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Unclaimed
Discovery tool, not advice. Every figure is the published rule, not a decision on your case.
Accelerators

K-Startup Grand Challenge (KSGC)

K-스타트업 그랜드 챌린지

Status

Status not published

Annual. As of 14 August 2026 the site shows 'Applications closed'. The International Students track ran 13 July 2026 to 14 August 2026 15:00 KST, with the programme running August to December in Pangyo; the main 2026 track's stated deadline was 17 June 2026. Note: the former domain k-startupgc.org has lapsed and now hosts an unrelated commercial site - use ksgc.global.

Check with the funder
Amount
Not published

KSGC is Korea's flagship soft-landing accelerator for foreign founders. Participation is free for selected teams. The main-track cash award is set in each year's Recruitment Guidelines PDF rather than on the landing page, so no amount is recorded here. The dedicated International Students track verified on 14 August 2026 lists no cash grant: it provides diagnostics, KPI and milestone setting, 1:1 mentoring, IR deck clinic and pitch coaching, mock IR, and a COMEUP Mini Demo Day showcase.

Funder

Ministry of SMEs and Startups (중소벤처기업부), delivered with the Centers for Creative Economy and Innovation (창조경제혁신센터)

public · national

Deadline: One call a year — Annual. As of 14 August 2026 the site shows 'Applications closed'. The International Students track ran 13 July 2026 to 14 August 2026 15:00 KST, with the programme running August to December in Pangyo; the main 2026 track's stated deadline was 17 June 2026. Note: the former domain k-startupgc.org has lapsed and now hosts an unrelated commercial site - use ksgc.global.

Your odds
3.0%

Published by the funder, 2025. This rate is measured unstated, so the odds from a standing start are lower.

Source

Effort
major

Major bid — written case, budget, possibly partners.

Who can apply

The main KSGC track targets foreign-founded startups wanting to enter the Korean market; a Korean entity is not required at application (the programme has produced 225 Korean entities from 449 graduates). The International Students track verified here is narrower: pre-startup teams led by international students in Korea, where all members are current undergraduate or graduate students not on leave of absence, at least 50% of members are international students, and at least one member including the leader is a graduate student or an international student expected to graduate by 2027. Up to 20 teams, free of charge, English-language.

How to apply

  1. Download and read the year's Recruitment Guidelines. — link
  2. Submit the team information and business materials through the online application when the window is open. — link
  3. Applications are reviewed for team quality, business potential and programme fit.
  4. Selected teams are onboarded and run the programme in Pangyo and nearby areas, in English, ending with a demo day.

What you will need

Related reading: How grant deadlines actually work

Apply on the funder's site

Source. https://ksgc.global/

"KSGC for International Students is a dedicated growth track within the K-Startup Grand Challenge ... Duration Aug-Dec August to December. Scale 20 Up to 20 teams. Location Pangyo and nearby areas. Language English. Cost Free For selected teams. ... Application Period July 13, 2026 - August 14, 2026 "

Verified on 14 August 2026

Source: funder's homepage — the programme page was not found

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