South Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups is launching the ‘Everyone’s Startup’ project, offering up to 1 billion KRW ($750K) for early-stage founders based purely on ideas. Operating on a 4-stage survival model starting with 4,000 participants, it strongly prioritizes AI, robotics, and biotech. This is a crucial opportunity for non-traditional founders to build their MVPs without initial capital.
The Era of Idea-Stage Funding
Traditional venture capital models heavily favor founders with established track records, extensive networks, and initial traction. However, the ‘Everyone’s Startup’ (모두의 창업) project, spearheaded by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) and regional hubs like the Chungnam Creative Economy Innovation Center, represents a paradigm shift. By lowering the entry barrier entirely to the “idea stage,” the government is democratizing entrepreneurship. For founders, this means unparalleled access to infrastructure, mentorship, and most importantly, up to 1 billion KRW (approximately $750,000 USD) in funding without the need to dilute equity prematurely or bootstrap through personal debt.
Deconstructing the 4-Stage Survival Funnel
While the barrier to entry is low, the path to the maximum funding amount is highly competitive. The program utilizes a rigorous four-stage survival format, starting with a massive cohort of 4,000 participants nationwide. The stages include: 1) Business Model (BM) concretization camps, 2) Minimum Viable Product (MVP) development, 3) Business scaling and IR enhancement, and 4) Direct investment linkage.
From a founder’s perspective, this funnel mimics the natural startup lifecycle but at an accelerated pace. Survival depends not just on the brilliance of the initial idea, but on execution velocity. Founders must demonstrate an ability to take feedback from the BM camp, build a functional MVP rapidly, and present compelling traction metrics to advance to the IR and investment stages.
Strategic Sector Focus: Aligning with Deep Tech
Although branded as a program for “everyone,” the initiative has a clear strategic bias toward future-oriented industries. Priority is given to sectors such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data, Robotics, Aerospace, and Biotechnology. This alignment with national strategic interests means that founders operating in these spaces will find a more receptive audience and potentially a smoother path through the survival stages. Founders outside these deep-tech sectors must think creatively about how to integrate these technologies into their business models—for instance, leveraging AI for operational efficiency or big data for customer personalization—to remain competitive in the applicant pool.
Actionable Takeaways for Founders
To leverage this program effectively, founders must act strategically. First, do not wait for a perfect product; refine your core problem-solution fit immediately, as the application only requires a solid idea. Second, reverse-engineer the survival stages. Prepare a 90-day execution roadmap showing exactly how you will build and iterate your MVP if selected for stage 2. Finally, align your narrative with national tech priorities. Even if you are building a consumer SaaS, highlight the proprietary data loops or AI integrations that elevate your idea from a simple application to a defensible, scalable technology business. The deadline is May 15—start validating your idea today.