MOU aims to identify strategic industries and innovative companies in North Gyeongsang Province

Promising startups to receive reduced guarantee fees and investment linkage support

Full-cycle support for venture companies in Daegu and North Gyeongsang to be strengthened

Participants pose for a photo after the MOU signing ceremony, including Korea Technology Finance Corporation Director Lee Sang-chang (fourth from left, front row) and North Gyeongsang Creative Economy Innovation Center CEO Yu Ju-hyeon (fifth from left, front row). [Korea Technology Finance Corporation]
Participants pose for a photo after the MOU signing ceremony, including Korea Technology Finance Corporation Director Lee Sang-chang (fourth from left, front row) and North Gyeongsang Creative Economy Innovation Center CEO Yu Ju-hyeon (fifth from left, front row). [Korea Technology Finance Corporation]

Korea Technology Finance Corporation has joined forces with the North Gyeongsang Creative Economy Innovation Center to build a cooperative framework linking the discovery of promising regional startups with investment attraction and financial support.

Kibo announced Tuesday that it signed a "MOU on identifying and connecting investment for North Gyeongsang strategic industry and innovative growth startups" at the G-Idea Park of the North Gyeongsang Creative Economy Innovation Center in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, on Monday.

The agreement was designed to combine both institutions' capabilities in identifying and nurturing startups with Kibo's technology finance support system, with the aim of helping innovative regional companies grow.

Under the MOU, the North Gyeongsang Creative Economy Innovation Center will identify high-potential local startups and recommend them to Kibo. Kibo plans to offer preferential guarantees — including reduced guarantee fees — to recommended companies and support their access to investment.

Beyond financial support, the two sides will also pursue non-financial assistance such as technology protection, technology transfer and management consulting. The goal is to strengthen the growth foundation of regional startups that have solid technology but struggle with fundraising and commercialization.

The North Gyeongsang Creative Economy Innovation Center operates startup support programs — including G-Star Dreamers, Startup-Bus and TIPS — to identify promising companies in the region.

Following the signing ceremony, four startups recommended by the center held investor relations sessions. Pecan Soft, Posol Inotech, ETA Electronics and Nest participated, presenting their core businesses and technologies and exploring investment opportunities.

The MOU connects the center's startup discovery function with Kibo's technology finance support. Because startups can still face difficulties attracting investment or securing follow-on funding even after completing early-stage programs, the key is establishing a support pathway — from recommending promising companies to linking them with guarantees and investment. Actual results will depend on how concretely the financial support and investment linkage for recommended companies materialize.

Kibo had also signed a separate MOU on Wednesday at Daegu EXCO with Korea Venture Investment and iM Bank, titled "a productive finance MOU for activating the Daegu-North Gyeongsang venture fund and venture ecosystem."

Under that agreement, Korea Venture Investment is to take charge of forming and managing regional venture funds, while iM Bank will provide preferential financial services to local venture companies. Kibo plans to support fundraising through startup assistance, investment company recommendations and preferential guarantees.

Building on the MOUs signed in succession in Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province, Kibo intends to expand its support — from identifying promising venture companies to linking them with investment and supplying growth capital.

"We will continue to work closely with regional institutions to actively identify innovative companies and breathe new vitality into the local startup ecosystem," Kibo Director Lee Sang-chang said.


boo@heraldcorp.com