KT&G (President Bang Kyung-man) held the
kick-off ceremony for the 9th season of its youth entrepreneurship program,
SangSang Startup Camp, on May 16–17 at SangSang Madang Chuncheon.
This year’s program welcomes 20
teams of early-stage entrepreneurs who will undergo 14 weeks of intensive,
hands-on startup training. During this period, KT&G will collaborate with
Impact Square—a startup acceleration company—to offer a wide range of services,
including AI-driven business coaching, one-on-one expert mentoring, and the
opportunity to operate out of SangSang Planet, a dedicated co-working space for
youth-led ventures, all the while supporting the participants’ business growth.
The program will culminate in an
IR Pitching Day this September,
where eight teams selected through an interim evaluation, will present their
business progress. Outstanding performers will be recognized and awarded.
KT&G will continue to support participating teams beyond the camp by
assisting with investment attraction, promotional efforts, and participation in
exhibitions and trade shows.
Participant recruitment for the
9th season began in March, targeting young entrepreneurs within three years of
founding their startups. The application process attracted significant
interest, with 104 startup teams signing up for the program. Following a
rigorous document review and in-person interviews, the final 20 teams were
selected on April 30.
Jang Ho-yeon, Head of KT&G’s Social
Contribution Division, said, “SangSang Startup Camp provides tailored
incubation support to help young entrepreneurs grow their startups. We will
continue to systematically foster youth entrepreneurship and contribute to job
creation and social value.”
Launched in 2017, SangSang Startup
Camp is part of KT&G’s ongoing commitment to revitalizing the social
venture ecosystem and expanding employment opportunities for youth. As of last
year, the program had supported 162 startup teams, collectively generating
KRW 28.83 billion in revenue and attracting KRW 12.36 billion in
investment.
(Photo) KT&G held the kick-off ceremony for the 9th season of its youth entrepreneurship program, SangSang Startup Camp, on May 16–17 at SangSang Madang Chuncheon. Participants from the 9th season are gathered for a commemorative group photo.
