We were pleased to feature Jay Lee, Founder of Global Venture Play, at the India–Korea Forum 2026 held in Seoul ahead of the upcoming India–Korea Summit.

In his remarks, he offered a sharp and experience-driven perspective on the contrasting startup ecosystems of India and Korea, highlighting key differences in founder mindset, investment culture, and institutional dynamics. He noted that while Indian founders tend to prioritize speed and scale, Korean founders often emphasize stability and risk control—reflecting deeper structural and cultural differences between the two ecosystems.

He further explained that these differences are also visible at the ecosystem level. India’s startup environment is highly dynamic and fast-moving, but often volatile, whereas Korea’s ecosystem is more stable and structured, yet relatively conservative in its approach to risk and innovation.

Focusing on venture capital, he emphasized that access to VC funding in Korea remains highly relationship-driven, where warm introductions and trusted networks play a far more important role than cold outreach. In addition, he pointed out the strong role of government in Korea’s startup ecosystem, particularly in the early stages. While this support has been instrumental in building the ecosystem, it has also created certain dependencies and, at times, slowed the transition toward more market-driven growth.

His reflections underscored a critical point:
➡️ Understanding and bridging the mindset and ecosystem gaps between India and Korea is essential for building successful cross-border startup collaboration.

At a time when global startup ecosystems are increasingly interconnected, leveraging the complementary strengths of India’s dynamism and Korea’s stability can unlock new opportunities for innovation and growth.