Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME) said on the 6th that it held graduation ceremonies for the 15th class of the Youth Startup Academy (hereinafter Youth Startup Academy) and the 6th class of the Global Startup Academy at the Youth Startup Academy in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province.
About 150 people, including Chair Kang Seok-jin of Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME) and representatives of graduating corporations, attended the ceremony, where events included ◇ commendations for outstanding graduating corporations ◇ networking with senior corporations ◇ identifying startup regulations ◇ a briefing session on admission to the Youth Startup Academy deep tech and global advanced programs.
Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME) presented commendations for outstanding corporations to 10 companies, including Makemake and Fabric Duct, and promised all-around support so they can continue to take on challenges and grow in domestic and overseas markets after graduation.
Graduating corporations said, "Through one year of education and coaching, we were able to validate our business models and set a direction that can work in the market," and added, "As graduates of the Youth Startup Academy, we will move forward with a sense of belonging and pride to expand beyond the domestic market and enter the global stage."
Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME) also prepared a networking program with senior corporations from the Youth Startup Academy so that, after graduation, young entrepreneurs can prepare for practical challenges such as business advancement, attracting investment and developing sales channels. It also set aside time to freely propose unreasonable regulations experienced during business operations, institutional difficulties and needed improvements to current policies, and KOSME plans to use these as basic data for future policy improvements and system supplements.
Kang Seok-jin, chair of Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME), said, "It is important for young entrepreneurs to continue to advance their businesses stably after graduation and to expand investment and sales channels step by step," and added, "Based on such growth, we will actively support them so they can leap forward as corporations with competitiveness in global markets."
Meanwhile, starting this year, KOSME will reorganize operations within the Youth Startup Academy from the existing single basic course to separate basic and deep tech/global advanced courses. The deep tech advanced course will focus on nurturing startups in AI and deep tech, while the global advanced course will concentrate on systematically supporting promising startups' overseas expansion. The advanced courses will be operated in three regions nationwide: the capital area, the Honam area and the Yeongnam area.