Startups Shine at KB Financial’s ‘2023 HUB Day’ for Innovative Collaboration

KB Financial Group has collaborated with startups to support emerging ventures proactively. The financial institution recently organized the ‘2023 HUB Day,’ a startup demo day held at the KB Innovation Hub Center in Seocho-gu, Seoul.

During the ‘2023 HUB Day,’ startups presented their innovative ideas and business models to a diverse audience, including government development and investment agencies, startup support entities, venture capitalists, and accelerators.

The sessions provided a platform for in-depth discussions and collaboration talks between startup representatives and notable participants, including government investment agencies like the Korea Startup Agency and Korea Growth Finance, alongside venture capital and accelerator representatives from MYSC and The Invention Lab. The collaborative efforts explored potential partnerships and advancements across various fields in collaboration with startups.

The event facilitated in-depth discussions about these startup concepts, particularly emphasizing collaboration and potential partnerships. Additionally, state-run investment agencies actively participated, indicating a concerted effort to explore further collaborations that could contribute to the growth of promising startups. 

During the insightful “Building the Future” session, participants delved into the achievements of startups that successfully integrated their cutting-edge financial services into KB Financial Group’s major digital platforms. 

Notable platforms included KB Kookmin Bank’s KB Star Banking, KB Securities’ M-able, and KB Kookmin Card’s KB Pay. The session facilitated valuable exchanges between government officials, investment organizers, venture capital funds, accelerators, and digital platform managers from KB Financial. It created a platform for exchanging ideas on financial consulting, corporate financial management, government-backed business programs, and technology collaboration.

Under the theme of ‘Creating the Future with KB,’ the Hub Day comprised three sessions—’ Drawing the Future,’ ‘Creating the Future,’ and ‘Sharing the Future.’ Facilitated through KB Financial’s startup development program, ‘KB Starters,’ the event saw the participation of 40 startups. 

During the initial session, ‘Drawing the Future,’ Jeong Yun-ho, CEO of Habit Factory and the mind behind the insurance analysis service ‘Signal Planner,’ presented as a speaker. He shared insights into the journey of growth achieved through KB Starters activities, spanning from the initial stage of attracting investments to the present.

In the subsequent session, ‘Creating the Future,’ startup technologies applied to major digital platforms within KB Financial, including KB Kookmin Bank’s KB Star Banking, KB Securities’ M-able, and KB Kookmin Card’s KB Pay, were explored. 

The discussion delved into the successful experiences of these startups in the collaborative process. The session was designed to shed light on the innovative applications of startup technologies across KB Financial’s significant digital platforms.

Seo Sang-hyuk, CEO of IMDT, reflected on his experience at Hub Day, stating, “This event facilitated in-depth discussions on potential collaborative areas with KB Finance, exploring directions and methods for the application of technology. The sharing of successful collaboration cases significantly enhanced the feasibility of practical partnerships. It played a crucial role in elevating our collaborative efforts to a higher level.”

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