Y&Archer, an accelerator created by the founder’s experience
CEO Lee Ho-jae, who worked at a consulting firm, and CEO Shin Jin-ho, who worked at a venture capital (VC), were looking for a field where they could create synergy and came up with the answer of an accelerator. That is how they founded Y&ARCHER in 2015. Y&ARCHER has focused on discovering and investing in startups by combining consulting and venture capital (VC) experience. In particular, CEO Lee, who is starting his fourth business, is taking the lead in fostering and nurturing startups and building a healthy K-startup ecosystem with the know-how he has accumulated since he was a student.
Y&Archer values 'authenticity' as its core value. The CEO said, "I feel affection for startups that fail with sincerity." This means that we should not rely on government support. The CEO emphasized, "Being overly dependent on government subsidies is an act that undermines the soundness of the startup ecosystem," and "There may be trial and error in the process of running a startup, but at the very least, we should run the business with sincerity."
A strategy that connects the local and the global
Y&Archer does not simply discover startups in the region and then send them to the metropolitan area, but instead pursues a method of connecting startups that have grown in the region directly to the global market. Currently, Y&Archer is expanding nationwide, including Daejeon, Chungnam, and Chungbuk, and is in the process of establishing a separate subsidiary in the Gangwon region. Through this regional expansion, Y&Archer is discovering genuine startups in various regions and laying the foundation for them to advance into the global market.
Global expansion based in Thailand
Y&Archer chose Thailand as its first base for global expansion. In cooperation with the Thai government, it operates the 'Thai TIPS' program and invests in local startups. The Thai government also invests in the same proportion, supporting the growth of local startups. In addition, it is building a cooperation model that helps Korean startups enter Thailand and connects Thai startups with Korean technology.
Regarding the reason for choosing Thailand, the CEO explained, “It is a country with a structure that allows for investment recovery among Southeast Asian markets, and has high growth potential in the global market.” He also considered markets such as Indonesia and Vietnam, but decided that Thailand was the most suitable market. In addition to Thailand, he is currently considering entering the Japanese market, and plans to strengthen cooperation between Korean and Japanese startups through various opportunities such as the Osaka Expo.
A-Stream for Asian startups to expand globally
Y&Archer runs the 'A-Stream' program to send Asian startups to the global market. It started in Hong Kong and expanded to Guangzhou, Singapore, etc., and is currently operated in a closed demo day format. Korean and overseas investors are invited, and selected startups present, and through this, excellent startups are supported to gain opportunities in the global market.
The representative said, “Through A-Stream, startups can discover new paths, hear from investors, and have the opportunity to grow,” and “We will continue to focus on discovering competitive startups in the global ecosystem.” A-Stream played a key role in helping Y&Archer grow into Korea’s leading AC.
2025, Accelerated global and regional expansion and entry into the Japanese market
Y&Archer focuses on its essential role as an accelerator and is positioning itself as a key link in the global startup ecosystem beyond Korea.
Y&Archer plans to further accelerate its global and regional expansion. While strengthening its presence in the Thai market, it is also laying the groundwork for entering the Japanese market. In addition, it plans to continue its domestic regional expansion and discover more startups in areas lacking startup infrastructure.
The CEO expressed concern that the startup ecosystem in Korea is expected to face difficulties due to population decline. This means that expansion into the global market is even more essential. “We will continue to connect the local and global and create an environment where startups can continue to grow,” he added.
Y&Archer's approach is not limited to simply fostering startups, but focuses on creating competitive companies in the global market. It is expected that innovative attempts to connect the local and global will continue in the future. In addition, CEO Lee, who emphasized a humble attitude, plans to continue to discover genuine startups. It is expected that he will contribute greatly to creating a healthy Korean startup ecosystem by finding talents who can get back up even if they fall in the rough and tough startup market.
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