ANTLER Time
Time Is Given Equally to Everyone
I have just completed Phase 1 at Antler. On March 6, 2023, I started this journey with 77 fellow entrepreneurs in Antler’s second cohort. Over two and a half months, 21 teams were formed, and as of yesterday, we wrapped up this intense phase. Next week, the final investment decisions will be announced. Regardless of the outcome, I want to reflect on this period.
Time passed the same inside and outside of Antler, but the value of that time was undeniably different. In most workplaces, fewer than 10% of employees are truly proactive and passionate. But here, 99% of the participants were highly driven entrepreneurs, creating an energy so overwhelming that it was hard to keep up. If you experience this firsthand, you’ll realize that while time is given equally to everyone, the value of time depends on where you stand. I can’t capture all of this experience, but I’d like to share a few key moments.
It’s Not a Problem; It’s a Phenomenon
At Antler, two key activities dominated the early days: Idea Sprints and Bootcamps. Idea Sprints were half-day sessions focused on defining a problem and presenting a simple solution and business model on a single page. Bootcamps lasted a full day and required teams to prepare investor pitch decks as if presenting in an actual IR session. The core lesson? Problem definition is everything. Without a clear problem, solutions, business models, and market strategies lack conviction.
In the beginning, I didn’t even know how to define a problem. I listed multiple issues, seeking validation from Minji, an Antler coach. When she finally responded, “Yes, this is a problem,” I felt an immense sense of relief.
One defining moment came when Saeun, an Antler partner, interrupted a team’s presentation. She pointed at the screen and said, “Everyone, this is not a problem. This is just a phenomenon. You must distinguish between problems and mere observations.” That statement became the biggest catchphrase of Antler’s second cohort. From then on, whenever someone proposed a problem, others would challenge them, saying, “That’s not a problem — it’s just a phenomenon!” This simple but powerful insight sharpened our problem definitions.
Understanding Myself Comes First
During the early days at Antler, we had countless coffee chats with fellow participants to find compatible co-founders. My first coffee chat was with Jaewoo, who shared his belief that understanding the world starts with understanding oneself. Initially, I found this philosophical yet idealistic.
I had always dreamed big — my Brunch blog title was “Dreaming of World Domination.” My only filter for startup ideas was whether they could scale globally. I wasn’t interested in introspection like Descartes. So, when I decided to work on a webtoon-related startup, my reasoning was simple: webtoons were globally popular, and the idea had strong demo-day appeal. But I soon realized my shallow knowledge of the industry made it impossible to solve meaningful problems in that space.
When I contemplated pivoting, Ha Kyung, an Antler partner, advised, “Junho, if you analyze yourself deeply, you might uncover a problem that aligns with your true motivations.” That conversation led me to start writing on a whiteboard, analyzing what truly drove me as an entrepreneur. This process eventually led to Cliwant, an RFP analysis tool — a concept I wouldn’t have reached without first understanding myself. Months later, I finally grasped what Jaewoo meant: to understand the world, you must first understand yourself.
Don’t Give Up — You Can Do This
Our team’s Investment Committee (IC) pitch was scheduled for May 16 at 1 PM. Cliwant had received positive feedback internally and externally. Antler partners had reassured us that we were doing well, and even external advisors praised our team as one of the most compelling they had seen. With such validation, I felt confident — until four days before the pitch, everything fell apart.
May 11 (Thursday)
- 6:40 PM — My co-founder informed me he could no longer continue due to personal reasons.
- 7:00 PM — Saeun told me that solo founders couldn’t proceed to the IC pitch — I had until the weekend to find a new co-founder.
- 7:30 PM — 12:30 AM — Desperately, I contacted and even visited four trusted friends, all of whom were well-paid professionals. Convincing them to leave their high salaries for a risky startup with an overnight decision deadline was impossible. I received four rejections.
During those five hours, I rode subways and buses, praying and repeating to myself: “Junho, don’t give up. It’s not over. You can do this. You can do this.” Each rejection felt like a punch to the gut, but I kept whispering, “I can do this.”
May 12 (Friday)
- In the morning, Antler partner Jaehui checked in. I admitted, “Everyone rejected me. External hires need more time to decide, so today, I’ll focus on convincing someone from within Antler.” I had two candidates in mind: Jaewoo and Seungdo. If neither joined, I had no backup plan.
- That afternoon, I met them both. They asked for a day to decide. All I could do was wait.
May 13 (Saturday)
- 12:30 AM — Jaewoo sent a heartfelt message. He genuinely wanted to join but felt unprepared for entrepreneurship. I completely understood, but my heart sank.
- 5:00 PM — I met Seungdo. After an hour-long discussion, he agreed to join. Less than 24 hours before the deadline, Cliwant was back in the game. I immediately informed Saeun. The three-day co-founder crisis was over.
Dad, Present It to Me
On May 15 (Monday), the night before the IC pitch, exhaustion caught up with me. I struggled to rehearse — my mind kept blanking. Admitting defeat, I told Seungdo, “I need a break. I’ll go home, shower, and reset.”
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At home, my 10-year-old daughter unexpectedly approached me and said, “Dad, present it to me. I’ll listen.”
I was taken aback but humored her. I connected my laptop to the TV and simplified my pitch. Instead of “RFP analysis tool,” I called it “homework helper.” As I explained each slide, my pitch became clearer, jargon disappeared, and I found a natural flow.
After my presentation, my daughter gave the best feedback I’ve ever received: “Dad, presentations shouldn’t be boring. Make people laugh, and add animations to your slides.” Her advice transformed my approach.
Breaking the Stage
I had openly told people I wanted to “break the stage” during my IC pitch. I prepared meticulously, not to impress others, but to hold myself accountable.
On May 16 (Tuesday), just before my pitch, Jaehee reminded me: “Junho, today’s the day to break it.” I stepped into the room without nerves — I had zero regrets. I delivered my pitch with conviction, maintaining eye contact with the investors.
Did I truly “break the stage”? I don’t know. But I entered with the right mindset, and I walked away with no regrets. That was enough.
Antler Time Moves Backward
At Antler, time felt reversed. Though I was the oldest participant at 44, I never felt it. Spending time with ambitious, driven founders made me forget my age. Reflecting on this, I feel proud — because years ago, I had promised myself that even at 60, I would still be a “startup entertainer.” I’m keeping that promise.
Regardless of next week’s results, I know this: we will rise again. Thank you, Antler, for an unforgettable journey.
If you want ordinary time, live by Korean Time. If you want extraordinary time, live by Antler Time.
