Benjamin Brand
Head of Corporate Partnerships, Retail & Media at Plug and Play Tech Center
San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA
Benjamin Brand is a Head of Corporate Partnerships, Retail & Media at Plug and Play Tech Center, based in San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA, currently leading the Global Brand & Retail and Media & Advertising innovation programs project, previously at KOTRA, KOTRA and BluePlattr.
Benjamin Brand is Head of Corporate Partnerships, Retail & Media at Plug and Play Tech Center in Sunnyvale, California, since November 2022, connecting global corporations with startups across retail, brand, and media & advertising through programs spanning Silicon Valley, Paris, Munich, Shanghai, and Tokyo. Benjamin Brand is also founder and CEO of Brand Global Partners LLC since 2018 and has advised Toepener since 2015. Previously, Benjamin Brand spent 7 years and 8 months at KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency) in New York as Principal Consultant, Startups & Strategy from April 2015 to November 2022, leading South Korea's startup presence in North America, running the Global Open Innovation Korea (GOIK) and Global Jump 300 programs, and advising K-startups including Dot, AIDKOREA, Marine Innovation, and ANPOLY; and as Global Partnering Strategy Consultant at KOTRA from April 2015 to March 2022, heading KOTRA Global Partnering and Medical GP. Benjamin Brand co-founded BluePlattr as COO from November 2019 to November 2020.
Currently
Head of Corporate Partnerships, Retail & Media at Plug and Play Tech Center
Nov 2022 — Present
Project: Global Brand & Retail and Media & Advertising innovation programs
Since November 2022, Head of Corporate Partnerships, Retail & Media at Plug and Play Tech Center. Heads Corporate Partnerships for Retail & Media at Plug and Play Tech Center since November 2022, based in Sunnyvale, California. Plug and Play is described as the most active venture capital firm in the world, deploying capital in over 200 startups per year. The Brand & Retail program runs across hubs in Silicon Valley, Paris, Munich, Shanghai, and Tokyo and supports initiatives including the Amazon Devices Climate Tech Accelerator, NRF retail programs, and the Plug and Play Winter Summit (300+ startup pitches, ~4,000 attendees). Also leads Korean startup showcase programs including KOCCA U.S. Launchpad and K-Innovation, and supports the K4 Startup Studio program with the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.
Previously
Principal Consultant, Startups & Strategy at KOTRA
Apr 2015 — Nov 2022
Project: K-startup North America expansion
Principal Consultant, Startups & Strategy at KOTRA, April 2015 to November 2022. Served as Principal Consultant, Startups & Strategy at KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency) in New York for 7 years and 8 months, from April 2015 to November 2022. Lead consultant responsible for developing and growing South Korea's startup presence in North America. Head of Global Open Innovation Korea (GOIK) and Global Jump 300. Built relationships with US-based venture capital firms and the corporate venture arms of Fortune 500 companies to help source K-startups for investment and partnership opportunities. Developed and ran K-startup accelerator programs in the US, advising dozens of K-startups including Dot, AIDKOREA, Marine Innovation, and ANPOLY.
Global Partnering Strategy Consultant at KOTRA
Apr 2015 — Mar 2022
Project: KOTRA Global Partnering (GP) and Medical GP
Global Partnering Strategy Consultant at KOTRA, April 2015 to March 2022. Served as Global Partnering Strategy Consultant at KOTRA in New York for 7 years, from April 2015 to March 2022. Head of KOTRA's North America Startup program, part of former Korean President Park Geun-hye's Creative Economy policy designed to connect promising Korean startups with leading US venture capital firms and partners. Advisor to tech-focused K-startups via KOTRA Global Jump 300. Head of KOTRA Global Partnering (GP), developing strategic partnerships between Fortune 500 companies and Korean SMEs in heavy industry, energy, aerospace and defense, construction (EPCs), automotive, and electronics. Head of Medical GP, connecting US-based biotech and pharmaceutical companies with Korean counterparts for joint ventures and collaborative R&D projects co-funded by the Korean government.
Co-Founder and COO at BluePlattr
Nov 2019 — Nov 2020
Project: BluePlattr co-founding tenure
Co-Founder and COO at BluePlattr, November 2019 to November 2020. Co-founded BluePlattr as COO from November 2019 to November 2020, based in New York, New York. Operations were put on hold due to COVID.
Founder and CEO at Brand Global Partners LLC
Jan 2018 — Present
Project: Brand Global Partners advisory practice
Founded and leads Brand Global Partners LLC since 2018, based in the New York metropolitan area.
Advisor at Toepener
Jan 2015 — Present
Project: Long-term advisory relationship
Has advised Toepener since 2015, based in the New York metropolitan area.
Skills
- Venture Capital
- Corporate Innovation
- Open Innovation
- Corporate Partnerships
- Retail Tech
- Media & Advertising
- Startup Accelerators
- US-Korea Cross-border Innovation
- Brand & Retail Strategy
- Climate Tech
Frequently Asked
Who is Benjamin Brand?
Benjamin Brand is a Head of Corporate Partnerships, Retail & Media at Plug and Play Tech Center, based in San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA, currently leading the Global Brand & Retail and Media & Advertising innovation programs project, previously at KOTRA, KOTRA and BluePlattr.
What does Benjamin Brand do?
Benjamin Brand works as a Head of Corporate Partnerships, Retail & Media at Plug and Play Tech Center. Heads Corporate Partnerships for Retail & Media at Plug and Play Tech Center since November 2022, based in Sunnyvale, California. Plug and Play is described as the most active venture capital firm in the world, deploying capital in over 200 startups per year. The Brand & Retail program runs across hubs in Silicon Valley, Paris, Munich, Shanghai, and Tokyo and supports initiatives including the Amazon Devices Climate Tech Accelerator, NRF retail programs, and the Plug and Play Winter Summit (300+ startup pitches, ~4,000 attendees). Also leads Korean startup showcase programs including KOCCA U.S. Launchpad and K-Innovation, and supports the K4 Startup Studio program with the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.
Where is Benjamin Brand based?
Benjamin Brand is based in San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA.
What is Benjamin Brand working on?
Benjamin Brand is currently working on the Global Brand & Retail and Media & Advertising innovation programs project at Plug and Play Tech Center. Heads Corporate Partnerships for Retail & Media at Plug and Play Tech Center since November 2022, based in Sunnyvale, California. Plug and Play is described as the most active venture capital firm in the world, deploying capital in over 200 startups per year. The Brand & Retail program runs across hubs in Silicon Valley, Paris, Munich, Shanghai, and Tokyo and supports initiatives including the Amazon Devices Climate Tech Accelerator, NRF retail programs, and the Plug and Play Winter Summit (300+ startup pitches, ~4,000 attendees). Also leads Korean startup showcase programs including KOCCA U.S. Launchpad and K-Innovation, and supports the K4 Startup Studio program with the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.
Where has Benjamin Brand worked before?
Before Plug and Play Tech Center, Benjamin Brand worked at KOTRA, KOTRA, BluePlattr, Brand Global Partners LLC and Toepener.