14 Seoul Metropolitan Area Universities Join Forces: Hanyang University Successfully Concludes Hands-on Youth Startup Camp

[Financial News] Promising young startup clubs from 14 universities in the Seoul metropolitan area gathered to validate their startup ideas and strengthen their prospects for commercialization. Hanyang Institute for Entrepreneurship (HIE) announced on the 17th that it had held the 2026 Seoul Metropolitan Area University Startup Club Joint Workshop: Startup Camp On at the KB Securities Training Center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, over two days from the 15th to the 16th.
After a rigorous evaluation of business pitches aimed at attracting investment, Incheon National University's Bitnaon team won the grand prize. Hanyang University's Mind Learning 72 team received the top excellence award, while Soongsil University's DURU team and Konkuk University's Enactus team each received an excellence award. The winning teams were given certificates and prize money to help turn their ideas into actual businesses.
The workshop was designed to move beyond university boundaries, objectively assess the market potential of student founders, and help them develop. Professional investors, including Ahn Jae-gwang, CEO of SBI Investment Korea, and Hojae Lee, CEO of Y&ARCHER, took part in the event. Kim Jae-hyeok, CEO of Hanyang University-affiliated technology company LetinAR, also joined the workshop and shared strategies for success with the students. He described how he developed an idea from his university days into a technology company and offered aspiring founders practical know-how on market validation.
The participating teams worked with experts to closely examine customer demand, market competitiveness, and revenue models while refining their business plans. They received particularly focused feedback on how to quickly adjust their business direction in response to market reactions and how to develop products that meet the needs of actual consumers.
The event was held as part of the Startup-Centered University Program, supported by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development (KISED). A total of 28 startup teams from major universities in the Seoul metropolitan area participated, including the organizing institution Hanyang University, as well as Konkuk University, Kyonggi University (KGU), Kwangwoon University (KWU), Dongguk University, Sogang University, Sookmyung Women's University, Soongsil University, Ajou University, Yonsei University, Ewha Womans University, Induk University, Incheon National University, and Hansung University.
Ryu Chang-wan, head of HIE, said, "The core of the Startup-Centered University Program is to create an environment where startup resources across a region are connected so they can grow together, beyond the boundaries of individual universities." He added, "By joining forces with universities and startup organizations in the Seoul metropolitan area, we will strengthen a seamless system spanning the discovery, education, commercialization, and investment attraction of promising young startup teams."

[email protected] Kim Man-gi Reporter