For stable company growth and increased competitiveness, “incubation” and “networking” are essential. In this regard, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Business Agency (SBA) grant the status of “High Seoul Company” to promising small and medium-sized enterprises, providing them with support. As of 2021, 985 companies have received this status.
The SBA primarily focuses on actively facilitating connections between promising startups and small businesses, helping them find compatible business models for collaboration. However, after the COVID-19 pandemic, traditional in-person networking formats faced numerous restrictions. To address this issue, the SBA created an online business platform called High Seoul V.C (Virtual Cluster)
On the High Seoul V.C platform, which unites all companies certified as High Seoul, anyone can access information about these enterprises and propose cooperation or partnerships. The platform is also available in English, making it easier for overseas buyers to connect. As an online platform, it is not limited by space or time — representing a new format of business cluster adapted to the post-COVID era.
In this context, IT DongA has prepared a series of materials featuring the voices of companies residing in High Seoul V.C.
In this edition, we met with SmartDongSchool, a company that leverages information and communication technologies to promote personal and social development.
Providing quality education for all is the mission of SmartDongSchool.
Na Jun Gyu, CEO of SmartDongSchool (provided by SmartDongSchool)
IT DongA: Nice to meet you. Could you please tell us a bit about SmartDongSchool?
Na Jun Gyu, CEO of SmartDongSchool (hereafter Na): “SmartDongSchool is an edutech company that supports personal and social development. We integrate information and communication technologies into education by creating various services and educational programs that make learning as engaging as playing a game. Our key services include platforms like ITDongSchool, JakyokDongSchool, YoungoDongSchool, and others offering courses. Recently, we developed and launched an international market app for time management based on big data — DoteTimer — as well as stationery products under the DotePlanner brand.”
IT DongA: What motivated you to found SmartDongSchool?
Na: “From my personal experience, I deeply realized the importance of education in society and decided to create an online platform so that anyone can learn anytime and anywhere. I was especially moved by the situation where socially vulnerable children lack access to quality education — this strengthened my resolve.
Currently, through government programs, we annually provide internet courses to thousands of children from vulnerable groups, and we regularly donate educational materials to charitable organizations such as ‘Beautiful Store’ and orphanages.”Scene from a SmartDongSchool meeting (provided by SmartDongSchool)
IT DongA: What are the key achievements of the company this year?
Na: This year, we have three notable successes. First — in April, we released the premium version of our global time management app, DoteTimer. This app offers two types of schedules that help users complete planned tasks within set times. It supports 18 languages, including Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, as well as Indonesian, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, and more. The premium version added new features such as a touch-controlled timer, data backup, plan date selection, customizable plan colors, a silent camera, and others.
Second — the DotePlanner series of planners was selected in June as a product of the “2021 Seoul Brand Partners” program. This is a joint branding project with the Seoul government, where companies and individuals create products using city symbols. Participants receive expert mentorship, business networking support, help with online and offline sales, and promotion in major Seoul media.
Finally, I want to highlight the launch of the iOS version of DoteTimer — a global time management platform designed to be used alongside DotePlanner. The app allows users to track time simply by flipping their smartphone. It is designed to help users focus on study or work and provides detailed statistics on concentration time across hours and days. Users can analyze their time habits, identify strengths and weaknesses, and improve productivity. Upon launching the iOS version, the premium edition was introduced simultaneously, offering advanced reports and full DoteTimer functionality available via annual or lifetime subscription.
YouTube video from SmartDongSchool promoting DotePlanner (source: SmartDongSchool)
IT DongA: What challenges did you face during the company’s growth, and how did you overcome them?
Na: The core business of SmartDongSchool is managing e-learning platforms, and the biggest difficulty was attracting partners: teachers, courses, and educational content providers. Few companies were willing to provide content to a young startup.
At the beginning, we had very few users, so no revenue, and we were on the brink of shutting down. During that period, we received a call from Samsung proposing a collaboration. At first, I thought it was a marketing call and hung up immediately, but the calls kept coming. After a personal meeting with Samsung staff, I realized it was a serious offer. We participated in developing an educational app for Samsung smartwatches, and on the launch day of the watches, SmartDongSchool was introduced alongside companies like Naver and Kakao.
We also collaborated with Google Korea. At first, we thought a call from Google was just marketing as well. But Google was closely monitoring our developments and showed real interest.
Collaborating with large companies was not easy, but thanks to these partnerships, we gained industry attention and expanded our number of partners.
IT DongA: What are your plans and strategies for expanding markets and sales channels?
Na: Our main market is domestic education, but we plan active expansion overseas, providing educational apps and solutions. The DoteTimer app is already available on Google Play and the Apple App Store and has gained 100,000 downloads within a year. The joint product DotePlanner was produced via crowdfunding on platforms WADIZ in Korea and Makuake in Japan. Now we are also presenting our services on international platforms like Shopee and eBay and continue actively seeking overseas partners to expand sales. Recently, we even held presentations and investment pitches (IR) for companies like Tencent in China.
Time management app DoteTimer (provided by SmartDongSchool)
IT DongA: You received the High Seoul Company certification. How does this benefit your company?
Na: We were selected as a High Seoul Company in 2018, and since then, we have been able to participate in various programs that have contributed to our company’s growth. This has especially helped improve our internal and external image, increase sales, and expand our business through direct and indirect connections. In this era of impersonal interactions, we place great hopes on the High Seoul V.C. platform. We hope that through this platform, we will meet many partners both domestically and internationally and gain new opportunities for collaboration.
IT DongA: What are your future plans and goals?
Na: Currently, SmartDongSchool is developing around three key areas: big data, artificial intelligence, and globalization. We are working on a project related to AI coaching and management through the DoteTimer app. Additionally, in the second half of this year, we plan to add new unique features to the app, such as integration with social networks, support for smartwatches, and optical character recognition (OCR).
Scene from a SmartDongSchool meeting (provided by SmartDongSchool)
