SeoulTech’s “Startup for Everyone” project gains momentum in nurturing citizen entrepreneurs

A national startup project that accepts people at the idea stage has attracted 62,944 applicants, creating a surge of interest in South Korea’s startup sector.

“Startup for Everyone,” launched on March 25, is designed to turn business ideas into real companies without relying on the formal screening structure used by many existing support programs. Instead of demanding a polished business plan and financial projections, the project connects prospective founders with mentoring, commercialization funding, technology support and help developing actual products or services.

The first round selected 5,000 people: 4,000 in the general and technology tracks, and 1,000 in the local track. Each participant received a one-to-one mentor, at least four early-stage mentoring sessions and 2 million won in startup activity funding. AI solutions were also made available to help participants improve their technology and business efficiency. As of Sept. 2, the project had selected 500 second-round finalists in the general and technology tracks, where physical product development and a final audition were underway.

“

Seoul National University of Science and Technology’s startup support unit has all the resources needed for product development and mass production as an institution responsible for the Preliminary Startup Package and Early Startup Package and as a specialized makerspace lab.

More than 100 universities, innovation centers, accelerators and public institutions across South Korea’s 17 provinces and metropolitan cities joined the program. Seoul National University of Science and Technology’s startup support unit stood out in the capital region. It received 907 applicants from the 51,907 people who applied to the general track, ranking 16th among 118 participating institutions nationwide and first among universities in Seoul.

The university advanced 43 participants to the first round and five to the second. It has added its own support, including execution-testing for business models, intellectual-property assistance, AI voucher guidance, group mentoring and business-model development training. The five second-round participants receive minimum viable product development support and mentoring from responsible and experienced founders, along with investor-presentation and pitching rehearsal programs. The university said its broader resources include support for patents, presentation evaluations, AI and software, information and communications technology, quantum computing and biotechnology startups.

“

If you take on Startup for Everyone through Seoul National University of Science and Technology, we help you use the support in various ways through AI vouchers, education and mentoring, rather than ending with the 2 million won grant.