The Seoul Metropolitan Government is investing 21.2 billion won this year to support 1,000 startups across 20 universities through its campus town initiative. The program is designed to provide structured support, equipping student and alumni entrepreneurs with the necessary resources and opportunities to grow their businesses.
To identify and nurture promising startups, Seoul will host university startup competitions, offering selected teams access to specialized facilities, expert mentoring, and investment attraction support. Artificial intelligence, information and communication technology, and robotics will be priority sectors, accounting for nearly 50% of the supported startups, while another 10% will focus on the creative industries.
The initiative also aims to strengthen the in-campus startup ecosystem, with a goal of fostering 400 startups within universities. To facilitate this, the city has relaxed entry requirements for CAMPUS TOWN facilities, lifting age restrictions for student and alumni founders. Additionally, the residency period for campus startup spaces will be extended from two to three years, allowing startups more time to develop and scale.
In an effort to build a stronger startup culture, 14 universities, including Korea University, will introduce new entrepreneurship courses and extracurricular programs. Seoul is also expanding support for foreign entrepreneurs, with startup assistance programs set to launch at 13 universities.
To enhance global competitiveness, the city will help startups connect with international investors through demo days and major global tech exhibitions such as CES and GITEX. These initiatives aim to provide startups with exposure and networking opportunities that can accelerate their growth.
Through this multifaceted approach, Seoul is reinforcing its commitment to fostering innovation and supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs within its academic institutions.
