Kihong Bae

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.