"My character becomes the protagonist of the game. Please share the story of the character you created."
The government’s 'Everyone's Startup' project is a platform for nurturing entrepreneurial talent, allowing anyone with an idea to challenge themselves in starting a business. The project’s website features a variety of ideas submitted in real-time. The second phase of 'Everyone's Startup' has broadened the opportunities for participation compared to the first phase.
According to the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, applications for the second phase of the 'Everyone's Startup' project will be accepted until September 17. This phase aims to select 10,000 participants, doubling the number from the first phase, with 8,000 in the general and technology tracks and 2,000 in the local track.
Notably, the number of incubating institutions has increased from 119 in the first phase to over 170 in the second phase. New participants include major and mid-sized companies such as Hana Bank and Shinhan Square Bridge in Daegu, as well as public institutions like the Gyeonggi Content Agency and the Korea Water Resources Corporation. Other participants include the Korea Artificial Intelligence Association, the Korea Fintech Support Center, the Korea Industrial Intelligence Association, the Gangwon Design Promotion Agency, and the Chuncheon Middle-aged Technology Startup Incubation Center.
The Ministry explained that by expanding the support scale to 10,000 participants, it aims to facilitate the commercialization of diverse ideas by increasing the variety of mentoring institutions.
In the first phase of 'Everyone's Startup,' a wide range of ideas emerged. On September 4, the Ministry announced that 1,100 participants (500 in the general and technology tracks and 600 in the local track) advanced to the second round out of 63,000 applicants.
In terms of sectors, the general and technology track saw 36.2% in information technology, 15.8% in bio and medical fields, and 10.8% in lifestyle. The local track had 45% in daily life, 38.8% in food and beverage, and 9.7% in beauty.
Building on this, the Ministry plans to connect the expertise and support capabilities of various institutions, including large and mid-sized companies, universities, public institutions, and specialized organizations, to provide broader startup support tailored to the ideas and capabilities of participants in the second phase of 'Everyone's Startup.'
Shinhan Square Bridge will support specialized industry development and open innovation in regions such as Seoul, Incheon, Daegu, Daejeon, and Jeju, with Daegu focusing on resource-related industries.
The Gyeonggi Content Agency plans to enhance its support through a specialized incubation program in content IP, media, gaming, and AI. It will provide participants with practical knowledge, thematic training courses to build foundational investment and content technology skills, and one-on-one expert consulting to refine business models and prepare for investment. Following this, networking days, investment support, and connections to domestic and international exhibitions and markets will be organized to assist the growth of startup teams.
The Gyeonggi Content Agency is the only public institution dedicated to promoting the content industry in Gyeonggi Province, equipped with support infrastructure and expert networks covering all genres of content, including games, video, animation, music, and publishing comics, as well as new technology fields like VR, AR, and AI.
Tak Yong-seok, head of the Gyeonggi Content Agency, stated, "We will closely support aspiring entrepreneurs and early-stage startups in the content sector throughout the entire process, from education to securing investment, to help them turn their ideas into actual businesses."
In the second phase, efforts have also been made to strengthen mentoring alongside the expansion of incubating institutions. To ensure the quality of mentoring, the criteria for mentor qualifications will be clearly defined, and a mentor will be limited to working with a maximum of two incubating institutions. The evaluation criteria for applications have been refined from three to a maximum of six.
The selection process will require joint evaluations by three mentors and a review committee for each institution, and a verification model will be applied to check for AI generation rates and plagiarism of external materials.
In response to suggestions from mentors in the first phase, the personal information of mentors disclosed on the 'Everyone's Startup' platform will be minimized.
Noh Yong-seok, First Vice Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, stated, "In the second phase of 'Everyone's Startup,' we will open up more opportunities for the public to take on challenges, actively support re-challenges and startups in various fields, and create a foundation for growth within the startup ecosystem after the challenges."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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