(Chinese Version)

When it comes to Internet entrepreneurship in the mobile era, a lot of Chinese entrepreneurs also lay their eyes on mobile devices. In recent years, startups making mobile apps are becoming the winners in the Chinese market, yet this is all owing to the population advantage. Given the gigantic user base, apps are expanding at such a speed that numerous startup programs are transforming into platforms.

This might have something to do with the Chinese reality. At its initial stage, mobile Internet market appealed to urban demographic dividend, lending dreamy promises to Chinese businessmen that they could ‘do something big’. Though practical adaptation and user experience are always so-called priorities, quite a few start-up projects have ended up existing as huge, inclusive platforms that have no true characteristics to talk about. Is that the result simply of competition?

My latest experiences of attending an IT startup exhibition in South Korea tells me that the Korean entrepreneurs usually start from practical concerns. Their start-up projects mostly focus on the application of details and user experiences before making them into more professional apps, instead of platforms. This, I guess, is also related to their ‘realm’ mindset.

Of course, similar programs could also be found in China, yet most of which still indicate Korean fashion trends and cosmetic philosophy. It is beyond imagination how many Korean-style fashion and cosmetics programs there are in China.

Moreover, without such a large population base, startup projects in South Korea are less eager than its Chinese counterparts to pursue rocketing growth and speedy funding. As a result, they have expanded more vertically than horizontally.

Let’s take a look at several life-style projects to have more insights. Now you are about to ‘walk’ with me through various projects that are not technologically brainstorming - many VCs may consider them as ordinary or mediocre – but cater so perfectly to popular needs. Our purpose here is to entertain, enjoy and learn.

1. Connect with nature

Connected with a sensor, the app allows users to monitor their plants through phones by providing data like moisture and nutritional status, and suggestions like when to flower, fertilize, and sunbathe the plants.

Though it’s only a tiny app, the thoughtfulness may bring so much fun and joy for plant lovers in the office and make them feel like playing a Growing Game.

2. The lady’s private shoe shop

(I don’t know whether this beautiful young lady has gone through plastic surgery or not, but her nose is truly European-style.)

This is an app catered to ladies who need to buy and customize their shoes. By logging onto the mobile or PC app, users can design their own shoes using the modules and set their own shoe types, sizes, and even colors.

In other words, you can have a pair of shoes, entirely and absolutely, of your own. This is definitely appealing to female customers. Of course, as a vertical project, it only provides shoe customization for ladies.

The following presents two similar projects, one a suit customization app for ladies, and another for men. The styles are quite similar.

3. A combination of big data and sports

I really like this app. By relying on big data, it provides detailed information of all football players and games, making itself into a complete set of data app. It kind of feels like Football Manager that we used to play, only with a more sophisticated interface. 

For example, if you were watching a game, you would be able to check real-time scores and the game status, besides information about any other teams and players - how many games are won or lost, to what extent are the players suffering from injuries, how professional and athletic they are, whether they usually do well in attacks and defenses.

But this app is not to be used for gambling, mind you. While most Chinese sports apps are busy answering the call of becoming platforms by providing videos, what’s to be learnt from this tiny South Korean app is its pure contentment with being small and data-oriented in a rather modernistic-looking interface.

4. Professional translation service provider

Translation service provider on the Internet is not a rare thing, but a professional one is.

This app caters to business needs. It only provides professional translation that is capable of making cross-country contracts agreeable, of course at an expensive price.

It is therefore obvious that the South Korean startups mainly target high-end users, while the Chinese counterparts choose to provide popular services given the number of ordinary users.

5. Wristbands made in South Korea

Smart wristbands are also made in South Korea, but here’s the difference: South Koreans love to dress so fashionably that even the same wristbands need to come with different straps. This is not really something new but still reflects the startup characteristics of South Korea.

6. Cross-country business negotiation

This is a project similar with the professional translation service provider. It provides simulated business negotiations for cross-border enterprises. Though seemingly bizarre, it is said to have appealed to Samsung, LG and Hyundai.

The core of the service lies in its simulation of negotiations between senior business people amid challenging questions and needs of every conceivable kind. More importantly, it is delivered in the local language. However, this project has little to do with the Internet. It will be even more spectacular if the simulation is provided online through videoconference.

There are also several interesting projects to recommend, such as the following three in the photo:

The left one is an app dedicated to saving trafficked children. The one in the middle allows you to upload photos of your family banquet and swap families around the world to eat in a different country. For example, an Indian family may be invited to dine at a Korean family, and a Korean household may find themselves warmly received at a Beijing diner table. While the right one looks very much like the Chinese weather forecasting app, Moji, it is obviously cuter.

Though I’m only a passerby in the South Korean startup market, I hope the information I shared may bring some insights for the Chinese entrepreneurs. As a matter of fact, in a future where demographic dividends are decreasing, vertical and experience-based apps may thrive in the next round of Internet competition.

[The article is published and edited with authorization from the author @Zheng Kai, please note source and hyperlink when reproduce.]

Translated by Sharon Lee (Senior Translator at ECHO), working for TMTpost.