NHN KCP said on Tuesday it has successfully completed Season 2 of the “Extraordinary Project,” a startup support program run by its online and offline integrated startup support platform, Bibut.

The project was designed to provide practical support in funding, operations and promotion, areas aspiring entrepreneurs feel are the biggest burden during the startup process.

To reduce early funding burdens and support infrastructure building, Bibut provides a package of benefits covering the entire startup process, including up to 5 million won in startup support money, KCP POS+ point-of-sale equipment and a receipt printer, and production of promotional content for stores.

After recruiting applicants for about 4 weeks in the second half of last year through the Bibut app, Bibut saw a higher level of competition than in Season 1 due to strong interest from aspiring business owners across various sectors including dining and cafes.

After a first-stage document review and second-stage phone and in-person interviews, Bibut selected 1 final recipient by comprehensively assessing business philosophy and vision, and the potential for mutual growth with local commercial districts. The final selection went to Hong Dae-young (홍대영), 31, who founded the Italian restaurant Trattoria Patata.

Bibut plans to release story video content covering Hong’s full journey from startup preparation to the store opening through its official Instagram and YouTube channels. It also plans to continue follow-up management and promotional support after the opening by using its partner network, aiming to provide ongoing startup support rather than one-off assistance.

An NHN KCP official said, “Through this Extraordinary Project Season 2, we were able to confirm that Bibut is establishing itself as a partner platform that stays with entrepreneurs from preparation through the operations stage.” The official added, “Through various support programs, we will underpin entrepreneurs’ growth and further expand mutual growth with small business owners.”