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Over 63,000 people flocked to the 'Startup Project for Everyone,' which began last March. This was the largest scale ever for a government startup and idea contest, and 5,000 of them were selected as the first group of startup challengers. The second project, launched about five months later, doubled the selection scale to 10,000 people and expanded the scope of participation for existing entrepreneurs as well as opportunities for a second attempt.

The briefing session for the Gyeonggi region of the '2nd Everyone's Startup Project,' promoted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, was held at the Gyeonggi Regional Office of SMEs and Startups on the 23rd. Approximately 200 prospective entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs attended the event to review the support details, selection process, and track-specific programs that have changed since the first round.

"Start-Up for All" is a national startup project that supports the entrepreneurial endeavors of citizens with ideas at every stage, from mentoring and prototype production to commercialization. The second round of applications began on the 20th, and submissions will be accepted through the official platform until 4:00 PM on September 17th.

Eight organizations, including Venture Square, Gyeonggi University, Kyung Hee University, Sungkyunkwan University, and the Seongnam Industry Promotion Agency, participated in the briefing session held on this day. Each organization introduced its incubation sectors and programs and set up separate consultation booths to allow participants to directly meet with operating agencies suited to their ideas and startup preparation stages to confirm specific support directions.

The second round of "Startups for All" will select a total of 10,000 participants, including 8,000 in the General and Technology tracks and 2,000 in the Local track. While doubling the scale from the 5,000 participants in the first round, more than 80% of the total selected participants will be prospective entrepreneurs to align with the program's purpose of supporting the first steps of entrepreneurship. To promote regional startups, the plan is to select approximately 70% of participants from the General and Technology tracks and around 90% from the Local track from outside the Seoul metropolitan area.

It is not just the scale that has expanded. The business experience requirement for aspiring cross-industry entrepreneurs seeking to start a new business in a different field has been extended from within 3 years to within 7 years, opening up opportunities for experienced entrepreneurs to try again with new ideas. Participants who were not selected in the first round can also refine their ideas and reapply for the second round. Re-challengers are required to separately document the improvements and refinements to their existing ideas, and factors such as the degree of improvement and participation in mentoring for re-challenges are reflected in the evaluation to ensure that a single elimination does not become the end of the entrepreneurial journey.

As the scope of eligibility has been expanded, the selection process more closely examines the capabilities and level of preparation of applicants. Questions to verify the startup preparation process have been added to the application form, and a multi-faceted evaluation conducted by three mentors, along with an AI verification model that checks AI generation rates and plagiarism rates, have been introduced. With private and public institutions such as Hana Bank, Shinhan Square Bridge, and the Korea Water Resources Corporation newly joining, the number of participating incubation centers has increased to over 170, expanding the support foundation for materializing ideas into businesses after selection.

The 10,000 selected participants will receive phased incubation and commercialization support tailored to the characteristics of each track. Initial participants in the General and Technology tracks will be provided with 2 million won in startup funds, AI solutions, and one-on-one dedicated mentoring; following an evaluation, this will lead to the production of an MVP or prototype and subsequent commercialization. They will also have access to approximately 50 AI solutions selected by AI and science and technology experts, providing the tools necessary for the startup process, from idea concretization to the verification of actual business models.

The Local Track focuses on connecting local resources and characteristics to business ideas. It provides mentoring and commercialization support to challengers who combine creative ideas with locally discovered resources, and subsequently refines their business models through regional auditions and competitions. In essence, both tracks feature a step-by-step structure that develops ideas into actual startups through mentoring and verification, rather than evaluating completed business plans from the outset.

These changes were also reflected in the structure of the second regional briefing session. Based on feedback from the field during the first session, the emphasis was shifted from one-way explanations of the project details to an increased proportion of introductions to operating organizations, Q&A sessions, and individual consultations. This allowed participants to meet directly with organizations suited to their ideas and startup stages to confirm specific support directions, and the venues were diversified to include highly accessible locations such as universities and convention centers. To accommodate the participation of working professionals and students, some sessions were scheduled for the weekend, with the Gyeonggi briefing session on the 23rd also held on a Sunday.

Starting August 31, the event moves to university campuses, including Kwangwoon University in Seoul, and regional startup hubs. The schedule concludes in Seoul on the 9th, following stops at Kangwon National University on September 1, Chungbuk National University on the 2nd, Jeju National University on the 4th, the Busan Cinema Museum on the 5th, Bon Academy Hall in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul on the 6th, the Ulsan Innovation Center for Creative Economy on the 7th, and Dankook University in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province on the 8th. A total of 20 regional information sessions will be held nationwide from August 21 to September 9.

Representatives from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, regional SME and Startup Offices, the Korea Startup Foundation, and Creative Economy Innovation Centers, along with operating agencies and startup stakeholders, will be present at each site. The program is designed to go beyond simply providing guidance on the projects and support procedures; it allows challengers to meet directly with operating agencies to verify information and receive consultation regarding their ideas and the startup stages they need.

The participants varied in age and entrepreneurial experience. Lee Yul-gwan, a second-year middle school student and aspiring entrepreneur who visited the site that day, is planning a beauty tech platform. Lee said, “I was very interested in starting a business, but it was difficult to materialize my ideas into a business on my own,” adding, “I learned about ‘Starting a Business for Everyone’ and wanted to attend to hear the explanations firsthand and apply.”

While over 63,000 challengers flocked to the first round and 5,000 were selected, the second round seeks double that number, 10,000. The scope of participation for existing entrepreneurs has been expanded, and a pathway has been established for those eliminated in the first round to refine their ideas and try again. Additionally, points of contact where operating organizations and challengers can meet directly at sites nationwide have been increased.

The direction of this second project is to create more opportunities so that people with ideas are not pushed away from the starting line of entrepreneurship due to region, age, or a single failure. As the second challenge of 'Startup for All' begins nationwide to connect the entrepreneurial enthusiasm of over 63,000 people confirmed in the first project into actual businesses and entrepreneurs, applications for the second project are being accepted through the official Startup for All website until 4 p.m. on September 17.