
ABOUT

WHAT IS YOUR
NEXT CHALLENGE?
Next Challenge, a global accelerator foundation that leads the public-private governance of the startup ecosystem, builds a future startup city by nurturing innovative startup talent by strengthening the startup education ecosystem, accelerating domestic and foreign startups through company buildings, and strengthening the network of startup ecosystem stakeholders. We are carrying out various businesses for this purpose.
NEXT CHALLENGE HISTORY
2025.02
중소벤처기업부 2025 글로벌 기업 협업 프로그램 구글플레이(창구), 인텔, 탈레스, 로레알 주관기관
2025.01
글로벌 1위 게임 결제 핀테크 플랫폼 엑솔라홀딩스 업무협약 체결(MoU)
2024.11
베트남Top 10 IT 회사 VTI Group 업무협약(MOU)체결
MOU. with VTI Group, Top 10 ICT Company in Vietnam
2024.10
글로벌 혁신 대학 써밋 개최(Ai/에듀테크) 10개국 14개 혁신대학/교육기관참석
2024. 10
The School of Innovation 글로벌 혁신대학 얼라이언스 공동 출범
2024. 10
말레이시아 Sunway University iLabs 글로벌 혁신대학 얼라이언스 공동 출범
2024. 10
미국 Minerva University 글로벌 혁신대학 얼라이언스 공동 출범
2024. 10
스페인 Harbour.Space 글로벌 혁신대학 얼라이언스 공동 출범
2024. 10
스페인 Mondragon University 글로벌 혁신대학 얼라이언스 공동 출범
2024. 10
영국 London Interdisciplinary School 글로벌 혁신대학 얼라이언스 공동 출범
2024. 10
인도네시아 Ciputra University 글로벌 혁신대학 얼라이언스 공동 출범
2024. 10
일본 Satonova University 글로벌 혁신대학 얼라이언스 공동 출범
2024. 10
태국 Chulalongkorn School of Integrated Innovation 글로벌 혁신대학 얼라이언 스 공동 출범
2024. 10
핀란드 Aalto University 글로벌 혁신대학 얼라이언스 공동 출범
2024. 10
호주/베트남 RMIT University 글로벌 혁신대학 얼라이언스 공동 출범
2023. 09
UN CITYNET (UN affiliated organization Citynet) MOU
2023. 06
Kyobo Life Insurance selected as an in-house venture fostering open innovation partner
2023. 05
2023 Global Startup Builder Summit held by government start-up support organizations in 9 ASEAN countries
2023. 05
Cambodian government Khmer Enterprise and Techo Startup Center joint MOU
2023. 05
Joint MOU with Ateneo de Manila University of the Philippines
2023. 05
Joint MOU with Indonesia Institut Teknologi Bandung (Bandung Institute of Technology)
2023. 05
Joint MOU with Indonesian Government Gerakan National 1000 Startup Digital (1000 Startup Digital)
2023. 05
Joint MOU with Laos Government Laos ICT and Digital Association
2023. 05
Joint MOU with National University of Laos
2023. 05
Joint MOU with Sigapore University of Social Sciences, Singapore
2023. 05
Joint MOU with Singapore Reactor Group
2023. 05
Joint MOU with Sunway Innovation Lab at Sunway University in Malaysia
2023. 05
Joint MOU with Thai government Digital Economy Promotion Agency
2023. 05
Joint MOU with Vietnam Government National Innovation Center
2023. 05
Joint MOU with VinUniversity, Vietnam
2023. 05
Malaysian Government MRANTI (Malaysian Technology and Innovation Research Accelerator) MOU
2023. 05
Philippine government DOST-PCIEERD joint MOU
2023. 03
Selected as the host organization for Google Play’s global collaboration ‘ChangGoo'
December 2021
Vietnam Next Challenge Co., Ltd._(VN) established local branch in Hanoi
December 2020
Next Challenge Ventures Co., Ltd._Establishment of local corporation in Bangkok, Thailand
December 2020
Establishment of NCA, a foundation incorporated by the Incheon Regional Venture Business Administration
December 2020
MOU with Future Stream Networks Co., Ltd. (listed company), a Korean global media company
2023. 02
MOU with Fullerton City, Orange County, California, USA
2023. 01
VTC Online MOU, a state-owned enterprise under the Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communication
2023. 01
Next Challenge Ventures Co., Ltd._Establishment of local corporation in Singapore
2022. 07
France Paris Saint-Germain Academy Korea MOU
2022. 06
China HKTDC (Hong Kong Trade Development Department) MOU
2022. 06
MOU with LA FRENCH TECH, a French government affiliated organization
2022. 06
Thailand TVCA (Venture Capital Association) MOU
2021. 06
Korea KAIST Business School MOU
2021. 01
Selected as Isu Group’s in-house venture fostering open innovation partner
2020. 03
Jeju Special Self-Governing Province Selected as host organization
2020. 02
Korean Bar Association (Labor Lawyers Association) MOU
2019. 09
MOU with 14 university base engineering education centers
2019. 04
[Youth Entrepreneurship Academy_Seoul] selected as the host organization
2019. 03
Startup Bay anchor institution in Seogwipo-si, Jeju Special Self-Governing Province
2019. 01
Establishment of Next Challenge, a foundation incorporated by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups
He is a modern-day Da Vinci who embraces the secrets of history, leaves a legacy in architecture, and sets out into the unknown world in search of the wings of technology.
He has earned the nickname of 'Yuval Harari of the startup ecosystem' for his irreplaceable vision of predicting the future ahead of others and building a startup ecosystem. He founded the Next Challenge, a national accelerator foundation representing the Republic of Korea, and is dedicated to designing the future of the startup nation by comprehensively designing startup fostering and entrepreneurship education design, and is currently vividly capturing the challenges and innovations of ASEAN, which is racing toward the singularity of human civilization.
He graduated from Handong University (Business Administration) and Sogang University Graduate School of Technology Management, and completed the doctoral program in management consulting at Hanyang University. He served as a professor at Hanyang University's Global Entrepreneurship Center for 7 years, and is currently the Vice President of the Venture Business Association and the Head of Global Collaboration at Google Play's 'Changgu', Intel AI, Thales, and L'Oréal, and was selected as an 'Honorary Citizen of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province' for his contribution to the development of Seogwipo-si, Jeju as a startup city. He gives more than 100 lectures a year at Harvard University, MIT, Sebasi, large corporations, and government agencies, inspiring young people and startup entrepreneurs.
With a philosophy rooted in '運鈍根', he has been promoting the establishment of startup high schools and universities for the future of the Republic of Korea. He has written nine books, including the best-selling "The Mutant Wolf" (2022 Ministry of National Defense Jinjung Library), "Attack on Wolf" (2022 Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recommended book), and "Unknown Wolf" (2025), conveying the author's unique thoughts and insights to the world.
Representative experience
Education
Awards

