While I was traveling in Europe, I got an email from Seoul National University of Science and Technology saying I had passed the document screening for the Preliminary Startup Package. The email said I needed to submit my business plan PDF and supporting documents by the 26th at 3 PM, and it also told me where the presentation would take place.
I gave my presentation on Tuesday, April 2, in Sangsanggwan Hall 52. I was the first presenter. The reason was that I had submitted my documents 2 to 3 days before the deadline, and apparently no one who submitted earlier than me had passed, so the order was decided by assignment number. That made me the first person to present at SeoulTech. I still do not know whether going first is good or bad because there is no comparison point. Since I got rejected, it feels like it was probably bad 🥲
At SeoulTech, I had been told that the presentation would take about 15 to 20 minutes and the Q&A about 10 minutes. But when I was actually presenting, one of the judges told me that 15 minutes had passed and that I should stop and move on to the Q&A. It caught me off guard because that was different from what SeoulTech had originally told me, but I thought arguing might put me at a disadvantage, so I moved on to the Q&A. I had not prepared enough for that part. I spent several days memorizing an 18-minute presentation, so I had only prepared for two or three questions, like revenue and market entry. During the Q&A, a lot of unexpected questions came up. There were questions about competitiveness against large companies, the AI algorithm, and the features of the product, among others. I do not remember all of them, and honestly I do not remember exactly how I answered either. At one point, while trying to answer one question, I completely froze and could not speak for about five seconds. Still, some of the judges were kind and made sure I had a chance to mention parts I could not cover during the presentation, so I was able to finish on a positive note.
After that, I spent a week blaming myself, feeling anxious and hopeful at the same time. During that time, I caught up on things I had put off and got some good rest too. Then April 9, the day that felt like it would never come, finally arrived.
I had only been told that the result email would come on Tuesday, April 9, so I had no idea what time it would arrive. A few people from 42 Seoul had also applied for the program, so I met some of them at the Gaepo Cluster. We talked about our business ideas, how our presentations went, and what kinds of questions we were asked. Then, just in case I got accepted and needed to run a sprint with my teammates, I was organizing the Scrum Guide. I waited and waited, and then I got a text saying I had received an email. I opened it with half excitement and half fear, and this was the message waiting for me.
Thank you for applying to the 2024 Preliminary Startup Package (General Field) by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.
We regret to inform you that, based on the results of the selection (presentation) evaluation conducted by Seoul National University of Science and Technology, you were not selected.
At first, I was not even sad. Maybe that was because I had already expected it to some extent.
I calmly started reaching out to people. I let the people who had been waiting for the result with me, and the people who had helped me, know that I did not get in. It was sad to realize I was the one getting pushed out in a one-out-of-two situation, but there was nothing I could do to change the result. My first thought was: why does Korea, while saying it wants to help people who want to start businesses, also have government support programs like this that end up making it impossible for some people to actually start? At that moment, I strongly felt like this was a world designed so that only the chosen ones get to move forward. Of course, I hope that thought is not the right answer.
I had a lot on my mind, and I had to jump back into the job market again. I was no longer in a position where I could keep spending money and time on starting a business. I need to earn money by working. Right away, I started saving companies and roles I liked on Wanted and Jumpit, waiting for another chance to come. It feels like the ending of the game Scorn, like there is no dream and no hope, though that may be a bit dramatic.
Some people are born on third base and go through life thinking they hit a triple.
— Barry Switzer
