The Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea Venture Capital Association announced on the 22nd that they will begin recruiting universities to participate in the 'Korean Graduate Student Venture Investment Competition' starting on the 23rd.
The Korean Graduate Student Venture Investment Competition, established in 2024 to foster prospective venture investment personnel, is being held for the second time this year. It is a practical competition where graduate students can simulate the actual venture capital investment process beyond simple theoretical education. Participating teams will learn and experience the corporate analysis and investment process of real venture capitalists through a systematic curriculum reflecting the domestic and international venture investment ecosystem and mentoring from active professionals.
Through this recruitment, approximately 10 universities will be selected to form venture investment teams (5-6 members) comprising graduate students to participate in the competition, and the Korea Venture Capital Association and the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) will provide special education for venture investors. A mock competition will be held in October to select six teams that will advance to the national competition, and the 'Korean Graduate Student Venture Investment Competition' will be held in January 2026 for these teams.
The winning team will receive special education in global venture investment and an internship opportunity at a venture investment firm, as well as qualification to participate in the 'University of North Carolina International Venture Investment Competition (VCIC)' scheduled for April 2026. Through this, participants will have the opportunity to network with young investors from around the world and experience the global venture investment market.
Kim Bong-duk, director of venture policy at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, noted, "As startups' technology becomes more sophisticated, highly specialized personnel in venture investment are required. I will provide generous support to ensure that talented individuals with expertise in various fields are actively integrated into the venture investment market, expanding the base of the venture ecosystem."
The application period for universities to participate in the Korean Graduate Student Venture Investment Competition is from the 23rd to the 18th of next month. Applications can be submitted through the KAIST Entrepreneurship Research Center.