41 Teams Apply for VC Association’s "University Student Venture Investment Competition"… 2.7 to 1 Competition Ratio

Team Applications Accepted from April 27 to May 22; 15 Teams to Be Selected
Six Teams Advance to Finals; Winners to Compete in Global Competition

The Korea Venture Capital Association (VC Association) announced on June 4 that a total of 222 students, comprising 41 teams from 22 universities nationwide, have applied for the “Korea University (Graduate) Student Venture Investment Competition (UVICK),” which is being held as part of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups’ 2026 preliminary youth venture investment talent development program.

UVICK is an educational competition designed to allow university and graduate students to systematically experience practical skills in venture investment by engaging in startup analysis, developing investment strategies, preparing investment review reports, and participating in Q&A sessions, all in a process similar to actual venture investment work.

This year, approximately 15 teams will be selected to participate. The VC Association recruited teams from April 27 to May 22, and with a total of 41 teams applying, the competition ratio reached 2.7 to 1. After the preliminary round, six teams will be selected to advance to the domestic finals. Among the applicants, 10 teams from five universities outside the Seoul metropolitan area also applied, demonstrating the nationwide spread of interest in venture investment.

The 15 final teams will participate in online education programs and special venture capital seminars. The six teams advancing to the domestic finals will be chosen through a preliminary competition following the education sessions. The winning team in the finals will be offered the opportunity to participate in the Global Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC), scheduled for January next year. VCIC, which began at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC-Chapel Hill) in the United States in 1998, is a global venture investment competition where participants act as venture capitalists, conducting startup investment reviews and making simulated investment decisions.

The VC Association has hosted UCIVK since 2024, providing university and graduate students with the chance to gain hands-on venture investment experience and compete in global venture investment competitions. Last year, the Korea University team, representing Korea, placed in the Top 6 at the “2026 VCIC Global Finals,” showcasing the capabilities of Korea’s venture investment sector.

Hakgyun Kim, President of the VC Association, stated, “We will continue to strengthen the program so that domestic participants can systematically experience global investment practices and expand their connections with international venture investment networks. We are committed to playing a leading role in advancing the venture ecosystem, bridging entrepreneurship with investment.”

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