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Category
- 🎤 Event Review
Date of issue
May 13, 2026
One of the keywords frequently heard in the startup ecosystem these days is the Venture Studio model.
The Invention Lab is also expanding its role as a traditional accelerator to a form where it directly validates ideas and builds businesses together.
We are preparing a venture studio model.
We are preparing a venture studio model.
If you are curious about the concept of a venture studio, you might want to refer to the post below.
As a first step in this direction, The Invention Lab planned the FOUNDERS' LEAGUE: 01 program.
We conducted recruitment for about a month starting from the end of last March for a program to find F&B startup teams that will build together from idea validation to investment and brand launch.
We were worried about whether many people would be interested since the Venture Studio model might be unfamiliar, but as a result of the recruitment, a total of over 120 teams applied.
They provided the necessary information, and following internal and external evaluations, the final 9 teams were selected. As these teams were selected after overcoming a competition rate of approximately 10:1 , each team possesses
There were also high expectations for the idea and the product.
They provided the necessary information, and following internal and external evaluations, the final 9 teams were selected. As these teams were selected after overcoming a competition rate of approximately 10:1 , each team possesses
There were also high expectations for the idea and the product.
This serves as an opportunity for the selected teams to directly introduce and share their business items, as well as for the teams, internal and external judges, and stakeholders to freely
We have started operating Meetup Day as a networking venue for interaction.
We have started operating Meetup Day as a networking venue for interaction.
🧑🍳 Tasting time with selected companies
Usually, when hosting IR events or meetup days, the format mostly involves listening to presentations from selected teams and networking. However, since this program features teams selected with a focus on F&B, we prepared it in a slightly different way. This is because we believe that tasting the food firsthand leads to a much deeper understanding of the brand and products.
Therefore, before the main event began, we arranged time for participants to freely sample each team's products. Made with soybean pulp.
There was a truly wide variety of products available, ranging from soup and bean pesto to grilled pork intestines, pig's trotters, pizza, and coffee.
There was a truly wide variety of products available, ranging from soup and bean pesto to grilled pork intestines, pig's trotters, pizza, and coffee.
Participants took the time to taste foods from various fields and share stories about each other's products. Details regarding the raw materials and manufacturing processes, the target consumer base, and the branding direction each company pursued were naturally shared, leading to a " time of gastronomic exchange" that went beyond simple tasting.🙂
Following the tasting, presentation sessions continued, divided into two parts, where attendees could hear directly about each company's products and brand stories.
Below, we would like to briefly introduce the 9 companies finally selected for this program.
Below, we would like to briefly introduce the 9 companies finally selected for this program.
Sempero (Makchang Index)
As a manufacturer of convenience foods specializing in direct-fire processed meat, our main products are pork intestines and boneless chicken feet that can be cooked in a microwave in about 3 minutes.
A premium processed meat convenience food brand that captures restaurant-quality direct-fire flavor in a simple cooking method, such as beef tripe hot pot.
In particular, promoting 'high quality, trust, and innovation' as core values, HMR products that allow you to easily enjoy restaurant-quality taste at home
Presenting
A premium processed meat convenience food brand that captures restaurant-quality direct-fire flavor in a simple cooking method, such as beef tripe hot pot.
In particular, promoting 'high quality, trust, and innovation' as core values, HMR products that allow you to easily enjoy restaurant-quality taste at home
Presenting
🏆 Recent Achievements
2025/11/10 YouTube Hong Seok-cheon & Lee Won-il Product Introduction Appearance History
2026/01/02 Oh My Company Funding Project Open
2026/03/02 Achieved Smart Store Seller Rank 'Big Power'
March 31, 2026 Final Acceptance and Agreement for the 16th Cohort of the Youth Entrepreneurship Academy Ansan Main Campus
Not Bad Coffee
As a brand transforming the saturated café market into a new lunch platform by combining meal-style sandwiches and specialty coffee models, it is securing both high profitability and scalability through a small-store-based, high-efficiency operating system and automated coffee solutions.
🏆 Recent Achievements
Average sales grew by approximately 400% within 2.5 months of introducing sandwiches at the Dosan test store from February to May 2026.
Not Bad Coffee & Sandwich Opens in February 2026
2025–2026: Conducting pop-up and collaboration projects with global brands such as Gucci, Nike, BTS, and Chanel
Layer Lab
Food tech combining premium senior care food based on the International Digestive Disorders Inhibitory Suppression (IDDSI) with SaaS for nursing facility administrative automation.
The company's core product is a melting dessert designed for easy swallowing, targeting nursing facilities, daycare centers, general guardians, and public institutions as core customers.
