Since 15 April 2021, tech startups from around the world can apply for a shot at the K-Startup Grand Challenge (KSGC 2021). This program, promoted by the Korean government, aims to attract the most promising startups worldwide and give them a home in Korea to get ready for launch time.
All 60 startups selected to partake to the acceleration program will be housed in the Pangyo Techno Valley tech hub with all expenses paid. The top 10 most promising startups will also share a $320K budget to get their feet off the ground.
International startups that participate to the KSGC 2021 challenge must demonstrate a strong interest in developing their presence in Korea and the Asia-Pacific region in general. Korean investors are interested in betting in the world’s next unicorns, and launching or developing your startup in Asia means targeting the world’s most hyped up tech market. Korea is also the world’s best connected country in terms of network coverage and quality, which contrasts heavily with Latam’s painful internet connections. Korea also nurtures a strong culture of early-adopters eager to be the first-come-first-served techies of the world.
In 2020, 2648 startups from 188 applied for the program, and only 55 were selected for the KSGC acceleration program. This year, you have until June 15th to submit your application. As a reminder, last year, no startups from Latin America were selected for the program, a situation the organizers will probably want to change this year.