Mindle Maum is a social venture that started its business in 2019 as a club based on the UOS Start-Up support program. It focuses on improving the quality of life of seriously ill children and their families. The president of Mindle Maum, Son Yu-rin (School of Business Administration, ’17), said that the experience of volunteering for seriously ill children at the Seoul National University Hospital in the summer of 2018 inspired this venture. He said, “I considered what activities can be helpful for the sick children in the long-term. Thus, I wanted to create a business model that makes a profit based on the creation by participating seriously ill children firsthand.”

Mindle Maum started a painting class wherein such children participated and painted their own pictures. Based on these paintings, Mindle Maum creates characters and produces general goods. For example, they sell merchandise that can highlight these characters well, such as cell phone cases, keyrings, stickers, postcards, and cups. Mindle Maum helps children by donating a share of their profits to the hospital. They will soon be launching a project to produce and donate toys, named “Mindle-le Kit,” for such children.

He said that the UOS Start-Up program assisted Mindle Maum in the initial phase. “I drew up a business plan for two months and got through the documentation and presentation stages. Then, I received support from the program in 2019.” UOS Start-Up constantly conducts contests to select promising start-up clubs. It provides the chosen club with a place to work and materials, offers support funds as well as provides basic education to start-up clubs. “Mindle Maum became a social venture after registering the business. However, Mindle Maum still receives assistance from the university.” The venture’s office is located on the Cheong-nyeon UP Platform (The Youth UP Platform, in English),” which is a facility established as part of the Seoul Campus Town Project to support start-ups.

Despite all the support, running a business as university students is difficult because simultaneously balancing business and study can be a struggle. “There was a big shift in the composition of the members due to the academic reasons in 2020. Business meetings and exams often overlapped, so I had to choose one of them. Also, because I am a student, the value of the business was easily disparaged.” Nevertheless, he claimed to have felt rewarded when Mindle Maum was able to provide support to the children’s hospital. “There are not many things to play within the hospital. Mindle Maum is developing toys for seriously ill children and contributes to the children’s hospital. I feel proud when I receive thanks from them.”

University of Seoul (UOS) engages in various activities to support young people’s start-ups. Thanks to their activities, there are also many start-ups that began as a UOS club. If the students wish to contribute to society like Mindle Maum does, actively using the UOS Start-Up program would be a good start. “I received great help from the members of UOS in business. Therefore, I try to give back as much as I received.”