The company's core product is a melting dessert designed for easy swallowing, targeting nursing facilities, daycare centers, general guardians, and public institutions as core customers.
🏆 Recent Achievements
Moved into Baemin Startup Square from February 2026 to September 2027
November 2025 – January 2026 Gyeonggi Market & Commercial District Promotion Agency Small Business Youth Entrepreneurship Academy Youth Entrepreneurship One-Step 3rd Cohort
Selected for the 13th Cohort of the Gyeonggi Youth Food Startup Hub, Gyeonggi Market & Commercial District Promotion Agency (October–December 2025)
Y-Starb
As a franchise specializing in high-protein salads and protein boxes, the brand message is a hearty high-protein meal stemming from the question, “Why should I go hungry?”
is being put forward as a slogan
Its flagship product is the Protein Box, positioned as a high-protein healthy food closer to a lunchbox than a salad, and it is a rapidly growing brand alongside the spread of protein-centered diet trends.
is being put forward as a slogan
Its flagship product is the Protein Box, positioned as a high-protein healthy food closer to a lunchbox than a salad, and it is a rapidly growing brand alongside the spread of protein-centered diet trends.
🏆 Recent Achievements
Full-scale franchise business launch in June 2025
Operating a total of 10 stores, including 3 company-owned stores and 7 franchised stores, as of April 2026.
As an instinctual tribe
A dining brand equipped with both a highly efficient operational structure based on small stores and differentiated menu competitiveness, featuring small stores of approximately 9 pyeong.
Based on this standard, operational efficiency can be increased to simultaneously manage dine-in operations, meal kit production, and delivery. In terms of the menu, 'Mala Jokbal'
Securing competitiveness through differentiated signature menus
Based on this standard, operational efficiency can be increased to simultaneously manage dine-in operations, meal kit production, and delivery. In terms of the menu, 'Mala Jokbal'
Securing competitiveness through differentiated signature menus
🏆 Recent Achievements
Demonstrates high competitiveness in terms of profitability by maintaining a net profit margin in the mid-30% range from January to March 2026.
Recorded a net profit margin of approximately 30% along with stable sales performance from April to December 2025.
Biz Soup Bar
A soy pulp-based wellness convenience food brand that opened in Seongsu in March 2026, whose core product utilizes soy pulp, a food byproduct
Selling high-protein, high-fiber meal soups
The brand direction is warm, Korean-based K-wellness food, an alternative to cold and light salad-centered wellness diets.
Selling high-protein, high-fiber meal soups
The brand direction is warm, Korean-based K-wellness food, an alternative to cold and light salad-centered wellness diets.
🏆 Recent Achievements
2026/03/13 Biz Soup Bar Seongsu Branch Officially Opens
As of April 2026, approximately 6,300 Instagram followers +
A Twelve pop-up is scheduled for House of Shinsegae Cheongdam in June 2026 , and discussions are underway for a store opening at Shinsegae.
Pobangteo Hansang
A D2C Korean HMR and sauce brand based on rice koji fermentation, featuring a dining brand experience that started as a young merchant in a traditional market in 2019.
Developed based on (Pobangter Jjukkumi).
Currently, the Korean HMR lineup, centered on an all-purpose sauce utilizing traditional rice koji-fermented paste, includes stir-fried baby octopus, marinated duck, and spicy pork stir-fry.
It is expanding and pursuing a transition beyond its existing restaurant-centric structure into a manufacturing, online distribution, B2B, and global sauce brand.
Developed based on (Pobangter Jjukkumi).
Currently, the Korean HMR lineup, centered on an all-purpose sauce utilizing traditional rice koji-fermented paste, includes stir-fried baby octopus, marinated duck, and spicy pork stir-fry.
It is expanding and pursuing a transition beyond its existing restaurant-centric structure into a manufacturing, online distribution, B2B, and global sauce brand.
🏆 Recent Achievements
2024 Minister of SMEs and Startups Award Winner
Based on data from the Grand Prize winner at the 2024 Korea Healing Food Exhibition
Establishment of Pobangter Hansang Co., Ltd. on August 11 , 2025
Selection of 2025 Strong Small Business Lifestyle Types and Online Seller Types
Selected as a 2026 Agri-Food Venture Enterprise, Selected for the TOPS Program (Online Brand Small Business Development Project)
Baesol (Raccoon Pizza)
Raccoon Pizza is a pizza franchise that combines differentiated taste and brand experience, based on handmade salted butter dough prepared fresh daily.
