Derik Kim

 The Founder and Honorary President of Global Entrepreneurs Foundation (GEF), which is the first non-profit accelerator in the Republic of Korea, a Senior Senator and 2021, 2022 Asia Continental Chair for World Business Angel Investors Week of World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF) - an affiliated partner of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) and Associate Professor of Inha University. Recipient of the commendation award from the Minister of SMEs and Startups of the Republic of Korea in the field of accelerator merit 2021.

Before GEF, Mr. Kim was a serial entrepreneur to found five start-ups, three of which were established in Korea, and two in the USA. Also, he has served as CEO and Executive officer of several companies in Korea and USA, including EVP of Tag-It Pacific, Inc.

Since 2015, he concentrates on Global start-ups ecosystem building in Asia including Korea and so has served globally as a Supporter of EWB based in Sweden, Expert Advisor of Korea Accelerator Association (KAA) and a Board Director of Korea Startup & Entrepreneur Mentors Association (KSEMA). 

Since resigning from the GEF Board in 2022, Mr. Kim has dedicated himself to research and development of K-entrepreneurship(K-Preneurship®) and supporting startup ecosystems in developing and underdeveloped countries. So, currently he has been in charge of PM for ‘Capacity Building of Universities in Bangladesh to Promote Youth Entrepreneurship’ project until 2027. In 2023 he set up K-Preneurs sharing K-Preneurship with the world, the secret to Korea's growth as the developed nation, and was appointed as a director of The Bridge International, a platform operator that supports fund racing for startups in developing countries.

He is also global speaker, mentor and juror at many international conferences and summits, startup competitions in USA, Denmark, Malta, Spain, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Uzbekistan, Australia, India, Bangladesh, China, Vietnam, Rwanda etc. and Korea as.

Professional Experience

2023 – Present Chief K-Preneur, K-Preneurs

2023 – Present Director & Sr. Investment Officer, The Bridge International (Korea)

2021 – Present Associate Professor, Inha University (Korea)

2019 – Present Senior Senator, Senator(2019-2024), World Business Angel Investors Week 2021,

2022 Asia Continental Chair, World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF)- 

an affiliated partner of the G20 Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI)

2016 – 2022   Honorary President, President (2016-2019), Global Entrepreneurs Foundation (Korea)

2005 – 2012   Founder & CEO, Unizip, Inc. (USA)

2004 – 2005   Executive Vice President, Tag-It Pacific, Inc.(USA)

Education

Master's degree in Global Entrepreneurship, Kookmin University Graduate School of Global Entrepreneurship (Korea)

B. Sc in Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University (Korea)

Instructional Development Program, Stanford University, SCPD CPI-GIC iX (CA, USA)

Assignments

Korea-Tajikistan IT Innovation Park-KOICA Feasibility Study Team Leader (2025.11)

PM of KOICA PMC (KPC/KPU Consortium) for ‘Capacity Building of Universities in Bangladesh to Promote Youth Entrepreneurship’ (2021~2027)

Consulted Uzbekistan Policy “2019 Consultation on Technology Park for SW & IT"- KISDI Consulting Group (2019.3~12)

UNDP Africa Youthconnekt-KOICA Planning & Research Team Leader (2018.11~12)

Consulted Uzbekistan Policy “2018 Consultation on ICT Start-up & Software Market Development"- KISDI Consulting Group (2018.3~12)