Gyeonggi Province Ramps Up Fostering of Companion Animal Startups at 'Companion Maru, Yeoju'... Capacity

Gyeonggi Province and GBSA Hold Capacity-Building Training for Companion Animal Startups at Companion Maru, Yeoju

Gyeonggi Province has launched field-based support initiatives to foster startups in the companion animal industry sector.

Companion Maru Yeoju. Provided by Gyeonggi Province

On the 24th, Gyeonggi Province announced that it had provided capacity-building training for companies participating in the "2026 Companion Animal Industry Startup Discovery and Startup Support Project" at "Companion Maru, Yeoju," in collaboration with the Gyeonggi Business & Science Accelerator (GBSA).

This training session was attended by 20 prospective and early-stage startups in the companion animal industry. The program focused on practical guidance to help these startups build business models with both social value and market competitiveness, and to strengthen their ability to attract investment.

On the day, Jeong Jinkwon, executive director of the social cooperative People and the World, introduced methods for designing business models that integrate social value with revenue structures, along with requirements for the designation of prospective and social enterprises, procedures for obtaining social enterprise certification, and the key features of social ventures.

In addition, Venture Field director Jeong Jiho delivered lectures on recent investment trends in the companion animal industry, business model analysis from an investor's perspective, and effective creation of investor presentation materials. He also explained the main criteria for investment decisions, including market potential, growth prospects, and revenue models.

Participants not only received training but also had the opportunity to directly observe the potential for growth and operational case studies in the companion animal industry through an on-site tour of Companion Maru, Yeoju, the largest companion animal complex cultural space in Korea.

Companion Maru, Yeoju is a facility opened by Gyeonggi Province in November 2023 to advance animal protection, welfare, and the spread of a mature companion animal culture. Situated on an approximately 165,000-square-meter site in Yeoju, the complex features a comprehensive cultural center, animal protection facilities, playgrounds for dogs, a scent exploration zone, a water park, a sports field, an agility competition stadium, and a companion animal memorial hall for pet funerals.

Byun Heejung, director of companion animal policy at Gyeonggi Province, commented, "The companion animal industry is an emerging sector that combines technology and service, and serves as a field for creating social value by improving animal welfare and addressing local community issues. We will strengthen support to help prospective and early-stage entrepreneurs grow into enterprises with both social purpose and market competitiveness."

Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Province plans to continue discovering promising companies in the companion animal industry in partnership with GBSA, in addition to providing support throughout the entire startup cycle, including business development, specialized training, investment connections, and export assistance.

© The Asia Business Daily. All rights reserved. Unauthorized AI training and use prohibited.