The Daegu Creative Economy Innovation Center is accepting applications until November 24 from companies wishing to participate in an IR (investment presentation) pitching session in front of investors at the “65th Daegu Startup Leaders Forum,” to be held on December 16.
The Center announced on September 23 that it will select approximately eight companies nationwide that have been in business for seven years or less. Both sole proprietorships and corporations are eligible to apply. The length of operation is determined based on the date of business commencement listed on the business registration certificate for sole proprietorships and the date of incorporation for corporations. If an applicant owns multiple businesses, the business registration certificate for the first registered business will serve as the basis.
The Daegu Startup Leaders Forum is an event organized by the Center to help startups attract investment and foster a regional investment ecosystem. At the forum, selected companies will present their businesses to investors and engage in investment consultations and networking—all in one place. This forum will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on December 16 at C-Quad on the first floor of the Daegu Creative Economy Innovation Center on Hoam-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu.
Prior to the forum, selected companies will receive one session of IR consulting to refine their investment strategies, and some will also receive support for designing and producing their IR decks. On the day of the forum, companies will pitch to an audience of approximately 20 investors from both within and outside the region, as well as the general public, and will hold 3–4 one-on-one investment consultations per company with pre-matched investors. Individual booths will also be set up for each company to showcase their products or services.
Follow-up support will also be provided. The center will review opportunities for direct investment and recommendations for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups’ TIPS program, and will facilitate investment reviews by TIPS operators affiliated with the center. Information will also be provided on office space support—such as the Daegu Scale-Up Hub and Unicorn Lab—as well as other support programs.
The application period runs from September 23 to 6:00 p.m. on November 24, lasting approximately two months. The schedule is as follows: in-person presentation evaluation on December 2, individual notification to selected companies on December 3, Coach Day for selected companies on December 9, and a forum on December 16. The CEO must participate in all events, including the selection evaluation. The schedule is subject to change depending on the Center’s circumstances.
Approximately eight companies will be selected. Following the forum, follow-up support will be provided, including direct investment by the Center, consideration for TIPS recommendations, and assistance with securing office space. Companies that fail to submit the required documents or operate in industries covered by Article 4 of the Enforcement Decree of the Act on Support for SME Startups are ineligible to apply. For inquiries, please contact the Investment Operations Team at the Daegu Creative Economy Innovation Center.
Applications are accepted exclusively through the Daegu Startup Hub (DASH) website; submissions via email or in person will not be accepted. Applicants must submit an application form, a business registration certificate, a certified copy of the corporate registry (for corporations), and a 5-minute IR pitch presentation; supporting documents such as patents may be submitted on a voluntary basis. Companies that have misappropriated ideas or technologies, submitted falsified documents, are subject to regulatory restrictions due to default on debts or delinquency in national or local taxes, or are currently suspended from business operations are ineligible to apply. However, companies that have been recognized as needing support for a fresh start—such as through debt restructuring or re-startup funding—are eligible to apply.
