Even when describing the same space, some understand it easily while others picture something entirely different. This happens because while the designer visualizes the completed space in their mind, the client must imagine it solely through blueprints and explanations. What if we could reduce the misunderstandings and costs arising from this gap? Recently, his startup, Quorate, was selected for the 16th cohort of the Youth Startup Academy in Northern Gyeonggi, entering a full-scale commercialization stage.

Here is a student entrepreneur who aims to align perspectives on space through technology. We met Kim Do-kyung, CEO of Quorate—a startup that developed the XR/spatial AI platform 'CoSpace XR' and entered a full-scale commercialization stage after being selected for the 16th cohort of the Youth Startup Academy in Northern Gyeonggi.

Technology and Space: The Intersection of Two Majors

Student Kim Do-kyung (Computer Information Engineering, Class of '23) studies software and IT technology in the Department of Computer Information Engineering while double-majoring in Spatial Design and Consumer Studies. Development and spatial design may seem like entirely different fields at first glance, but through these two majors, he became interested in how technology can transform human experiences. This interest later served as a crucial foundation for his startup item.

From Campus Activities to Mentoring, and Mentoring to Entrepreneurship

He did not dream of starting a business from the beginning. It all started with "Like Lion at The Catholic University of Korea," one of the university's various project initiatives. "As I planned and created services in teams, I realized that the very process of contemplating user problems was enjoyable." It was also during this period that he met Oh Han-young (Theology/Computer Engineering), a fellow team member who currently co-operates Quorate.

His interest in entrepreneurship gained a concrete direction through a career mentoring program. By meeting mentor Kim Hyung-min, an alumnus from the Class of '10 at The Catholic University of Korea who works as an accelerator, he was introduced to the startup ecosystem of startups, investments, and accelerators for the first time. Later, invited by the mentor, he attended the IBK Changgong Demo Day. Meeting actual startup CEOs and investors there made him realize that entrepreneurship was not a distant story in the news, but a reality shaped by real people.

This experience quickly translated into action. Student Kim Do-kyung founded an on-campus startup club. He also moved into the Startup LAB, taking on the challenge of full-scale commercialization. Utilizing the commercialization funding provided by the Startup LAB and participating in the university's entrepreneurship classes and programs, he expanded his understanding of business model formulation and market validation. During this process, the advice from Assistant Professor Heo Kwang-young, the advisor of the startup club, was also a great source of strength.

Discovering the Real Problem from the First Revenue

He faced a turning point when he experienced his first actual revenue through a web development outsourcing project. While executing the project and communicating directly with clients, he discovered that there was a much larger gap in understanding than expected between the person designing the space and the person using it. In a structure where the designer had to explain and the client had to imagine, misunderstandings and unnecessary costs were repeatedly occurring.

Through the eyes of a developer, he saw an inefficient communication structure, and through the eyes of a Spatial Design and Consumer Studies major, he saw the difficulties users faced in understanding and making decisions about space. At the intersection of these two majors, he began searching for a solution. This contemplation led to 'CoSpace XR', an XR-based spatial design platform that helps both designers and clients understand the same space together.

University Support that Turned Dreams into Reality

The idea became more concrete through the university's entrepreneurship education and mentoring. In the Startup Adventure Design class, he validated the item and developed the business model with feedback from Professors Lee Jun-sung and Seong Jae-yeol. He also actively participated in mentoring sessions, startup fairs, startup camps, and follow-up support programs run by the Startup Support Foundation to enhance his commercialization capabilities.

As a result, Quorate was selected for the 16th cohort of the Youth Startup Academy in Northern Gyeonggi and is currently refining its market entry strategy through commercialization education and dedicated coaching. It was also finalized as one of the U300 Promising Student Startup Teams, growing into a representative student startup team of The Catholic University of Korea.

"I believe my current challenge is the accumulation of various experiences: the collaboration experience at Like Lion, the connection with an alumnus mentor met through career mentoring, activities at the startup club and the Startup LAB, advice from professors, and the diverse programs of the university's Startup Support Foundation." Student Kim Do-kyung reflected on his growth.

His challenge to solve real-world problems by utilizing two completely different majors demonstrates another potential for student entrepreneurship. Moving forward, he plans to combine his learnings from the Youth Startup Academy with on-site feedback to create a new experience that helps people look at the same space through the same eyes.