[Seoul District News] Gwanak-gu Supports Promising Venture Startups with Early Commercialization Funding & Total Project Budget of 500 Million KRW, Providing 10 Million to 50 Million KRW & Promotes ‘Gwanak S-Valley 2.0’ in 8th Term to Attract Over 1,000 Venture Companies and Establish ‘Gwanak Small and Medium Venture Promotion Agency’ ... '2022 Nowon-gu Job Fair' and '2022 Nowon-gu Disabled Job Recruitment Fair' Held
[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) has selected 22 startups for the ‘2022 Startup Scale-Up’ project, which supports the growth of promising venture startups through initial commercialization funding.
The ‘Startup Scale-Up’ project accepts applications from companies based in Gwanak-gu in advanced technology fields such as information and communication, bio, and environmental energy, selects outstanding startups through screening, and provides commercialization funds to venture startups.
This project supports promising local startups so that they do not give up their business due to lack of funds by assisting in prototype production of technologies developed by venture startups, promotion and certification of companies and products, and intellectual property rights support.
The district held preliminary recruitment twice in April and August and selected 22 companies through fair screening. These innovative companies possess differentiated business models and technological capabilities in various fields, including Action Power, an AI service that accurately transcribes voice, Killington Materials Co., Ltd., which developed an energy-saving production method for anode materials for electric vehicle batteries, and Plexis Co., Ltd., which offers a software robot platform AI-Helper.
The companies selected for the ‘Startup Scale-Up’ this time can receive support ranging from a minimum of 10 million KRW to a maximum of 50 million KRW according to their screening ranking, with a total project budget of 500 million KRW.
Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “Early-stage venture companies mostly have excellent ideas and technologies but face difficulties in raising funds,” adding, “We need to build a virtuous cycle startup ecosystem where outstanding early-stage ventures grow, and capital recovery and reinvestment occur.”
Since 2019, the district has selected 63 companies over seven rounds of the ‘Startup Scale-Up’ project, supporting a total project budget of 1 billion KRW and strengthening investment in capable startups.
The sales and investment performance of resident startups have also grown annually, achieving approximately 25.8 billion KRW in sales and 84.1 billion KRW in investment attraction as of the end of June this year.
Based on the excellent talent and technological capabilities of Seoul National University and the asset of youth, the district is conducting the ‘Gwanak S Valley’ project with two main axes: Nakseong Venture Valley centered on Nakseongdae-dong and Sillim Startup Valley centered on Daehak-dong.
Since the 7th local government administration, efforts to transform the region, which was a barren land for startups, into a mecca of venture startups have resulted in the establishment of 13 startup infrastructure facilities. Currently, 112 startup companies reside there, and 711 startup activists are developing their capabilities in various fields.
In particular, during the 8th local government administration, the goal is to attract more than 1,000 venture companies under the name ‘Gwanak S Valley 2.0,’ and plans are underway to establish the ‘Gwanak Small and Medium Venture Promotion Agency,’ a specialized institution to systematically support small and medium enterprises and venture companies.
Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “We plan to focus on fostering sustainable and creative venture businesses through direct funding support for the commercialization of venture company items,” adding, “If quality jobs increase and excellent young talent continuously flows in, Gwanak-gu is expected to gain new momentum and grow to the next level.”
Nowon-gu (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it will hold the ‘Nowon-gu Job Fair’ on the 13th and the ‘Nowon-gu Disabled Job Recruitment Fair’ on the 19th at Junggye Neighborhood Park.
Rather than a formal fair focused on company promotion and recruitment briefings, the goal is to create a practical meeting place for job seekers and recruiting companies that leads to actual employment.
The ‘Job Fair’ held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the 13th targets all age groups including youth, middle-aged, and seniors, while the ‘Disabled Job Recruitment Fair’ held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the 19th provides job information for transitional disabled youth and supports customized recruitment for adult disabled persons.
□ Over 50 companies participating in the ‘2022 Nowon-gu Job Fair,’ planning to hire more than 260 people
First held in 2020 and now in its fourth edition, this fair will have over 50 companies including excellent SMEs and university-linked companies participating, planning to hire more than 260 people.
The fair venue will be operated with ▲Recruitment Zone ▲Related Organizations Zone ▲Experience & Flea Market Zone.
In the Recruitment Zone, 40 company recruitment booths will be operated to conduct 1:1 on-site interviews between recruiting companies and job seekers. In the Related Organizations Zone, 14 local job-related organizations including Nowon Job Counseling Center and Nowon Senior Happiness Corporation will participate to assist job seekers with employment registration, job information provision, and placement. The Experience & Flea Market Zone will operate various employment support programs such as VR interviews that simulate actual interview processes using AI technology, Freddyzer for career exploration and aptitude testing using cards, employment tarot, and interview photo shooting booths.
Post-event management will also be provided to job seekers who participated in the fair. Two weeks after the event, a telephone survey will be conducted to check employment status, and employment retention will be confirmed after three months. For those not employed, individual analysis of rejection reasons will be conducted, and re-matching with similar job companies will be supported.
In 2020, about 400 people were hired through fairs held in the first and second halves of the year, and despite the COVID-19 situation last year, about 2,000 job seekers visited, with over 100 successfully employed.
□ Over 50 companies participating in 25 employment booths at the ‘2022 Nowon-gu Disabled Job Recruitment Fair’
First held in 2021 and now in its second edition, this fair will discover about 50 customized companies that can meet diverse job-seeking needs by disability type and occupation, providing jobs to disabled persons seeking employment.
The fair venue will be operated with ▲Recruitment Hall, ▲Promotion Hall, and ▲Side Event Hall.
In the Recruitment Hall, employment counseling and placement, as well as 1:1 on-site interviews between recruiting companies and job seekers, will be conducted.
In the Promotion Hall, 13 local job-related organizations and disabled-related groups including the Nowon-gu Disabled Family Support Center will participate to promote companies and provide recruitment information.
In the Side Event Hall, demonstrations of massage by visually impaired persons will be held, along with various employment support programs such as interview photo shooting and image making.
Post-event management will also be provided to job seekers who participated in the fair. Adaptation after employment will be checked and guided, and for unemployed disabled persons, employment counseling and connections with recruiting companies will continue.
Despite the COVID-19 situation last year, 31 companies participated, about 600 job seekers visited, about 300 received employment counseling, and about 90 participated in interviews, lowering employment barriers for disabled persons and providing opportunities to improve positive awareness of disabilities.
Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “Both job seekers and recruiting companies are facing many difficulties due to the economic downturn,” adding, “Through this fair, we will actively support the discovery of quality companies and help job seekers from youth to seniors and disabled persons succeed in employment.”
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