Gangnam-gu to Train 30 Early-Stage Founders in AI and Fundraising
Seoul's Gangnam-gu district is launching a free 10-week program to train 30 early-stage founders in artificial intelligence adoption and fundraising. The "2026 Early-Stage Founder Program on AX Adoption and Fundraising Strategy" will run from September 29 to December 1, with sessions held every Tuesday at TIPS Town S6. It targets companies established within the past three years, offering curriculum on AI-driven workflow automation, data utilization, product development, and investment proposal writing. Working investors will mentor participants, culminating in an "IR Day" on December 15 where founders will pitch their businesses to investors. Applications are open until September 28 via the Gangnam-gu Office website.
Gangnam-gu's new program for 30 early-stage founders points to a broader trend in South Korea: local governments are stepping in to bridge the AI skills gap for startups. While the national government has initiatives, this district-level focus on practical AX (AI transformation) adoption and fundraising for companies less than three years old addresses a critical early-stage need. The involvement of working investors as mentors and the culminating IR Day on December 15 provide tangible pathways for participants to secure funding and apply AI in their operations. The thing to watch is the program's effectiveness in translating AI knowledge into actual commercialization and investment. Gangnam-gu Mayor Kim Hyun-ki's stated goal is to connect AI use to execution and fundraising, which is a high bar for a 10-week program. The success of these 30 companies in attracting investment post-program will be a key indicator of whether this model can be replicated or scaled across other districts in South Korea, or even other Asian cities looking to bolster their startup ecosystems with AI expertise.
