The Case Study of Google AI Startup School for Vitalizing Regional Startup Ecosystems

doi:10.22716/sckt.2026.14.3.003

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2026 Vol.14, Issue 3 Preview Page Next Page

Research Article

The Case Study of Google AI Startup School for Vitalizing Regional Startup Ecosystems 지역창업생태계 활성화를 위한 구글 AI 스타트업 스쿨의 참여 사례 분석: Suwon Choi¹, Kyeom Son¹, Dongha Kim², and Hanjin Lee³
최수원¹, 손겸¹, 김동하², 이한진³; ¹Research Assistant, School of AI Convergence, Handong Global University, Korea
²Research Assistant, School of Counselling Psychology & Social Welfare, Handong Global University, Korea
³Professor, Creative Convergence Education, Handong Global University, Korea

¹한동대학교 AI융합학부 학부생 연구원(RA), ²한동대학교 상담심리사회복지학부 학부생 연구원(RA), ³한동대학교 창의융합교육원 조교수

30 September 2026. pp. 33-49

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Abstract

본 연구는 지역 창업 교육의 하이브리드 모델로서 '구글 AI 스타트업 스쿨 경북 워치파티(Watch Party)'사례를 분석하였다. 창업 인프라가 서울에 과도하게 집중된 상황에서, 본 프로그램은 글로벌 온라인 세션과 지역 오프라인 네트워킹을 결합하여 이러한 격차를 해소하고자 했다. 6주 간 대학생 및 창업가 등 총 139명의 참가자를 대상으로 탐색적 혼합방법(mixed methods) 연구를 수행한 결과, 프로그램 만족도와 재참가 의향은 물론, 제미나이(Gemini)와 AI 스튜디오를 활용한 실습을 통해 기업가적 자기효능감에 대한 참여자의 인식이 향상된 것으로 나타났다. 특히 오프라인 네트워킹(평균 2.7개의 신규 관계 형성)은 참가자들의 지속적인 관심과 참여가 상대적으로 높게 나타났다. 본 연구는 글로벌 AI 도구를 활용한 민·관·학 협력 모델이 창업 생태계의 탈중앙화를 실현하고 지역 인재를 육성하는 데 효과적인 전략이 될 수 있음을 시사한다. 다만 단일 지역·단일 프로그램을 대상으로 한 탐색적 연구라는 점에서 결과의 일반화에는 신중한 해석이 요구된다.

This study analyzes the “Google AI Startup School Gyeongbuk Watch Party” as a hybrid model for regional startup education. While startup resources are heavily concentrated in Seoul, this program utilized a mix of global online sessions and local offline networking to bridge the gap. Using an exploratory mixed-methods design with 139 participants over six weeks, including students and entrepreneurs, the study found high satisfaction, a high re-engagement rate, and perceived gains in entrepreneurial self-efficacy through hands-on practice with Gemini and AI Studio. In particular, offline networking (forming an average of 2.7 new relationships) showed relatively high sustained interest and participation from participants. The study suggests that public-private-academic partnerships using global AI tools can effectively decentralize startup ecosystems and foster regional talent. As a single-case exploratory study, however, the findings should be generalized with caution.

