Hyundai Motor Group, Recruiting Startups for Zero One Accelerator

Hyundai Motor Group announced on the 19th that it has begun the public recruitment for the 2024 'Zero1 Accelerator,' a program that discovers innovative startups.

The Zero1 Accelerator is Hyundai Motor Group's open innovation platform. This year marks its 7th anniversary. The 2024 Zero1 Accelerator will recruit startups for 14 collaborative projects under four themes: ▲Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV) ▲Smart Factory ▲ESG (Environmental·Social·Governance) ▲Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Hyundai Motor Group's business teams directly propose the collaborative projects and participate in the selection process. The startups finally selected will jointly carry out the projects with Hyundai Motor Group. Through this, Hyundai Motor Group plans to build a collaborative network with highly capable startups as well as discover and nurture various innovative technologies.

The startups selected will receive project development funding and be considered for equity investment through the Zero1 Fund operated by Hyundai Motor Group.

Starting this year, a new program has been added. Startups that have not yet secured a 'Pre-A round'?the investment stage for raising funds for product development and market entry?can freely propose projects related to the four themes above. Selected startups will be given the opportunity to be considered for equity investment through the Zero1 Fund.

Startups wishing to participate can apply through the recruitment information webpage by the 10th of next month. The final results are scheduled to be announced around April after document screening and interview evaluations.

Since its launch in 2018, the Zero1 Accelerator has involved 11 group companies within Hyundai Motor Group and 150 business teams. A total of 177 startups have been selected, with 128 collaborative projects carried out, and equity investments made in 94 of those startups.