Seoul CCEI Recruiting Companies for “K-Startup of the Year 2026” Innovation Startup and AI Leagues

The Seoul Center for Creative Economy and Innovation (CEO Lee Younggeun, hereafter referred to as “Seoul CCEI”) is accepting applications from participating companies for the Innovation Startup League and the AI League, the preliminary rounds of Korea’s largest pan-ministerial startup competition, “K-Startup of the Year 2026,” from April 22 to May 20.

“K-Startup of the Year 2026” is a collaborative effort among nine government ministries, including the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. It is a highly regarded program that supports the entire startup lifecycle—from discovery and growth to investment attraction—by selecting outstanding companies through preliminary rounds, integrated finals, and a grand championship. In particular, reflecting the importance of the artificial intelligence industry this year, a dedicated “AI League” has been newly established and will be operated separately.

Seoul CCEI, which oversees the Innovation Startup League in collaboration with 17 regional Centers for Creative Economy and Innovation nationwide, is also the operator responsible for the newly established AI League. Through these efforts, Seoul CCEI aims to identify and nurture promising startups with innovative technologies across industries, as well as startups specializing in the AI sector.

This year’s recruitment will select 22 companies for the Innovation Startup League and 10 companies for the AI League, with the selected companies earning the right to participate in the finals. The Innovation Startup League is a comprehensive league encompassing all industries, including manufacturing, knowledge services, digital healthcare, eco-friendly·ESG, content·platform, and more. The AI League targets all sectors utilizing artificial intelligence technology, including software, hardware, and services based on AI.

Selected companies will go through customized discovery and development processes tailored to their characteristics and receive specialized growth support programs from Seoul CCEI, including IR pitching consulting, investor and major company networking meetups, and expert mentoring. In particular, companies participating in the AI League will also receive technical advancement support through AI talent matching. Those ultimately selected as outstanding companies through the integrated finals and grand championship will have the opportunity to become leading startups representing Korea and enjoy a range of follow-up support benefits, such as networking opportunities.

Lee Younggeun, CEO of Seoul CCEI, stated, “As the representative overseeing the Innovation Startup League for all regional Centers for Creative Economy and Innovation, and as the operator of the newly established AI League, we will systematically discover and nurture startups in key future technology sectors. We will spare no effort in providing comprehensive support to ensure promising startups can progress toward investment and commercialization.”

Companies wishing to participate can check the recruitment notice and apply online via the official K-Startup website.

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