Gwangju City to Nurture Five Promising Startups into 'Unicorn' Companies

'G-Unicorn Competition' with 26 Companies
Five Selected for Up to 200 Million Won in Funding, Global Market Entry, and Investment Support

On the afternoon of the 23rd, Gwangju City held the '2025 G-Unicorn Development Program Participating Companies Competition' at the multipurpose hall on the 2nd floor of Bitgoeul Startup Station (STAG Stage), selecting five promising local startup companies. Photo by Gwangju City

Gwangju City has selected five promising local startup companies to nurture them into 'unicorn' companies.

According to the city on April 24, the '2025 G-Unicorn Development Program Participating Companies Competition' was held on the afternoon of the previous day at the multipurpose hall on the 2nd floor of Bitgoeul Startup Station (STA·G Stage).

The 'G-Unicorn Development Program' is a business growth initiative that selects startups with outstanding technological competitiveness and high growth potential, supporting their business expansion (scale-up) and entry into global markets. Eligible companies are those established within the past seven years, headquartered or with branches, offices, or research institutes in Gwangju, and that have secured a cumulative investment of at least 500 million won.

Through the competition, the city finalized five startups with expected innovation and growth potential out of 26 participating companies. Previously, 26 companies were selected to participate in the competition after an in-depth evaluation (document and on-site review) of their potential to grow into unicorn companies, technological capabilities, and business feasibility. The final 'G-Unicorn Development Companies' were then chosen through evaluations by external experts and a citizen review panel during the competition. This year's selected G-Unicorn Development Companies are: iMeditech, Vessel AI Korea, BioCom, STH, and Pint Korea.

'iMeditech,' which won the grand prize, develops nanofiber scaffolds and manufacturing devices for interventional procedures. 'Vessel AI Korea,' the first prize winner, develops an AI orchestration platform for the development and operation of generative AI. 'BioCom' develops an on-device AI agent to provide solutions for metabolic disorders and obesity.

'STH,' which received the excellence award, develops optimal manufacturing technology for platinum and alloy catalysts based on high-durability mesoporous carbon supports to accelerate the commercialization of hydrogen fuel cells. 'Pint Korea' develops demand-customized biodegradable composite materials for medical use.

Gwangju City plans to support these companies with commercialization funds, assistance for global market entry, participation in domestic and international exhibitions, investment attraction, and open innovation strategies with large enterprises to facilitate their global growth.

Specifically, the city will provide commercialization support funds ranging from a minimum of 100 million won to a maximum of 200 million won for prototype production, marketing, and related expenses. The grand prize winner will receive 200 million won, the first prize winner 150 million won, and the excellence award winners 100 million won in commercialization support funds.

Additionally, the city plans to diversify the global POC (Proof of Concept) program, which was limited to one country last year, by conducting a demand survey for each company’s preferred countries to provide customized support for global market entry.

Joo Jaehee, Director of the Economic Startup Bureau, stated, "Based on the remarkable economic achievements of the G-Unicorns fostered by Gwangju City, we will continue to discover and nurture promising local startups," and added, "We will support their leap beyond Korea to become global unicorn companies."