"Toward a Future Beyond Imagination" as the Slogan for Youth Entrepreneurship
Over 500 Participants, Including Representatives from Related Organizations
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on November 28 that, together with the Small and Medium Business Corporation, it held the "K-Unicorn Dream Show 2025" at Layer Studio 11 in Mapo-gu, Seoul.
Exterior of the Small and Medium Business Corporation in Jinju, Gyeongnam. Small and Medium Business Corporation
This event was organized to share the achievements of the 850 participants in the 15th class of the Youth Startup Academy and the 60 participants in the 6th class of the Global Startup Academy who joined this year, as well as to strengthen networking between current and former participants. In particular, this year's event, under the slogan "Youth Entrepreneurship, Toward a Future Beyond Imagination," reflected on the journey of young entrepreneurs and expressed their determination to become global unicorn companies.
Approximately 500 people attended the event, including Kang Seokjin, Chairman of the Small and Medium Business Corporation; Lee Jaepil, Executive Director of Korea Technology Finance Corporation; Jeon Hwaseong, Chairman of the Early Investment Accelerator Association; as well as representatives from related organizations, current and former participants of the Youth Startup Academy and Global Startup Academy, accelerators, venture capitalists, and mentors from global expansion programs.
The main programs of the event included: ▲ corporate presentations (IR) by companies from the Youth Startup Academy and Global Startup Academy ▲ networking events between current and former entrepreneurs ▲ consultations with technology and business experts in manufacturing, distribution, and investment ▲ exhibitions and technology demonstrations of outstanding products from participating companies.
Notably, the event also shared the cumulative achievements of the Youth Startup Academy since its launch in 2011 and introduced future operational plans such as the implementation of a "grade system" to systematically foster promising startups.
Starting next year, the grade system at the Youth Startup Academy will be implemented as a specialized program focused on smart technologies, deep tech, global expansion, and sustainability, reflecting changes in the startup ecosystem. The existing one-year program will be restructured into a first-year basic course and a second-year deep tech and global advanced course, thereby strengthening tailored support for each stage of business growth.
Kang Seokjin, Chairman of the Small and Medium Business Corporation, stated, "I hope that this Dream Show will inspire the spirit of innovation among young entrepreneurs and lay the foundation for them to become global unicorn companies," adding, "We will continue to do our best to advance the youth entrepreneurship ecosystem through systematic support and networking."
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