A temporary community for solo founders — serial entrepreneurs and rookies under one roof
Kakao Ventures will open /tmp Seoul, an immersive community workspace for founders, in September.
The venture capital firm announced Wednesday that /tmp Seoul will bring solo founders together in a shared space for a set period to build their products. The name draws from the "/tmp" temporary file directory in computer operating systems, reflecting the concept of a temporary community where founders work intensively on their products before moving on to the next stage, the company said.
The space will not operate as a live-in retreat. Instead, participants will gather during a defined period to work together during the day.
Kakao Ventures highlighted the composition of residents as one of /tmp Seoul's key strengths. The company said individuals who have founded startups or led technology organizations in Silicon Valley, as well as those who have grown companies to a meaningful scale and are now embarking on a new venture, have already committed to joining. Serial entrepreneurs are expected to share accumulated experience and decision-making frameworks, while rookie founders aim to energize their peers with sharp technical instincts and a willingness to experiment.
Kakao Ventures also cited "discipline" as a core pillar of /tmp Seoul — a structure designed to collectively remove distractions that hinder deep focus.
In practice, residents will hold a weekly "Ship Night" every Friday to share what they have built and validated. Regular retrospectives and weekly one-on-one check-ins will help participants sharpen their next goals. The community will also cultivate shared habits around physical health and lifestyle rhythm — exercising together and avoiding excessive drinking — with participants setting and upholding the rules themselves.
In addition, Kakao Ventures is partnering with OpenAI and Amazon Web Services to support residents' product development. Participants will have access to technology resources and credits from the partners, including ChatGPT and Codex subscriptions, API credits and technical workshops.
Exchanges with global founder communities and meetings with experienced entrepreneurs are also planned. Kakao Ventures said it is exploring ways to connect residents to international networks through partnerships with well-known overseas hacker houses. Related partnerships and support programs are set to expand over time.
Oh Young-taek will head /tmp Seoul's operations. According to Kakao Ventures, Oh previously served as a founding engineer at blockchain firm Hatch Labs and as an investment associate at Altos Ventures, gaining hands-on experience across both technology and investment. At /tmp Seoul, he will serve as community leader, shaping the early culture and fostering trust among participants.
Additional recruitment will target rookie founders. The company said it plans to prioritize candidates who can quickly define and validate problems and are willing to share experiences with peers.
"I want to build a space where solo founders feel they want to be — whether they are just starting out or taking on a new challenge," Oh said. "We will create a culture where participants can share each other's experiences and strengths while staying deeply focused on the problems that matter most to them."
chami@heraldcorp.com
