Nine Gyeongbuk Startups Attract 3.68 Billion Won in Investment... 'Investment Matching Day' Held in Gumi

Gyeongbuk Province said that nine startups in the province attracted 3.68 billion won in investment at the 2026 Gyeongbuk Startup Investment Matching Day. Follow-on investments are also expected based on investment discussions held at the event.

Gyeongbuk Province held the event at GUMICO over two days, October 13 and 14, bringing together opportunities for investment, financing and collaboration with large companies to support businesses at different stages of growth. A total of 103 startups and 32 investment firms took part, along with 15 regional innovation institutions, seven large and midsize companies, and eight financial institutions.

The Gyeongbuk Startup Investment Matching Day is underway in Gumi.

The event featured one-on-one investment consultations between startups and investment firms; investment presentations and an IR audition; meetups with large and midsize companies and financial institutions; TIPS meetups and IR sessions; and scale-up IR sessions for prospective unicorns.

Gyeongbuk Province said, "We hold an investment matching day every year so that startups with promising technologies and ideas can receive investment at the right time for their stage of growth. Our goal is to build a virtuous-cycle venture ecosystem in which startups are identified, nurtured, funded and grown, and then return to investment, enabling local startups to secure investment, grow and become new drivers of the local economy."

At last year's event, 11 participating companies attracted a total of 13.1 billion won in investment. Three companies were selected for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' TIPS program, and one company completed an M&A deal.

From identifying promising startups through the "Startup for Everyone" initiative to establishing the G-Star Fund with more than 1 trillion won, connecting companies with private investment firms, supporting entry into TIPS, nurturing prospective unicorns, promoting open innovation with large and midsize companies, and connecting businesses with financial institutions, Gyeongbuk Province has established a support system tailored to each stage of business growth.

Through full-cycle support encompassing startup identification and development, direct investment, follow-on investment connections and global expansion, the province had nurtured 13 baby unicorns as of the end of 2025. A total of 73 companies had been selected for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' TIPS program. They also received 30 CES Innovation Awards, and five companies from Gyeongbuk received Innovation Awards at CES 2026.

Gyeongbuk Province said, "We will continue to connect the capabilities of universities and research institutions, investment firms, large and midsize companies, financial institutions and startup support organizations to expand an environment where promising startups can be established, receive investment and grow in the region."

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