The Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups announced on the 3rd that it will fully promote the 'Challenge! K-Startup 2025,' the largest government-wide startup competition in the country, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, and the Korean Intellectual Property Office.
'Challenge! K-Startup,' which began in 2016 through collaboration among the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Science and ICT, and the Ministry of National Defense, has gradually expanded the collaborating ministries and preliminary league. It has positioned itself as the largest startup competition in the country, with an average of about 5,700 teams participating each year (6,238 teams in 2024), showcasing creative and challenging startup ideas from promising (preliminary) entrepreneurs.
'Challenge! K-Startup 2025' will kick off on the 4th with an integrated announcement, followed by the ministry-specific preliminary leagues running until August. Afterward, those who pass the preliminary leagues will compete in the integrated finals (225 teams), leading to the selection of 30 teams to advance to the final stage in December.
Through the finals, the top 10 startup corporations and 10 teams of preliminary entrepreneurs will be selected, concluding with a total prize of 1.4 billion won (up to 300 million won), along with awards such as the President's Award and the Prime Minister's Award.
This year, to discover promising startups in the content industry, a content league (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) has been established, and it will operate with a total of 12 leagues. Consequently, the number of teams advancing to the integrated finals is expected to increase from the previous 210 to 225.
Support for follow-up initiatives will also be strengthened. The Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups will expand the priority selection target for its startup commercialization support projects from the Daesang award-winning teams to the best award-winning teams, enabling them to carry out startup commercialization support projects such as the 2026 preliminary startup package, while other teams that qualify for the finals will be exempt from document evaluation.
Minister Oh Youngju said, 'Challenge! K-Startup is the largest government-wide startup competition in the country, and we expect creative (preliminary) entrepreneurs to take on challenges. The Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups will actively support these startups to provide new vitality to our economy and help them grow into global corporations.'
Those who wish to participate in 'Challenge! K-Startup 2025' should check the integrated announcement posted on the K-Startup website and the detailed recruitment announcements for each ministry managing the preliminary leagues, and apply in accordance with the application periods for each preliminary league.