Ministry of SMEs and Startups honors firm at 2026 Innovative Small Business Final Audition

9,422 companies competed nationwide; startup draws attention for use of unsellable fruit

Jin Dal-rae (right), CEO of Jingadagam, receives the popularity award from Second Vice Minister of SMEs and Startups Lee Byung-kwon at the 2026 Innovative Small Business Final Audition, held Thursday at Seoul Startup Venture Campus in Mapo-gu, Seoul. [Jingadagam]
Jin Dal-rae (right), CEO of Jingadagam, receives the popularity award from Second Vice Minister of SMEs and Startups Lee Byung-kwon at the 2026 Innovative Small Business Final Audition, held Thursday at Seoul Startup Venture Campus in Mapo-gu, Seoul. [Jingadagam]

A youth-founded startup in Ulsan that transforms discarded produce into premium low-sugar desserts using low-temperature concentration and enzyme processing technology has been named one of the top 11 innovative small businesses in the country.

Jingadagam, based in Samnam-eup, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, won the popularity award at the 2026 Innovative Small Business Final Audition hosted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups on Thursday.

The ministry launched an integrated audition for innovative small businesses in June as part of its small business growth support project, selecting 534 promising companies from 9,422 nationwide entrants and providing them with commercialization funding. It then evaluated each company on product competitiveness and business development progress, narrowing the field to 80 finalists before designating 11 as "innovative small businesses" following a final practical review.

Jingadagam impressed judges with its distinctive business model of creating new economic value from fallen fruit — pears and apples — and local specialty products such as blueberries and honey from the Ulju region.

Jin Dal-rae, 38, the company's CEO, studied at Le Cordon Bleu and gained experience as a chef and in dessert-making in Australia, Thailand and Japan before founding the company in 2023. The name Jingadagam means "a sweet treat to be savored gently alongside tea." The startup has steadily strengthened its product competitiveness by completing a series of programs, including Ulsan's youth CEO development project, the Ulju-gun Youth Startup Academy and the Youth Startup School.

The top-11 designation opens the door to a range of follow-up support for Jingadagam, including additional commercialization funding, meetings with venture capital firms, domestic and overseas market development, and entry into new markets — laying the groundwork for the brand to grow into a nationally recognized regional label.

"Jingadagam is a case of local resources being reimagined through innovative ideas," an Ulsan city official said. "We will continue to support the company so it can grow into a sustainable youth enterprise."


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