Challenge! K-Startup
Provides National startup competition to pre-entrepreneurs and early-stage founders, supporting long-term sustainable commercialization and growth.
Challenge! K-Startup is a nationwide Korean startup competition run through KISED and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. It recognizes prospective entrepreneurs and startup CEOs within three years of founding across all industries, with an emphasis on national visibility rather than a single sector or technology track. The program offers roughly KRW 1.4 billion in total prize money across 20 final recipients, along with Presidential Award certificates for top recognition. It runs annually, is documented in Korean, and requires Korean registration for company-based applicants. This is a better fit for founders who want prize recognition and public validation at an early stage than for teams looking for operating grants or follow-on service support. The overall budget is about KRW 21.15 billion, but the public value for applicants is the competition structure: a national funnel that turns early promise into formal recognition and award visibility. It also creates a visible shortlist for partners, mentors, and supporters well beyond the final awards.
Each grant below is a distinct funding opportunity with its own eligibility, scope, and deliverables.