AI-powered solutions to navigate and access Korea's startup funding programs
As an early-stage founder, the Pre-Startup Package (예비창업패키지) is the most significant government resource available. This program provides grant funding and institutional support to help you move from a concept to a registered corporation. It effectively lowers the barrier to entry into one of Asia's most active startup ecosystems.
The Pre-Startup Package (예비창업패키지) is a government-funded startup grant program run by Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS). It is designed to help very early-stage founders who have not registered a company yet.
Securing early-stage capital is a primary hurdle for foreign founders in a new market. This grant allows you to build a prototype and test the Korean market without giving up equity or taking on debt.
Over the course of 8 months, the program guides you through four key phases:
To apply, you must be a pre-founder. This means that on the date of the program's announcement, you must not have an active business registration (사업자등록) in South Korea (sole proprietorship, LLC, or a corporation).
The application opens in Q1 of each year, typically around January or February. You can find and submit the application on the K-Startup Platform.
To apply, you're required to submit a detailed business plan (사업계획서) that follows a four-part logic.
Note: To submit applications through the K-Startup Portal, you must have have a local phone number that is registered to your Alien Registration Card (ARC).
Once selected, recipients typically receive ₩50 to ₩100 million KRW (~$35,000–$75,000 USD) to build their product, test the market, and formally launch. Unlike venture capital funding, this is non-dilutive, meaning the government takes 0% equity in your company. MSS distributes the funds in stages, with regular evaluations and reports in between. Teams that show strong progress may receive more support.
It's not just a check - it's a hybrid between a grant and an accelerator. Through structure and support, your plugged directly into Korea's startup ecosystem.
In addition to the grant, the Pre-Startup Package also provides structured acceleration support. MSS matches you with a university, innovation center, or private accelerator that has established startup resources.
They provide:
While foreigners are able to apply, you should be prepared to face certain constraints, including:
If you’re serious about building a startup in Korea, the Pre-Startup Package is one of the strongest early-stage resources available. It offers a rare combination of non-dilutive capital, institutional support, and government credibility. For foreign founders especially, it can serve as a soft landing into the ecosystem to make your business idea into a reality.
Janie Baek
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