Q&A With the Render Competition Winners, Roborus

Last fall, we announced the eight winners of the inaugural Render Competition. Each startup received a $100,000 investment to scale their solution within and beyond the Greater Louisville region. Now, we’re catching up with each of the winning founders to hear about their competition experience, lessons learned, advice to future applicants, and an update on what’s ahead.

Last but not least, we’re hearing from Jeong Kim, founder of Roborus. Roborus is building smart ordering systems enhanced by facial identification. Their robot technology and machine learning allow restaurants and other retailers to increase sales and customer loyalty, as well as make better, data-driven decisions.

Why did you decide to apply for the Render Competition?

I needed a turning point for the company under unprecedented circumstances.

What was something you learned from the application process?

I learned how important it is to put myself out there as a founder of the company to grab new opportunities.

What did you take away from your interactions with the judges?

Pitching to the judges and getting real-time feedback further motivated me to achieve the company’s goals.

What attracted you to Greater Louisville?

Since we have been looking forward to working with big franchises such as KFC, Taco Bell, and Papa John’s, the city of Louisville is the optimal place to be located. I have experienced well-organized support from both the public and private sectors.

How are you using the $100K, and how will it help you scale?

Since we relocated the company from NYC to Louisville, we have to use our resources to settle into the city. But more importantly, we need to focus on developing customer-centric solutions to meet the new-normal environment.

What role do you see your startup playing in the regional economy over the next 5 years?

Startups are already creating more jobs than traditional firms. As regional economies begin to rebound post-COVID-19, these startups will be the main engine to get people back to work.

How has your business had to pivot or adjust over the past year?

Last year we tried to pivot our company from a “product company” to a “service company.” It required a fundamental change in business strategy.

What’s next for your company in 2021?

Discovering new customers and proving the new market-fit strategy.

What inspires you to continue to grow your business every day?

I want to make a difference. I read books every day to keep myself inspired, recently, I have read Phil Knight’s book Shoe Dog three times. “Don’t even think about stopping until you get there.” It helps me move forward.