Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME) said on the 8th that it held the "2026 startup launch ceremony" at the main campus of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province.
Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME) organized the event to cheer on the start of 950 young entrepreneurs newly admitted this year—including the 16th class of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, the 7th global track, and the 1st deep-tech track—and to bolster their determination and passion for startup challenges.
Attending online and offline were more than 500 people, including Chair Kang Seok-jin of Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME), officials from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, trainees from 19 Young Entrepreneurs Academy campuses nationwide, and officials from startup support-related organizations and domestic and overseas private accelerators (ACs) and venture capital (VC) firms. Considering higher oil prices due to the Middle East war, trainees traveling long distances attended online, minimizing on-site attendance.
Part 1 featured the "K-unicorn academic symposium," where senior alumni entrepreneurs—CEO Jeong Ji-seong of SOS LAB and CEO Han Won-gyeong of Sunnysideup—shared startup experiences, a meeting with Gary Fowler, chair of the global VC GSD Venture Studios, and "alumni day" for networking between senior and junior corporations with the Young Entrepreneurs Academy alumni association. The alumni network of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy numbers about 10,000, from the companies that graduated in the first class in 2011 to those admitted this year.
Part 2 included a "pacemaker badge ceremony," symbolizing that the Young Entrepreneurs Academy and the admitted corporations are partners on the startup journey. Joint events were also held with admitted students, Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME), and officials from startup support-related organizations to encourage passion for entrepreneurship.
In addition, policy counselors were assembled to provide consultations through the "visiting KOSME" program on policy funds and exports, as well as consultations on guarantees, investment, certifications by related organizations, and entry into the public procurement (B2G) market.
Kang Seok-jin, chair of Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME), said, "The Young Entrepreneurs Academy is a key startup support platform that helps young entrepreneurs develop their ideas into businesses and grow into the global market," adding, "This year, we will strengthen support focused on artificial intelligence transformation (AX) and deep tech, regional innovation, global expansion, and experience-based startups so that young entrepreneurs can leap to become K-unicorn corporations."