Driving forces of Silicon Valley are various forms of networks. Not only is it the network of computers, but that of personal relationships as well. It is easy to observe that the common ground forcountries that were able to successfully foster start-up companies is that they utilized their global human network effectively. The concentration of capital and human resources in the United States made it possible for Silicon Valley start-ups to achieve phenomenal success and technological advancement. Taiwan's Hsinchu Industrial Park has successfully obtained foreign investment and recruited talented individuals, as well as introducing recent technological developments from the Taiwanese networks in Silicon Valley, while supporting the advancement of Taiwanese companies in the United States. India thrives from its immense network in Silicon Valley with the additional advantage of being an English-speaking country. Israel has recruited highly qualified workers from Russia while forming an international network in order to receive funding from the Jewish communities worldwide.
As can be seen from above, the Silicon Valley's habitat is based on the collective learning and competition among the best players in each field, conveying "a game of their own." For Korean start-ups to compete within that game, the roles of Korean Americans that possess knowledge of the Korean corporate culture are extremely important. This thesis studies the formation of ethnic networks in Korean start-up companies. It addresses the following problems: First, why is the ethnic network important, and what is the need for it? Second, what are the success factors for Chinese, Indian, and Israeli ethnic networks that contribute to the maintenance of the connection with Silicon Valley? Third, as a result of analyzing the Chinese, Indian, and Israeli ethnic networks' success, what can be induced as a desirable Korean ethnic network model?
To come up with the solutions to the research problems, research framework was first designed. After that, literature review, content analysis, case study, web surfing have been used to reach the outcome.
The results of this study could he summarized in three points. First, the study has found out that ethnic network plays an important role in building up human network. Second, the study has done an analysis of characteristics and models of Chinese, Indian and Israeli ethnic networks. Third, the analysis results have been applied to make Hybrid Model for the purpose of promoting global expansion of Korean start-ups through Korean ethnic networks.
Through the above study, this thesis suggests a Korean ethnic network model for start-up companies' global expansion which has not been studied intensively. Therefore, this thesis could present meaningful policy and managenial implications.
