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도연 User

@user273

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Founder and brand strategist combining market research with product and creative direction.

South Korea

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What I'm looking for

I’m looking for a startup role where I can lead brand-to-product strategy—using market research, customer insights, and cross-functional execution to grow user value, shape positioning, and ship experiences end-to-end.

I’m a startup-minded founder and brand strategist who turns market research into clear positioning, customer value, and actionable next steps. I’ve worked across Seoul, Boston, and Vietnam, bringing an international lens to brand building and go-to-market decisions.

At Kakao Ventures, I contributed to early-stage consumer brand evaluation through product testing and market research, and I generated investor-ready insights via weekly trend briefings. In parallel, I’ve shaped brand direction through roles including brand lead work on a Gen Z self-exploration chatbot and creative direction-style brand storytelling for audience-facing experiences.

I build end-to-end experiences: from brand universe and interaction design to operational customer journeys. I led cross-functional execution to align concept, creative briefing, and prototype delivery, and I’ve designed service guidelines to protect consistency and premium user experience.

From founding and co-founding ventures to leading teams, I’m especially energized by consumer and community growth—validated through surveys, interviews, and prototype testing. I like moving fast, staying customer-centered, and using data to sharpen both product and narrative.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Guest Experience & Property Operations

My Blooming Stay

Sep 2025 - Dec 2025 (3 months)

Monitored property performance metrics and adjusted pricing and reservation policies, contributing to strong occupancy and booked nights. Designed the end-to-end guest journey by building communication templates and coordinating external communication with filming agencies for K-drama and Japanese reality dating show projects.

Performance Metrics Guest Journeys Comms Templates Coordination Vendor Management OTA Performance (Airbnb)

Investment Intern

Kakao Ventures

Jul 2025 - Dec 2025 (5 months)

Evaluated 60+ early-stage consumer brands and startups using product testing and market research to identify positioning and consumer value insights. Curated weekly consumer trend briefings for investors and supported selections for startups advancing to final-round review.

Product Testing Market Research Brand and Product Positioning Consumer Insights Trend Analysis

Brand Lead

InnerView

Mar 2025 - Aug 2025 (5 months)

Built the brand universe and character identity for a Gen Z self-exploration chatbot, shaping tone of voice, storytelling flow, and interaction design. Produced brand assets with Image/Video/Sound AI tools and led cross-functional creative execution across concept, briefing, and prototype delivery.

Brand Identity Character Design Storytelling Interaction Design AI Tools Video Tools Cross Functional Execution Creative Briefing Prototyping

Content Creator

Achief, Threads

Jan 2025 - Mar 2025 (2 months)

Created a Threads channel for ambitious young women seeking direction in their 20s, translating personal startup and abroad living experiences into content. Shaped the channel’s brand identity, achieved high organic reach, and outlined the path toward a community-led D2C brand.

Social Media Content Creation Brand Identity Organic Growth Storytelling Audience Engagement D2C Community Building

Team Lead

BConnect, Boston Startup Team

Aug 2024 - Nov 2024 (3 months)

Led a 5-person multicultural team from customer interviews to prototype testing. Refined the launch strategy by shifting the initial target to student clubs, using tests with 45 students to measure adoption intent and UI/UX satisfaction, and the project won first place in a pitch competition.

Prototyping Launch Strategy Strategic Targeting User Testing Adoption Intent Validation

Founder

Style Coach

Aug 2022 - Jan 2023 (5 months)

Built an online-to-offline styling service for Korean male professionals, focusing on premium and personalized customer experience. Refined brand positioning via benchmarking and Meta ad campaign testing, and operationalized the service by onboarding stylists and establishing service guidelines.

Positioning Benchmarking Meta Ads Customer Experience Design Service Operations Onboarding Online to Offline Service Design

Co-Founder, Product Manager

Bankidz

Mar 2022 - Aug 2022 (5 months)

Developed early customer and product strategy using 80+ surveys, child interviews, and expert interviews to identify drivers of motivation and engagement. Created parent/child content and segmented Kakaotalk CRM flows, then led a product redesign with an 8-person planning, design, and development team to improve retention and engagement.

Customer Research Survey User Interviews Product Strategy Content Creation Segmentation KakaoTalk CRM Flows Parent Child Content Retention

Business Development Lead

Vietnam Market Entry Project (SGIA)

Feb 2024 - Present (2 years 6 months)

Validated early market demand for a Korea–Vietnam local experience service in Ho Chi Minh City by contacting 13 universities and securing six partnerships with Korean-language departments. Presented the service to eight local investors at Demo Day, where the team placed second.

Partnership Building Business Development