Meeting with Seven Startups at Konkuk University to Hear Their Challenges
On December 23, Ryu Jemyung, the Second Vice Minister of Science and ICT, held a meeting with young startups in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) at the Makerspace Center of Konkuk University in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, to listen to the challenges they face on the ground.
This meeting was organized to support the establishment and growth of AI startups, which are considered key players in realizing the goal of becoming one of the world’s top three AI powerhouses. In particular, by holding the event in a university-based startup support space, the focus was on directly hearing about the difficulties and policy needs that young people encounter as their ideas are transformed into actual startups.
Before the open discussion, Professor Cho Jaesung of the Startup Support Center at Konkuk University gave a presentation on the topic of “Specialized Support Directions for Young Startups,” explaining the common challenges faced by early-stage AI startups and the need for government support.
The ensuing discussion included representatives from a diverse range of young startups, from those founded this year to companies in their eighth year of operation. Leaders from companies such as Motif (AI foundation model development), Classum (AI-based learning platform), SilicoPharm (AI-based life science experiment result prediction), AskItMore (AI-based presentation material generation), PlanningGo (AI and 3D content production), Jjuk (AI-based custom ordering), and Gruenui (AI-based travel data analysis) shared their startup stories and realistic difficulties, while also suggesting policy support measures.
Experts responsible for startup incubation and early-stage investment, including those from the Konkuk University Startup Support Center, Seoul National University Technology Holdings, and Nautilus Investment, also attended the meeting and proposed policy tasks to help early-stage AI companies grow and make significant progress.
Vice Minister Ryu stated, “The creative ideas and spirit of challenge demonstrated by young people, based on innovative technological capabilities, are the driving force behind AI innovation and a key engine for economic advancement. We will continue to provide broad support so that young people, who are the future of Korea in the AI era, can boldly take on the challenge of starting businesses and grow into world-leading companies.”
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