A complex brand strategy that goes beyond a simple delivery-only pizza brand by establishing character IP and a structure combining delivery and dine-in operations compared to competitors.
It is expanding and currently operates a total of 8 stores including Jamsil, Sangam, Wirye Starfield, Konkuk Univ., Cheongna, Mapo Station, Geoyeo, and Incheon Samsan.
A complex brand strategy that goes beyond a simple delivery-only pizza brand by establishing character IP and a structure combining delivery and dine-in operations compared to competitors.
It is expanding and currently operates a total of 8 stores including Jamsil, Sangam, Wirye Starfield, Konkuk Univ., Cheongna, Mapo Station, Geoyeo, and Incheon Samsan.
🏆 Recent Achievements
By 2025, revenue is expected to grow by approximately 252% year-over-year, and operating profit is expected to increase by more than 100 times.
Paradis
As a premium K-Noodle-based meal kit & dining brand, drawing on fusion dining experiences in Seongsu-dong, it features local ingredients from Gangwon-do and
We are introducing HMR products that reinterpret traditional fermentation and umami elements in a modern way.
Representative products include 'Perilla Oil Tare Soba' and 'Mala XO Soba' , and in addition to operating offline dining spaces, online sales,
Expanding business areas through department store pop-ups, B2B special sales, and food manufacturing consulting.
We are introducing HMR products that reinterpret traditional fermentation and umami elements in a modern way.
Representative products include 'Perilla Oil Tare Soba' and 'Mala XO Soba' , and in addition to operating offline dining spaces, online sales,
Expanding business areas through department store pop-ups, B2B special sales, and food manufacturing consulting.
🏆 Recent Achievements
After June 2025
Ranked 1st in overall pop-up sales at a department store during the same period, achieving over 30 million KRW in revenue over a 7-day event and recording a maximum daily sales of 800 units.
Ranked 1st in overall pop-up sales at a department store during the same period, achieving over 30 million KRW in revenue over a 7-day event and recording a maximum daily sales of 800 units.
July 2025 Launch of Mara XO Soba and Perilla Oil Tare Soba
2025/01 Paradisoba Gift Set initial holiday season stock of 400 sets sold out, total product sales quantity 1,600+
Oji Cross
As Korea's first bakery brand specializing in Hot Cross Buns, this is a small-scale takeout brand located near train stations that reinterprets Australia's representative bakery menu, the Hot Cross Bun, to suit the tastes of Korean customers.
In particular, targeting the 2030 customer base, we are showcasing products and branding optimized for photo and video-centric consumption trends, and are eliciting a strong customer response in actual operations, such as selling out within three hours.
In particular, targeting the 2030 customer base, we are showcasing products and branding optimized for photo and video-centric consumption trends, and are eliciting a strong customer response in actual operations, such as selling out within three hours.
📍 Others
🏆 Recent Achievements
Discussions in progress for The Hyundai Seoul Pop-up in June 2026
Discussions in progress for Lotte World Mall pop-up in August 2026
Festa
As a domestic soy-based wellness food brand, its core product is low-sugar, high-protein pesto made from domestic soybeans, and the brand direction is domestic soybeans
We aim to become a brand of premium wellness sauces, spreads, and desserts for everyday consumption.
The main products are green soybean basil pesto, black soybean seaweed pesto, yellow bean cumin pesto, tiger bean red pesto, and truffle cowpea pesto.
Consists of
We aim to become a brand of premium wellness sauces, spreads, and desserts for everyday consumption.
The main products are green soybean basil pesto, black soybean seaweed pesto, yellow bean cumin pesto, tiger bean red pesto, and truffle cowpea pesto.
Consists of
🏆 Recent Achievements
Popup operation at Lotte Mall Suji, AK Plaza Bundang, and Shinsegae South City Gangnam from December 2025 to April 2026
July 2025 Brand Launch
Selected for the 2025 New Business Startup Academy and Outstanding Graduates
This Meetup Day was more than just a venue to introduce products and businesses; it was a place to directly experience each other's brands and directions and to share stories. Moving forward, the nine selected teams will undergo internal screening and review processes before receiving support through investment and acceleration programs to facilitate actual business growth.
In addition, starting with the first cohort of the Founders' League, The Invention Lab brings early-stage brands and startup teams closer to the market and customers
We will continue to plan various venture studio programs and activities to verify and create practical growth opportunities.
It is scheduled. We ask for your continued interest and support for our upcoming journey.😎
We will continue to plan various venture studio programs and activities to verify and create practical growth opportunities.
It is scheduled. We ask for your continued interest and support for our upcoming journey.😎
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