FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                    
Feb. 19, 2025                                                                                     
 
Ministry of SMEs and Startups to Fully Launch the Startup-BuS Program

SEJONG – The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) announced on Tuesday, February 18, that it will officially launch the ‘Startup-BuS (Build up Strategy for Startups)’ program this year. Originally launched in May 2024 by the Center for Creative Economy Innovation (CCEI), Startup-BuS offers consistent support for promising deep-tech startups, from initial to follow-up investment, in regional areas.

Following a successful pilot in 2024 with five CCEIs (Gyeonggi, Incheon, Chungbuk, Ulsan, Gwangju), the program will expand to eight centers in 2025 with the addition of three new centers (Gangwon, Gyeongnam, Jeju). Regional startups seeking support can participate in weekly mini pitching days held at each CCEI, as in 2024.

< Program Schedule by Day for the 2025 Startup-BuS Operating CCEIs >
 

Classification	Monday		Tuesday		Wednesday		Thursday
Center	Chungbuk  (Monday Pitching)	Ulsan  (Unique Pitch Day)	Gangwon  (Gangwon Bridge Tuesday IR)	Incheon  (Big Wave IR)	Gwangju  (G-IN Day)	Gyeongnam  (CORN IR Day)	Gyeonggi  (815-IR)	Jeju (W-JOIN IR Day)
Key Focus Areas	Bio/Healthcare	Shipbuilding/Marine/Energy	Bio/Health/AI/Big Data	AI/Big Data	AI/Big Data	Aerospace/Next-Generation Nuclear Power	AI/Big Data/System Semiconductors	Aerospace/Eco-Friendly/Energy

Startup-BuS is designed to rapidly support promising regional startups by providing seed investments within three months, TIPS within six months, and follow-up investments within 12 months. In 2024, a total of 406 companies were identified across five centers, with 110 successfully attracting approximately KRW 29.6 billion in direct and indirect investments. Artblood Inc., which participated in the Chungbuk Center program, gained recognition for its innovative technology in developing red blood cells for blood reagents, securing KRW 6.5 billion in investments by the end of 2024, including KRW 4 billion in Series A funding.

In April, July, and September 2025, the eight CCEIs will hold joint investment briefings through Startup-BuS to present the startups selected and nurtured in the region to both domestic and international investors. This collaborative platform, involving key investment stakeholders, is expected to expand opportunities for promising regional startups to secure follow-up investment support.

Additionally, it was announced that the ‘2025 Specialized Startup Package Program,’ designed to support the growth of startups with promising business ideas in non-capital regions, will be piloted in 2025.

The target beneficiaries of the program are startups and prospective startups in the new industry sector, located in non-capital regions, and in business for less than 10 years. It will provide tailored financial support for commercialization and startup programs based on the company’s investment stage. Approximately 70 companies will be selected through two tracks: ‘General Recruitment’ and ‘Regional CCEI Recommendation.’ General recruitment will accept applications via the K-Startup website (www.k-startup.go.kr) from Wednesday, February 19, to Friday, March 7. Notably, this program distinguishes itself from existing startup packages by categorizing recruitment targets into Series 1 to Series 3 based on their investment stage, rather than their years in operation.

The Specialized Startup Package will be led by the Chungnam and Jeonnam CCEIs, which will provide support in collaboration with large and medium-sized enterprises aligned with the region's specialized industries. The Chungnam Center plans to focus on nurturing climate tech startups in partnership with companies like SK Ecoplant, while the Jeonnam Center will concentrate on fostering energy sector startups in collaboration with companies such as GS and Korea Electric Power Corporation.

< Classification of Company Support by Investment Stage for the Specialized Startup Package >
 

Classification	Series ❶	Series ❷	Series ❸
Recruitment Targets	No investment record  (Excluding companies with more than three years of operation)	Initial investment stage  startup companies	Follow-up investment stage  startup companies
Companies Supported	Approx. 19 companies	Approx. 18 companies	Approx. 5 companies
Support Amount	KRW 10 million + KRW N million (follow-up)  (Maximum KRW 70 million)	Average KRW 70 million  (Maximum KRW 100 million)	Average KRW 120 million  (Maximum KRW 150 million)

CHO Gyung-won, Director General for Startup Policy, stated, “The Startup-BuS program, which focuses on the continuous discovery and rapid nurturing of startups through regional CCEIs, was successfully established in 2024, and we plan to expand its operations in 2025.” He added, “By positioning both the Startup-BuS and the Specialized Startup Package as two key pillars, we will actively support regional startups to ensure their sustained growth.”