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Kihong Bae

Managing Partner at Strong Ventures

Kihong Bae is the Managing Partner at Strong Ventures, a venture capital firm that focuses on early-stage investments primarily in South Korea and the United States, particularly targeting Korean entrepreneurs. He has held this position since June 2012 and is involved in identifying and supporting pre-incorporation phase entrepreneurs to help them build successful companies, often referred to as "Unicorns" and "Godzillas" in the startup ecosystem.1

Professional Background

  • Strong Ventures (Managing Partner, June 2012 - Present)

    • Focuses on investing in early-stage startups in Korea and Los Angeles.
    • Works closely with entrepreneurs to develop their business models and growth strategies.
  • Musicshake, Inc. (General Manager, February 2008 - June 2012)

    • Established US operations for a Korean startup, growing the team from one to four employees and achieving significant revenue growth.
  • Microsoft (Midmarket Marketing Manager, January 2005 - April 2007)

    • Managed marketing campaigns for the mid-market sector in Korea, contributing to substantial revenue growth.
  • Zionex, Inc. (Sales & Marketing Manager, December 2001 - November 2004)

    • Directed sales strategies for a supply chain management solutions provider, significantly increasing market share.

Education

Kihong Bae holds multiple degrees:

  • B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Chung-Ang University (1993 - 1999)
  • M.S. in Engineering from Stanford University (1999 - 2001)
  • MBA from the University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School (2007 - 2019), currently on a leave of absence.1

Skills and Languages

He is proficient in three languages: Korean (native), English (bilingual), and Spanish (professional working proficiency).1

Kihong Bae's extensive experience in both the tech industry and venture capital positions him as a key player in fostering innovation among startups within his focus regions.

Highlights

Sep 1 · linkedin

I know a lot of people will disagree with Nothing’s decision to put an end to work from home, but I actually completely agree with their CEO’s points.

Aug 25 · linkedin

몇 달 전에 올린 포스팅에 대한 반응을 보고 다시 한 번 내 생각을 정리해 본 글. 회사는 돈 버는 곳이지, 노는 곳은 아니다. 아무리 자유롭고 수평적인 스타트업일지라도.

Related Questions

What are some notable investments made by Strong Ventures under Kihong Bae's leadership?
How did Kihong Bae's experience at Microsoft influence his career in venture capital?
What strategies does Kihong Bae use to identify promising entrepreneurs at the pre-incorporation phase?
Can you provide examples of successful startups that Kihong Bae has helped build?
What are Kihong Bae's key achievements at Musicshake, Inc?
Kihong Bae
Kihong Bae, photo 1
Kihong Bae, photo 2
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Location

Los Angeles, California, United States