Youngrok Kim
CEO
-
Graduated from Handong University, Department of Business Administration
-
Master's degree from Sogang University Graduate School of Management of Technology (MOT)
-
Hanyang University Graduate School of Business Consulting, Gyeongsangbuk-do Graduate School, Doctoral Completion
-
Received the Minister of SMEs and Startups Award (Individual Category - Merit Award)_2017
-
Mayor of Incheon for contribution to the startup ecosystem of Incheon Metropolitan City (individual/institutional commendation) (2022)
-
Selected as an honorary citizen of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province (2021)_Contribution to creating a startup city
Career activities
CEO of Next Challenge Foundation (Ministry in charge: Ministry of SMEs and Startups)
CEO of Next Challenge Asia Foundation (Ministry in Charge: Incheon Regional Office of Small and Medium Venture Business)
Next Challenge Ventures Co., Ltd. Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand General Manager
Current, Google Play ‘Changgu’ General Manager
Current, Vice President of KOVA Venture Business Association (2023~)
Current, Vice President of KOVA Venture Business Association (2023~)
Current, Vice President of KOVA Venture Business Association (2023~)
Seoul_Professor, Global Entrepreneur Center, Hanyang University (served as adjunct, special, industrial complex professor) 2012~2018
Incheon_Member of the Incheon Metropolitan City New Deal Special Committee (appointed by the Mayor of Incheon)
Jeju_Member of Jeju Special Self-Governing Province 4th Industrial Revolution Committee (appointed by Jeju Governor)
Jeju_Seogwipo City Policy Advisory Committee Advisory Member (appointed by Seogwipo Mayor)
Jeju_Seogwipo City STARTUPBAY + GLOBAL General Manager
Former, Architect (10 years_Urban Architecture, Space Design)
Former, Architect (10 years_Urban Architecture, Space Design)

Awards
Awards

CEO Kim Young-rok’s profile video

Human Resources Development Conference

KBC Hwatong Concert

15 minutes to change the world
Global Advisor

Lee Yong Deuk
Nation: Vietnam
Vice President VTC Online
Vietnam’s largest game publisher under the Ministry of Science and ICT

Rusydi Khairul
Nation : Singapole
CEO of Reactor School
Entrepreneurship education in 300 schools in SEA

Nicolas Mercier
Nation: France
Vice President at La French Tech Seoul
Vice President of La French Tech Seoul

Chris Georgiev
Nation : Bulgaria
Co-founder, Imagga
Automatic image recognition from 82 countries

Roger Royo
Nation : Spain
Solbridge Entrepreneurship Center
Spanish Chamber of Commerce

Hiromi Sakae Ogawa
Nation : Japan
Executive Director of Envizion, Inc.
Edtech expert

Lee Yong Deuk
Nation: Vietnam
Vice President VTC Online
Vietnam’s largest game publisher under the Ministry of Science and ICT

Jian Liang Low
Nation: China
Co-founder of Reactor School
Entrepreneurship education in 300 schools in SEA

Solomon Moos
Nation: France
President at La French Tech Seoul
La French Tech Seoul Chairman/VC

Christopher Lai
Nation: HongKong
Director of Hong Kong Trade Development Council
Hong Kong Trade Development Bureau

Sarun Sutuntivkoon
Nation : Thailand
Chairman of TVCA
Chairman of Thailand Venture Capital Association












