Addressing Technology, Market, and Management Concerns One-on

For early-stage startups, market entry, fundraising, and business model validation are considered just as critical tasks as technology development during the growth process. As the advice needs of each company vary, there is a growing trend toward support methods that prioritize identifying specific issues first and connecting them with suitable experts, rather than offering standardized training. The Gyeonggi Creative Economy Innovation Center and Uijeongbu City are recruiting participants for the "In-Depth Networking 2nd Round" as part of the "2026 Advanced Industry Scale-up" program. This program matches companies one-on-one with experts in relevant fields after identifying their technology, market, and management challenges through a preliminary needs assessment. The recruitment scale is approximately 10 promising innovative companies and prospective entrepreneurs, and applications will be accepted until 5:00 PM on August 27.

In-Depth Networking is a customized consulting program designed to help startups refine their current business challenges and find solutions with experts. Selected companies are provided with one-on-one in-depth mentoring and networking opportunities in the fields of technology commercialization, global expansion, open innovation, and investment attraction.

In the first session, we diagnosed business model risk factors and management issues that early-stage companies often overlook. We also presented potential for linking with the private-sector-led TIPS program, as well as investment and growth strategies tailored to each company's specific situation. Reflecting feedback from the first session, the Gyeonggi Innovation Center has strengthened individual consulting for this session.

The recruitment targets are innovative companies and prospective entrepreneurs requiring specialized consulting in areas such as technology commercialization, investment attraction, global expansion, fundraising, and open innovation. Among these, priority will be given to companies possessing core AI technologies or those pursuing AI transformation (AX).

Preferential evaluation scores will be applied to companies located in Uijeongbu City as of the recruitment date and to companies intending to move into the Uijeongbu region. The documents submitted by applicant companies will be reviewed by an external expert evaluation committee, and the final participating companies will be determined based on this process.

Companies wishing to participate should submit their application form and business plan or IR materials via the online application link provided in the announcements section of the Gyeonggi Creative Economy Innovation Center website. The application period runs until 5:00 PM on August 27.

This event, featuring selected companies, will be held from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM on September 30 at the Ieum Modum Hall in Uijeongbu Culture Station. The Gyeonggi Innovation Center plans to connect companies with consultation partners by analyzing the difficulties identified during the application process and the careers and areas of expertise of the experts.

"In the first session, we supported participating companies in concretizing their immediate challenges and establishing business growth strategies," said an official from the Gyeonggi Innovation Center. "This time as well, we will precisely diagnose the current issues facing startups and present scale-up plans tailored to each company's specific situation."

Attention is focused on how the method of matching experts based on the actual challenges faced by companies will change the business execution and investment preparation of startups in the northern Gyeonggi region.