South Korean regional startup investment initiatives

Regional governments in South Korea are implementing various programs to support local startup ecosystems and facilitate global expansion.

In the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions, authorities launched the ‘Daegu-Gyeongbuk Integrated Regional Growth Fund’ with a total of 129.4 billion won. Funded by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups alongside local governments, financial institutions, and corporations, the fund is mandated to invest over 80% of its capital into local companies. The investment focus targets high-tech sectors such as robotics, mobility, healthcare, bio, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing.

Separately, Gyeonggi Province facilitated a global growth support program in New York. During this initiative, ten startups from the province participated in investor relations sessions and networking events. The program resulted in investment proposals totaling approximately 72.9 billion won for several companies, including those specializing in K-food technology, no-code content engines, AI commerce, and autonomous robotics.