Kim Young-rok, CEO of Next Challenge, Appointed Visiting Professor at Fudan University, One of China’s Top Three Universities
- 넥스트챌린지 재단법인
- Sep 17
- 2 min read
Next Challenge Foundation CEO Kim Young-rok Appointed Visiting Professor at Fudan University, One of China’s Top 3 Prestigious Institutions
On the 12th, the Next Challenge Foundation announced that its CEO, Kim Young-rok, has been appointed as a visiting professor at Fudan University—recognized alongside Peking University and Tsinghua University as one of China’s top three elite universities.
Kim is widely regarded as an innovator who has broken conventional frameworks in startup development and led the expansion of global networks for Korean startups.
He currently serves as a professor at Hanyang University’s Graduate School of Entrepreneurship, Vice President of the Korea Venture Business Association, and a board member of the Incheon Center for Creative Economy and Innovation.
Since founding the Ministry of SMEs and Startups–certified accelerator “Next Challenge” in 2019, he has successfully grown it into a global accelerator within just six years.
Each year, he leads the support of over 800 startups and oversees strategic collaborations with global giants such as Google, Intel, Thales, and L’Oréal—paving the way for Korean startups to expand onto the global stage.
In addition to his executive role, Kim is a prolific author of nine books.
He has consistently sought to reflect on the essence of the startup ecosystem, moving beyond the bounds of traditional business management. His acclaimed “Wolf Series” — comprising The Mutated Wolf, The Charging Wolf, and The Unknown Wolf — has sold over 100,000 copies in total, becoming bestsellers. Through this series, Kim defines startups not simply as new ventures but as powerful tools for innovation.
Celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, Fudan University has established itself as not only a prestigious Chinese institution but also a global hub of academic excellence.
It continues to produce leading research in a wide range of fields including science and technology, medicine, and the humanities. Notably, its pharmacology, clinical medicine, and materials science departments are ranked No. 1 in China.
Kim’s appointment as visiting professor is meaningful not only as an academic honor, but as a symbolic gesture of collaboration between South Korea and China in nurturing the next generation of startup and tech talent. Academic circles expect this partnership—blending cutting-edge education models and startup DNA with world-class research environments—to become a fertile ground for the creation of new knowledge, technologies, and culture.
“Collaboration with Fudan University goes beyond the growth of our two nations' startup ecosystems—it is a step toward addressing the future challenges of humanity,” Kim stated. “I hope to serve as a strong bridge that empowers young people from both countries to challenge themselves and collaborate on the global stage,” he added.
