Gangwon Province Selects 60 Companies for Startup Support and Local Venture Nurturing Programs

Gangwon Province Special Self-Governing Province (Governor Kim Jin-tae) and the Gangwon Center for Creative Economy and Innovation announced on March 9 that they have finalized the selection of 60 prospective entrepreneurs and startup companies to participate in the 2026 Gangwon Startup Support Program and the Gangwon Local Venture Business Nurturing Program, aimed at supporting companies taking on the challenge of entrepreneurship.

Exterior view of Gangwon Provincial Government Building. Provided by Gangwon Provincial Government

원본보기 아이콘

As a result of the recruitment process held in January and February this year, the "Gangwon Startup Support Program" recorded a competition rate of 13.4 to 1, while the "Gangwon Local Venture Business Nurturing Program" recorded a competition rate of 30.6 to 1, reflecting strong interest among local entrepreneurs within the province.

The selection of supported companies was conducted through document screening and presentation evaluations, with a comprehensive review carried out by the evaluation committee.

The "Gangwon Startup Support Program" is a project to discover and nurture technology- and manufacturing-based startups with outstanding technological capabilities and promising business items. This year, a total of 40 companies were selected (15 prospective, 15 early-stage, and 10 growth-stage startups).

The "Gangwon Local Venture Business Nurturing Program" is designed to support local companies that combine regional resources, culture, and creative ideas, with the aim of building local brands and rediscovering the value of Gangwon. This year, 20 companies were selected (6 startups, 8 settlement-stage, and 6 growth-stage companies).

The companies selected for these programs will receive commercialization funds (up to KRW 45 million for the Gangwon Startup Support Program and up to KRW 50 million for the Local Venture Program), as well as tailored support for each stage of growth, including entrepreneurship education, mentoring, and specialized accelerator (AC) programs.

Meanwhile, a business agreement ceremony for the selected companies is scheduled to be held at the Gangwon Center for Creative Economy and Innovation on March 11.

Manho Kim, Director of the Economic Bureau of Gangwon Province Special Self-Governing Province, stated, "We will continue to discover and nurture outstanding startups in the province to create new growth engines for the local economy," adding, "From technology-based startups that generate high added value to fostering local ventures suited to the Local+Economy era, we will build a Gangwon startup ecosystem characterized by diversity and sustainability."

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.