Gyeongsan Innovation Academy to Host '2026 Startup World Cup Korea-Gyeongsan'

Recruitment of Participating Companies Begins on April 15

Gyeongsan Innovation Academy (President Lee Heonsu) announced that the final round of the '2026 Startup World Cup Korea-Gyeongsan' will be held on July 6, 2026, at the Cheonma Art Center, Yeungnam University, to discover promising startups and support their entry into global markets.

This event, co-hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, Gyeongsan City, the Institute for Information & Communications Technology Planning & Evaluation, and Gyeongsan Innovation Academy, is the world’s largest startup pitching competition, with regional preliminaries held in over 70 regions worldwide.

[Image provided by Gyeongsan City]

Applications for the Korea representative selection round are being accepted through the official competition website from April 15 to June 10.

All industries are eligible (no restrictions), and any incorporated company based in Korea may apply, regardless of years in business.

Based on the submitted English documents, 20 companies will be selected through a document screening on June 17 to advance to the finals, where they will compete in the main event on July 6.

All participants will receive practical benefits, including IR pitch consulting, pitch deck production support, and opportunities to present to investors.

A total of four companies will receive awards.

The final winner (receiving the Gyeongsangbuk-do Governor’s Award and a prize) will be granted a guaranteed spot in the Grand Final to be held in San Francisco, USA, on November 6, along with full airfare and accommodation support.

Other awards include the Excellence Award (Gyeongsan Mayor’s Award and a prize), and Merit Awards (two companies, each receiving a certificate and a prize).

The ultimate winner of the global final will secure an investment opportunity valued at 1 million dollars (approximately 1.5 billion won).

On the day of the finals, in addition to the competition, there will be investment consultations and networking sessions between participating companies and venture capitalists (VCs) to facilitate practical business connections.

Additionally, the official side event, the Global Dance Challenge, hosted by Pegasus Tech Ventures, will add to the excitement.

Lee Heonsu, President of Gyeongsan Innovation Academy, stated, "We hope this competition will serve as a valuable opportunity for innovative Korean startups to directly engage with Silicon Valley’s vast capital and leap onto the global stage."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.