Jeju Early-Stage Technology Startups to Meet TIPS Operators in November... Regional IR Expands

[Financial News | Jeju—Jeong Yong-bok, Reporter] Early-stage technology startups in Jeju will hold direct investment consultations with Tech Incubator Program for Startup (TIPS) operators in November.
According to the Ministry of SMEs and Startups on the 2nd, the Jeju regional Welcome to TIPS event will be held in November.
Welcome to TIPS is an event where early-stage technology startups outside the capital region that hope to participate in TIPS meet with TIPS operators to explore investment prospects. It has been held since 2017.
The event had previously focused on five major regions—the capital region, Southeastern region, Chungcheong region, Honam region and Daegyeong region. Starting this year, its scope has expanded to three special self-governing regions, including Jeonbuk, Gangwon and Jeju.
The Southeastern regional event will be held on the 8th at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO) in Busan, while the Gangwon regional event will take place on the 30th at Bomnae Gymnasium in Chuncheon. In November, the Honam regional event is scheduled for the 5th at Suncheon National University, and the Jeonbuk regional event for the 6th at Jeonju Hanok Village. The Jeju regional event has been confirmed for November.
TIPS is a public-private startup support system in which private operators identify technology startups with growth potential and invest in them first, after which the government provides linked support for research and development (R&D) and startup commercialization. For early-stage companies, connecting with TIPS operators can lead not only to private funding but also to follow-up government support for technology development.
This year's Welcome to TIPS program also includes additional follow-up support. Top-performing companies in each region will receive priority selection opportunities for the Pre-TIPS program, which supports their growth into TIPS candidates. The program strengthens a step-by-step pathway from Pre-TIPS to TIPS, rather than simply introducing companies to investors at regional events.
Welcome to TIPS is one of the regional investor relations programs under the "Challenge IR Project" launched this year by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups and 142 TIPS operators plan to hold more than 300 in-person investor relations (IR) sessions nationwide by the end of the year. The main targets are technology startup representatives and prospective entrepreneurs seeking their first-ever investment. Participants must have a specific business plan.
Each operator's IR program will be held twice, in October and November. Ahead of the October programs, more than 500 founders had submitted investment proposals to TIPS operators since the 15th of last month. The operators will review the proposals, select the founders who will participate in in-person IR sessions and notify them of the results at least seven days before each event.
Founders may submit an investment proposal to only one operator in each round. Once an operator reaches the application limit for its IR program, it will close registration.
The program will also be linked to the government's Everyone's Startup project. Some 63,000 people nationwide took part in the first round of Everyone's Startup. Of those advancing to the second round of the general and technology tracks, approximately 200 people recommended by incubators will be connected with TIPS operators suited to their business ideas and pursue investment.
In Jeju, 1,184 people took part in the first round of Everyone's Startup, and 133 were selected. A key focus of the Jeju regional IR program is whether startup talent identified in the region can advance to the stage of securing actual private investment.
Successfully securing investment will create an additional opportunity to enter the main TIPS program. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups plans to offer companies that attract actual investment through the Challenge IR Project preferential benefits, including additional points in TIPS program selection evaluations.
The results of the Jeju regional Welcome to TIPS program are expected to be measured by what follows the event, rather than by the event itself. The key indicators will be how many Jeju companies become targets for operators' investment reviews and whether those reviews lead to actual investment and selection for Pre-TIPS or TIPS.


[email protected] Jeong Yong-bok Reporter