveness and pitching effectiveness. The following teams won awards:
- 1st Place: SwingMate (SeokJoo Kwon, SeongBaek Cho)
- 2nd Place: HearU (Hannah Kim, JaeUng Ko, JeongSeo Lee)
- 3rd Place: WordWise (JaeWoo Song, KwanHo Kim)
This event was prepared by a Committee led by two Chairs (Kyeong Ho Yang and Nathan Byun), and with the following members: Hyun Chung Kim (Treasurer), Hannah Kim (Secretary), Jaeung Ko (Public Relations), Tommy Cho (Local Arrangement), and Kwan-Ho Kim (YG Director).
Reported by Kyeong Ho Yang (KITEE President, left) and Nathan Byun (FELIX Chair, right)
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