Keywords

Google

Startup

Entrepreneurship

Startup ecosystem

Talent development

Gemini

References

Ministry of SMEs and Startups, Regional Statistics on Startup Firms, 2023.
J.H. Lee, “Number of University Student Entrepreneurs Rises 82% in the Capital Area, Only 19.9% in Non-capital Regions,” Korea University News, 2024.
Korea Institute of Startup and Entrepreneurship Development, Report on Fostering Leading Universities for Entrepreneurship, 2023.
Google for Startups, “Programs Overview,” 2025.
Amazon Web Services, “AWS Activate for Startups,” 2025.
Microsoft, “Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub,” 2025.
OECD, Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Diagnostics, OECD Publishing, Paris, 2025.
OECD, Regional Entrepreneurial Ecosystems, OECD Publishing, Paris, 2025.
R. Crotti, J. Potter, P. Shah, and E. Stam, “Data and Methods for Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Diagnostics,” OECD SME and Entrepreneurship Papers, No. 69, OECD Publishing, Paris, 2025.
10.1787/5173f4a2-en
D.J. Isenberg, “How to Start an Entrepreneurial Revolution,” Harvard Business Review, 2010.
H. Shin, J. Lee, and S. Kim, “Success Factors of Student Startups in Korea,” Journal of Korea Multimedia Society, Vol. 17, No. 11, pp. 1334-1342, 2014.
D.J. Isenberg, The Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Strategy as a New Paradigm for Economic Policy: Principles for Cultivating Entrepreneurship, Babson Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Project, 2011.
E. Stam, “Entrepreneurial Ecosystems and Regional Policy: A Sympathetic Critique,” European Planning Studies, Vol. 23, No. 9, pp. 1759-1769, 2015.
10.1080/09654313.2015.1061484
B. Wurth, E. Stam, and B. Spigel, “Toward an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Research Program,” Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Vol. 46, No. 6, pp. 1295-1335, 2022.
10.1177/1042258721998948
S. Lim and H. Lim, “An Exploratory Study on Human-AI Collaboration Types and Situational Transitions in the Generative AI Era,” Journal of Korea Multimedia Society, Vol. 29, No. 1, pp. 151-170, 2026.
10.9717/kmms.2026.29.1.151
AWS for Startups, “Resources for AI and Cloud Startups,” 2025.
Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning, Study on Institutional Improvement Measures to Promote AI Policy Implementation, Policy Research Report No. RES0220230111, 2023.
Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, Trends and Implications of Artificial Intelligence Applications in Social Security Administration, 2022.
J. Zhang, “A Process Model of Small Business Owner-managers’ Learning in Peer Networks,” Education + Training, Vol. 51, No. 8-9, pp. 635-652, 2009.
10.1108/00400910911005181
H.N. Onwuegbuzie, O.W. Agboola, and C. Iwumune, “Network-based Entrepreneurial Learning and Business Performance,” Academy of Management Proceedings, 2024.
10.5465/AMPROC.2024.18478abstract
OECD, Entrepreneurship at a Glance, OECD Publishing, Paris, 2022.
J.W. Creswell and V.L. Plano Clark, Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research, 3rd ed., SAGE Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA, 2018.
C.C. Chen, P.G. Greene, and A. Crick, “Does Entrepreneurial Self-efficacy Distinguish Entrepreneurs from Managers?,” Journal of Business Venturing, Vol. 13, No. 4, pp. 295-316, 1998.
10.1016/S0883-9026(97)00029-3
F. Liñán and Y.W. Chen, “Development and Cross-cultural Application of a Specific Instrument to Measure Entrepreneurial Intentions,” Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Vol. 33, No. 3, pp. 593-617, 2009.
10.1111/j.1540-6520.2009.00318.x
V. Braun and V. Clarke, “Using Thematic Analysis in Psychology,” Qualitative Research in Psychology, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 77-101, 2006.
10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Google for Startups, “AI Startup School with Seoul,” Program Page.
Google for Startups, “AI Startup School with Busan,” Program Page, 2025.
Y.W. Kim, “Busan City Operates ‘AI Startup School’ with Google: The Only Host City in Korea,” Asia Economic Daily, August 4, 2025.
J.W. Song, “Handong University Holds ‘AI Startup School–Gyeongbuk Watch Party’ Drawing Interest from Aspiring Founders,” Newsis, September 21, 2025.
R.K. Yin, Case Study Research and Applications: Design and Methods, 6th ed., SAGE Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA, 2018.

Information

Publisher :The Society of Convergence Knowledge
Publisher(Ko) :융복합지식학회
Journal Title :The Society of Convergence Knowledge Transactions
Journal Title(Ko) :융복합지식학회논문지
Volume : 14
No :3
Pages :33-49
DOI :https://doi.org/10.22716/sckt.2026.14.3.003

[1] Ministry of SMEs and Startups, Regional Statistics on Startup Firms, 2023.

[2] J.H. Lee, “Number of University Student Entrepreneurs Rises 82% in the Capital Area, Only 19.9% in Non-capital Regions,” Korea University News, 2024.

[3] Korea Institute of Startup and Entrepreneurship Development, Report on Fostering Leading Universities for Entrepreneurship, 2023.

[4] Google for Startups, “Programs Overview,” 2025.

