UpperClass bets on peer trust to reshape international student recruitment
When Dutch entrepreneur Mark Balneger first arrived in Korea as an exchange student in 2011, he didn't plan on building a career here — much less raising a family. But Korea kept drawing him back. After returning for summer school in 2013 and a working holiday in 2015, Balneger launched his own business in Seoul in 2016 through the Seoul Global Startup Center. He later worked in the Korean…
Mark Balneger, a Dutch entrepreneur, first visited Korea as an exchange student in 2011, unaware of the profound impact it would have on his life. Having returned for summer school in 2013 and a working holiday in 2015, Balneger eventually founded his own business in Seoul in 2016 via the Seoul Global Startup Center. He later dabbled in the Korean entertainment industry before leaving for his studies and to care for his ailing father, who was battling cancer. Balneger returned to Korea in 2020 with his Korean wife and their two children, residing in Busan.
Balneger's latest undertaking is UpperClass, a venture co-founded with Rodel Sta. Ana, another entrepreneur. They previously collaborated at ApplyBoard, a prominent international student recruitment platform. Balneger and Sta. Ana believe that universities already hold their most valuable recruitment asset - their own students. Through UpperClass, the duo aims to leverage this trust and reshape international student recruitment.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
