Nurturing Global Venture Capital Talent: VC Association to Host "Graduate Student Venture Investment Competition"

The Korea Venture Capital Association (VC Association) announced on January 15 that it will host the "2026 University Venture Capital Investment Competition in Korea (UVICK)" on January 16 to foster global young professionals specializing in venture capital investment.

This competition, organized by the VC Association as part of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' "Venture Capital Advancement Project," will grant the winning team the right to participate in the international Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC) to be held in the United States in April. Since its inception in the United States in 1998, VCIC has attracted more than 1,500 student participants annually across four continents. UVICK was officially approved as a regional competition for the first time last year. This year, VCIC will see participation from 13 countries and a total of 79 universities.

Unlike traditional venture investment competitions where startups present their business plans to investors, this event assigns graduate students the role of venture capital investment analysts. Following the format of the international VCIC, participants will form investment teams, analyze companies, and present their simulated investment outcomes.

The KAIST Center for Entrepreneurship Research, selected as the co-hosting university along with the VC Association, developed and operated a specialized training program for participating teams from September to November last year to strengthen the venture investment capabilities of the university team representing Korea at this year's VCIC. The competition provided an opportunity to gain practical experience in venture investment.

In particular, participants will go through the same investment review process as actual venture capital analysts, conducting multifaceted analyses of startups' business models, financial structures, and market potential. Based on these analyses, they will design investment terms, thereby developing practical investment skills that can be immediately applied in the field.

This year's UVICK saw participation from a total of six universities: Korea University, Kookmin University, Sogang University, Soongsil University, KAIST, and Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH). The next round of applications is scheduled to open after May.

The winning team will receive the Minister of SMEs and Startups Award and a prize of 3 million won, as well as the opportunity to represent Korea at VCIC, promoting Korea's venture investment capabilities on the global stage and building an international network. All costs for international participation, including airfare and accommodation, will be fully covered. The second-place team will receive the VC Association President's Award and a prize of 2 million won, while the third-place team will receive the VC Association President's Award and a prize of 1 million won.

Kim Hakkyun, President of the VC Association, stated, "I am confident that this program will nurture global venture capital talent in Korea and provide students with valuable hands-on experience," adding, "We will establish various institutional frameworks to secure an outstanding pool of investment analysts, including fostering the growth of participants into professional venture investment personnel who will enter the industry."