With over 26 years of experience in the IT and tech industry, Korean investor Baron Chang is a force behind the global expansion of startups, a sharp-eyed investor, and a mentor to some of today’s most promising entrepreneurs. As the founder of Baronglobal and a global business enabler at XPath, he’s been at the forefront of transformative trends—from the early mobile revolution with KAKAO to the AI-driven solutions. In this conversation, Baron shares his perspectives on the evolving startup ecosystem, the role of AI in shaping industries, the importance of cross-border collaboration, and what it truly takes to scale a startup from local to global.
Q.Using AI in Startups: How can a young startup know if it’s ready to use AI in its product or business?
AI is not just a way to work faster or improve some % of productivity, but it is a megatrend and paradigm shift transforming entire industry ecosystems. For early-stage startups, this change brings both unprecedented challenges and big opportunities.
To survive and make a sustainable growth, startups must stay updated on AI trends, test new tools, and apply AI where it fits. Building internal processes to learn from AI experts and apply their insights is also key. Most importantly, all the members should share an understanding of AI’s importance and work together to adapt to the big change.
Q. Going Global: What are the biggest hurdles tech startups face when trying to expand internationally—and how can they deal with them?
Each startup faces with different challenges, depending on its industry and stage of growth. Since every case is different, I try to provide tailored advice and solutions during mentoring or consulting after understanding the unique situation of the startup.
Having say that, one common challenge many startups face is to find the right local experts. Without strong local knowledge, it’s difficult to understand market needs, build trust, or deal with regulations. That’s why I always try to search for trustful local partners or advisors in the target market.
Q. What Investors Look For: As an angel investor, what do you look for when deciding whether or not to invest in a startup?
I mainly focus on the founding team, since I mostly invest in early-stage startups. Because opportunities to meet strong teams are limited, I often join angel groups or early-stage funds to connect with a wider range of founders.
When deciding whether to invest, I look for teams that move fast, adapt quickly, and are determined to build the best product. I’m also more likely to invest in teams where I can add value.
Q. Helping Startups Grow: How do you approach mentoring different kinds of startups, especially those in new or unfamiliar industries?
With experience leading projects across diverse industries, I have a solid understanding of most sectors. I’m especially confident when mentoring or consulting in the areas like edutech, digital healthcare, and safety solutions, where I have hands-on expertise.
In areas I’m less familiar with-such as biotech, for example-I try to focus on common challenges like IR, fundraising, go-to-market strategy, and team building, while relying on the founders’ deep industry knowledge for technical and domain-specific matters.
Q. Future of Edtech: Based on your experience with edtech, what new ideas or tools do you think will change how kids learn?
We’ve already seen how dramatically the COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the edtech landscape. The need for online and remote learning made tools like Zoom and Google Meet essential parts of everyday education.
Likewise, new technology like generative AI is expected to bring even greater and broader changes to the field. Especially in education, AI-powered tools will enable highly personalized learning experiences, adapting to each student’s pace, interests, and needs.
Q. Blockchain Today: You were active during the blockchain and ICO boom—how do you see that space today?
While the initial hype of the blockchain has cooled down, I know there are still some ongoing projects. Although I’m not currently investing in or directly engaged with any crypto projects, I continue to maintain connections within my blockchain network.
I believe that as blockchain-based technologies—such as cryptocurrency investments, NFTs, and immersive platforms like VR, AR, and XR—move closer to mainstream adoption, we will see another significant wave of growth in the blockchain space.
Q. Working Across Cultures: How do cultural differences impact how you build business partnerships around the world?
Understanding cultural differences with an open mind is key to global business success. What works in Korea may not work the same way in the U.S., Europe, or regions like Southeast Asia or the Middle East, where business customs and etiquette are different.
Success comes from adapting and building mutual respect for win-win partnerships, and trust is what matters most. Even simple gestures like greeting someone in their native language can help break barriers and start meaningful relationships.
Q. Staying Strong as a Startup: What traits help startups survive tough times and stay competitive?
In normal times, founders need to stay focused and keep trying different ways in one area until they succeed. But in tough times like now, it is just as important to be flexible and try new ways to help the company survive.
The most important thing is to take a balance between staying focused and being able to adapt to changing environments like this time.
Q. Tech to Watch: What new technologies should startups keep an eye on over the next few years?
While the importance of specific technologies may vary depending on a startup’s industry, size, or stage, I believe AI—especially generative AI—is the most fundamental technology that all startups should pay attention to.
As I mentioned earlier, even if a startup doesn’t need to apply generative AI immediately to transform its business model, it is essential to prepare for how generative AI could reshape the industry and solve business challenges.
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