'Dreaming of Google'... Korean startups, training for global expansion in Silicon Valley
Aug 14, 2025
(Mountain View, California = Yonhap) Correspondent Kim Tae-jong – “Which startups do U.S. venture capitalists pay attention to?” “Is it absolutely necessary to have a headquarters in the U.S. to expand globally?”
On the morning of the 13th (local time), at an auditorium inside Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, California, attendees were riveted by a lecture from Matt Ridernow, Head of Google’s U.S. Startup Accelerator, on “Opportunities in the U.S. Market and Fundraising Strategies.”
The audience consisted of founders or CEOs of Korean game and app startups less than seven years old.
They were selected to participate in the global training program “Immersion Trip,” part of Google’s startup support program ChangGoo (“Chang” through Google).
ChangGoo is a Korean startup support program that Google has been running since 2019. Since 2023, it has operated the overseas training program “Immersion Trip” to help domestic startups leap onto the global stage.
Following previous programs in Singapore and Japan, this year marks the first time a training program for Korean startups aiming for global expansion has been held at Google’s headquarters. In a survey of startups last year, the United States ranked first among desired countries for overseas expansion.
Fifteen selected startups are participating in this year’s program, including JamJam Therapeutics, developer of the rehabilitation therapy mobile game “JamJam400”; Moonis, developer of the AI-based sleep solution app “Nightly”; and iClue, developer of the AI home dental checkup app “Homden.”
All of these startups have global expansion as their goal, and they listened intently to every word from Google’s Head of U.S. Startup Accelerator.
After Ridernow’s lecture, questions poured in, such as: “Which startups are U.S. venture capitalists paying attention to?” “Do you absolutely need to have a U.S. headquarters to go global?” and “What other startup ecosystems exist in the U.S. besides Silicon Valley?”
Ridernow emphasized the need to have “a presence in the U.S.” and advised that “whether it’s a corporation or headquarters, having an entity in the U.S. makes market access easier.”
He also stressed that “even if a startup isn’t yet profitable, it must have growth potential,” and noted that “while Silicon Valley is dominant, there are many other startup markets, such as New York, Chicago, Austin, and Boulder (Colorado).”
“You will likely face a lot of rejections from investors in the beginning,” he said, “but you can still learn a lot. Find ways to improve and keep trying.” He added, “If you’re not enjoying the work, the journey itself could be a waste.”
Running until the 15th, this program includes sessions designed to provide practical assistance in entering the local market, such as analyzing the U.S. startup ecosystem and the app/game market, marketing strategies and monetization in the U.S. market, and networking with Silicon Valley investors and startups.