1. Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Esther Kim and I’m a community manager. I have many roles as I run an accelerator program for early-stage startups. I build the programing at Braid Theory with our Vertically Integrated Venture Advisory (VIVA) model. This means our program advises startups from the ground up. What makes Braid Theory unique is our robust pedagogy, seasoned industry mentors, and our government partnerships. We are well trained to navigate global markets to create profitable collaborations between entrepreneurs and corporate partners. I would like to note that I’m an industry hire. I previously spent 7 years as a genetic engineer building the bioeconomy in the biomanufacturing sector.
2. In two sentences or less, describe how you participate in the startup ecosystem.
Braid Theory and I help accelerate early-stage startups go from the lab to the market. We strongly believe the pathway to commercialization can be profitable with collaboration from our global partnerships.
3. What are you currently reading right now and would recommend to others?
Currently, I’m reading The Art of Gathering- Priya Parker. It teaches how to gather with purpose and meaning. As a community leader, it’s important to build gathering frameworks and learn about the motivation behind each community member.
4. What makes you stay in the startup ecosystem?
I meet many startup entrepreneurs, and experiencing the struggle firsthand I recognize how difficult it is to actually “make it”. A large factor is the motivation to keep going, as there are many risks involved. I was inspired to create and gather a community of entrepreneurs that were going through similar difficulties. We gather to motivate, inspire, and collaborate. We share our success stories as well as our failed stories. It creates a very humanizing experience and is a driving factor to stay in the startup ecosystem for a long time.
5. What drives your passion for the startup ecosystem?
It all stems from my work at my first startup. I was using CRISPR tools to genetically engineer yeast to create a high-value chemical. In a matter of 2 months, I can manipulate genes in yeast to produce anything I want and hold the final product in my hands. This was very empowering. Since then we see the promise of synthetic biology changing the future sustainability and responsibly, we need to solve problems with biology.
6. Where do you see the startup ecosystem in 5 years?
My work with Braid Theory allows cutting-edge technology/startups to solve the world’s largest problems surrounding climate change and much more. We focus on accelerating startups in blue tech and its adjacencies.
The world may not know it, but climate tech, biotech, green tech, agtech, space tech, deep tech, etc… all apply to blue tech. It’s time to look for answers from the ocean. We hope that entrepreneurs develop enabling technologies to better our future for generations to come.
7. What is one of the best worthwhile investments you’ve ever made (could be financial, time, energy, etc.)?
Invest in people.
If COVID19 taught us anything, it would be that it is a basic human condition to connect with someone. An emerging trend I observed when we were put on strict mandates was that people were gathering online. We were connecting with friends and strangers alike on the internet. We created gaming communities, zoom happy hours, and streamed shows on Twitch. It was incredible to see how resilient humans are in a time when safety took precedence over meeting in person. As a social experiment, I opened my doors to host zoom happy hours, started my own podcast interviewing community leaders, and called people –Millennials find that phone calls are weird and rare, but always appreciate a friendly voice– that was mentally struggling or had lost a loved one. The results of the social experiment created a circular economy of giving and receiving. Invest in people because this is the best investment you will ever make.
8. What do you do to refocus yourself when you feel overwhelmed or unfocused?
1) Write down lists: macro-goals, micro-goals, things that make me happy/unhappy, priorities, key members, timelines… – This is great to untangle what is making you feel overwhelmed or unfocused. I tackle the list based on what’s easy vs what I drag my feet for.
2) I confide. If I’m lost I have close friends that are willing to help/advise me through my troubled times. Plenty of times I have made conclusions by talking to another person about my problems. It’s great to have cheerleaders and also to have people that will bluntly tell you like it is.
9. What’s one piece of advice you would give someone trying to break into the startup ecosystem?
Do your market research! Focusing on the problem that you’re trying to solve is more important than discovering what your customer wants. Shameless plug—if you’re developing a company in blue tech, you know who to call ;).
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