deep Tech startups Vie for Funding with Personalized Health solutions
Seoul, South Korea – October 1, 2025 – Ten teams of researchers and students from South Korea’s leading science and technology institutions are competing for investment and support to commercialize cutting-edge “deep tech” innovations, including customized probiotics targeting the beauty and fitness market, and solutions for optimizing anticancer drugs in blood cancer patients. The teams were selected as finalists in the ‘2025 K-Deep Tech Startup Wang Kangjeon’ competition, hosted by Money today’s Unicorn Factory platform and sponsored by the Ministry of Science and ICT.
This year marks the fourth iteration of the program, designed to accelerate the growth of promising deep tech startups and foster regional innovation ecosystems through R&D technology transfer and commercialization. The competition highlights a growing trend towards personalized health solutions, with several teams focusing on individualized approaches to wellness and disease treatment. The stakes are high, as advancements in these areas could substantially improve patient outcomes and revolutionize preventative healthcare, impacting millions globally. Finalists will receive initial prizes and access to further investment opportunities and support for commercialization.
The finalist teams represent KAIST,DGIST,UNIST,GIST,and POSTECH.Teacher-led startups include Poppy MX (DGIST), TK Medical Solution (UNIST), Elv (GIST), and Celet (POSTECH). Student startups are Silicopam (DGIST), Strong Life (UNIST), Icarus (GIST), and Princet Ceravio (POSTECH). Specific projects include developing customized probiotics, and optimizing anticancer drugs for patients with blood cancer.
Investment interest comes from major corporations and venture capital firms,including Samsung Electronics,SK Telecom,Hyundai Motor,L&S Venture capital,Ecopro Partners,and Capstone Partners.Each team will receive a 3 million won prize, along with the Minister of Science and ICT award. Additional support includes potential follow-on investment and recommendations for the TIPS (Tech Incubation Program for Startups) program. Two teams will receive further prizes of 1 million and 500,000 won respectively.
The Unicorn Factory aims to facilitate the commercialization and technology transfer of R&D, ultimately establishing a thriving ecosystem for deep tech startups in the region.
