BNK Busan Bank holds 8th B-Startup Challenge; five companies win awards, with Amist taking the grand prize

[Financial News] BNK Busan Bank said on the 9th that it held the final round and awards ceremony of the startup investment competition, the 8th B-Startup Challenge, on the afternoon of the 8th at Exhibition Hall 1 of BEXCO in Busan.
The B-Startup Challenge is a startup investment competition designed to identify startups with outstanding technology and growth potential and provide them with investment opportunities. This year's competition, like last year's, was held in conjunction with FLY ASIA 2026, the Asian startup expo hosted by Busan City.
This year's competition drew particularly strong interest, with a record 445 startups from across the country taking part. Of these, 10 companies selected through preliminary rounds advanced to the final and delivered investor-relations (IR) pitches.
They presented technologies and business models in a range of future growth fields, including an AI-based smart port operating system, an industrial physical AI platform and aerospace structure manufacturing solutions. The judging panel comprehensively assessed each company's technology, commercialization potential, marketability and team capabilities, and selected five winners.
Amist Co., Ltd. was selected for the grand prize. Camp Co., Ltd. won gold, Uncommon Lab Co., Ltd. silver, Roen Korea Co., Ltd. bronze, and Saebi Robotics Co., Ltd. the special award. The winning companies are set to receive a total of 300 million won in investment: 130 million won for the grand prize, 80 million won for gold, 50 million won for silver, 30 million won for bronze and 10 million won for the special award.
Busan Bank President Kim Seong-ju said, “The record number of companies participating this year means that startup companies’ interest in the B-Startup Challenge is steadily growing.” He added, “We will continue to actively identify promising startups with growth potential and provide practical investment opportunities, helping to revitalize the local startup ecosystem.”
[email protected] Byun Ok-hwan Reporter