Four New Tracks Introduced:
Global, Diversity, Climate Tech, and Pre-Startup
Asan Nanum Foundation announced on the 13th that it will open applications for startups to participate in this year's 'Chung Ju-yung Startup Competition' and released an integrated announcement containing the revamped details of the competition.
The '2025 Chung Ju-yung Startup Competition' focuses on discovering and nurturing entrepreneurs with a pioneering spirit who take on new challenges in various fields. Starting this year, four new tracks have been established: ▲Global Track ▲Diversity Track ▲Climate Tech Track ▲Pre-Startup Track, each offering tailored support. Each track is linked to the youth startup support programs previously operated by Asan Nanum Foundation, and growth support programs suitable for the startup team’s stage will be provided. In the second half of the year, an integrated demo day with a total prize of 400 million KRW will be held, offering various benefits such as mentoring, overseas expansion support, networking, office space residency at Maru, and investment connections.
The Global Track selects early-stage domestic software-based startups preparing to enter the U.S. market. It is connected with the existing U.S. market entry startup support program, 'Asan Voyager.' Companies established within five years preparing to enter the U.S. will be selected and provided with local accommodation, living expenses, and networking opportunities in the U.S.
The Diversity Track selects entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds, including North Korean defectors, migrants, and foreigners. It is linked with Asan Nanum Foundation’s inclusive startup support program, 'Asan Sanghoe,' and expands the target participants beyond North Korean defectors to include migrants and foreigners who are often marginalized in the startup ecosystem. Additionally, the Climate Tech Track selects university (graduate) student startup teams possessing innovative technologies addressing the climate crisis. Through the 'Asan University' program, which discovers and nurtures climate tech startups, each university partnered with Asan Nanum Foundation independently recruits and selects startup teams.
The Pre-Startup Track will select participants in connection with the existing program 'Asan Doers,' which nurtures university students aspiring to become global entrepreneurs. It targets pre-startup teams or individuals aiming to enter the global market and provides intensive incubation support such as startup education and networking with senior entrepreneurs.
Um Yoon-mi, Chairperson of Asan Nanum Foundation, said, “The Chung Ju-yung Startup Competition, a cradle and gateway for promising domestic startups, has established new tracks and expanded the selection scale this year to meet a more diverse range of startup teams.” She added, “To create a sustainable startup ecosystem, we will generously support entrepreneurs to continue their challenges in pioneering new fields and expanding boundaries centered on the ‘Frontier Entrepreneurship’ proposed by the foundation.”
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