Press Release July 03th, 2023

Epikar Selected for Government-Backed K-Startup Center Program​

Epikar, a company leading the digital transformation of automotive sales and distribution, announced on the 3rd that it has been selected as a beneficiary of the Korean government’s 2023 K-Startup Center (KSC) program.​ ​

​ ​ The K-Startup Center is a program operated by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups that supports promising Korean startups in expanding overseas. Startups aiming to enter eight startup-friendly countries—including the United States, France, and Vietnam—can receive support through partnerships with local accelerators, helping them connect with potential business partners and investors.​ ​

​ ​ To be eligible for the program, startups must have been established within the past seven years and have either a track record of domestic or international investment or export experience to the target country.​ ​

​ ​ Epikar was chosen for its strong evaluation as a startup pursuing digital transformation across all stages of automotive sales and distribution. The company has pioneered an online-to-offline (O2O) service model in the Korean automotive market.​ ​​

​ With this support, Epikar plans to accelerate its entry into the Vietnamese market. Working with program operators such as the Jeonbuk Center for Creative Economy and Innovation and Vietnam- based VSV Capital, the company will begin by conducting a proof-of-concept (PoC) project to test the implementation of its digital solutions with local automotive distribution partners.​ ​​

​ Han Bosuk, CEO of Epikar, stated, “We’ve been steadily pursuing expansion into the U.S. and Southeast Asian markets, and this government support comes at a perfect time. We’ll do everything we can to deliver tangible results in the Vietnamese market.”​ ​​

​ Epikar provides data-driven digital solutions (DMS: Dealer Management Solution) to streamline key aspects of automotive sales processes such as test drives and after-sales services. Despite advancements in ICT, many automotive sales operations remain largely offline and in-person. Epikar’s solutions aim to reduce costs and improve competitiveness by digitizing portions of these processes.​ ​

​ ​ Notable clients using Epikar’s solutions include BMW Korea and seven official BMW dealerships. The company is also preparing to expand into Southeast Asia, North America, and Europe in the near future.​