[5] Amazon Web Services, “AWS Activate for Startups,” 2025.

[6] Microsoft, “Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub,” 2025.

[7] OECD, Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Diagnostics, OECD Publishing, Paris, 2025.

[8] OECD, Regional Entrepreneurial Ecosystems, OECD Publishing, Paris, 2025.

[9] R. Crotti, J. Potter, P. Shah, and E. Stam, “Data and Methods for Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Diagnostics,” OECD SME and Entrepreneurship Papers, No. 69, OECD Publishing, Paris, 2025.
10.1787/5173f4a2-en

[10] D.J. Isenberg, “How to Start an Entrepreneurial Revolution,” Harvard Business Review, 2010.

[11] H. Shin, J. Lee, and S. Kim, “Success Factors of Student Startups in Korea,” Journal of Korea Multimedia Society, Vol. 17, No. 11, pp. 1334-1342, 2014.

[12] D.J. Isenberg, The Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Strategy as a New Paradigm for Economic Policy: Principles for Cultivating Entrepreneurship, Babson Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Project, 2011.

[13] E. Stam, “Entrepreneurial Ecosystems and Regional Policy: A Sympathetic Critique,” European Planning Studies, Vol. 23, No. 9, pp. 1759-1769, 2015.
10.1080/09654313.2015.1061484

[14] B. Wurth, E. Stam, and B. Spigel, “Toward an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Research Program,” Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Vol. 46, No. 6, pp. 1295-1335, 2022.
10.1177/1042258721998948

[15] S. Lim and H. Lim, “An Exploratory Study on Human-AI Collaboration Types and Situational Transitions in the Generative AI Era,” Journal of Korea Multimedia Society, Vol. 29, No. 1, pp. 151-170, 2026.
10.9717/kmms.2026.29.1.151

[16] AWS for Startups, “Resources for AI and Cloud Startups,” 2025.

[17] Korea Institute of S&T Evaluation and Planning, Study on Institutional Improvement Measures to Promote AI Policy Implementation, Policy Research Report No. RES0220230111, 2023.

[18] Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, Trends and Implications of Artificial Intelligence Applications in Social Security Administration, 2022.

[19] J. Zhang, “A Process Model of Small Business Owner-managers’ Learning in Peer Networks,” Education + Training, Vol. 51, No. 8-9, pp. 635-652, 2009.
10.1108/00400910911005181

[20] H.N. Onwuegbuzie, O.W. Agboola, and C. Iwumune, “Network-based Entrepreneurial Learning and Business Performance,” Academy of Management Proceedings, 2024.
10.5465/AMPROC.2024.18478abstract

[21] OECD, Entrepreneurship at a Glance, OECD Publishing, Paris, 2022.

[22] J.W. Creswell and V.L. Plano Clark, Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research, 3rd ed., SAGE Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA, 2018.

[23] C.C. Chen, P.G. Greene, and A. Crick, “Does Entrepreneurial Self-efficacy Distinguish Entrepreneurs from Managers?,” Journal of Business Venturing, Vol. 13, No. 4, pp. 295-316, 1998.
10.1016/S0883-9026(97)00029-3

[24] F. Liñán and Y.W. Chen, “Development and Cross-cultural Application of a Specific Instrument to Measure Entrepreneurial Intentions,” Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, Vol. 33, No. 3, pp. 593-617, 2009.
10.1111/j.1540-6520.2009.00318.x

[25] V. Braun and V. Clarke, “Using Thematic Analysis in Psychology,” Qualitative Research in Psychology, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 77-101, 2006.
10.1191/1478088706qp063oa

[26] Google for Startups, “AI Startup School with Seoul,” Program Page.

[27] Google for Startups, “AI Startup School with Busan,” Program Page, 2025.

[28] Y.W. Kim, “Busan City Operates ‘AI Startup School’ with Google: The Only Host City in Korea,” Asia Economic Daily, August 4, 2025.

[29] J.W. Song, “Handong University Holds ‘AI Startup School–Gyeongbuk Watch Party’ Drawing Interest from Aspiring Founders,” Newsis, September 21, 2025.

[30] R.K. Yin, Case Study Research and Applications: Design and Methods, 6th ed., SAGE Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA, 2018.

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