In 2019, I was still pondering my career path even while completing my first year of the Master of Entrepreneurship & Innovation program. In the second semester of 2019, I began thinking about entrepreneurship as a career path more seriously after winning E*5 KAIST, a startup competition at KAIST. The business I want to create is a comprehensive solution provider for children with developmental disabilities. Specifically, I am working on wearable devices such as vests with deep touch pressure that make wearer feel like they are being hugged, and applications connected to these devices. I looked up the many booths at CES to gather information about competitors and the industry. There were even more companies and startups than I expected, and I treasured every moment of the three days visiting all the booths and meeting as many people as I could.

I also visited booths for enterprises run by KAIST and KAIST alumni. I learned a lot from these entrepreneurs, who told me that although it was tiring to be at the booth explaining their products all day long, it was a great opportunity to promote them to the world. I found out that Koreans form the 3rd largest nationality group among CES participants. This shows the elevated status Korea has reached in the world. It made me proud to see crowds flocking to the Samsung and LG exhibitions. The LG displays in one corner of the hall were awe-inducing and drew an unending stream of visitors. Seeing the major corporations at LVCC, I was able to witness with my own eyes the never-ending process of technological innovation, and the numerous businesses around the world working to produce innovative products.

In contrast to LVCC, the Sands Expo featured many startups. The CEOs and their teammates introduced their businesses and discussed their development strategies with visitors. One Japanese company left an impression on me, presenting solutions for ADHD patients who have the tendency to avoid eye contact. They offered therapeutic devices using VR and animation to enable users to make eye contact, along with accompanying applications to provide custom solutions for various situations. I asked them about their plans for future development, and found they were devising an AI to automatically recommend the right solution for each situation. It really hit home that CES was a gathering of people who were constantly thinking about ways to develop their businesses.

Seeing these passionate enterprises and entrepreneurs from around the world gave me the courage to try it for myself. Before coming to CES, I was held back by a vague fear of going down the path of entrepreneurship. However, meeting these people who explained their ideas and vision with confidence to numerous people, doing their best in their chosen fields, filled me with the desire to start my own business as well. I was also filled with the desire to be at CES next year as part of a participating enterprise.

I also attended lectures by KAIST alumni in San Francisco, during which an alumni said something that struck a chord deep inside me. It was about the importance of taking on challenges. With trying comes the possibility of failure, but when you don’t even try, you will not fail but you will also never succeed. Based on my experience at CES, I will begin my journey to participate in CES next year as a startup, and someday exhibit at LVCC as a company representing Korea. I once again thank the KAIST Alumni Association for giving me this amazing opportunity and allowing me to experience CES, which gave me conviction in choosing the path of entrepreneurship.

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