Daegu Creative Economy Innovation Center Launches '2025 CLUTCH' to Support Local Youth Startups

"CLUTCH," a strong companion for youth startups in the Daegu region, has continued its fervent journey for the 6th year, establishing itself as a core pillar of the local startup ecosystem. Since its first step in the second half of 2020, a remarkable 4,118 young people have passed through Clutch, and nearly 500 brilliant startup ideas have been discovered here. This goes beyond mere numbers, proving that Clutch has become a cradle for turning the dreams and challenges of young people into reality. The "2025 CLUTCH" youth startup activation program, ambitiously operated by the Daegu Center for Creative Economy & Innovation (Daegu CCEI), marked a new beginning with its official opening ceremony held at the Clutch Beta Campus on the 1st. CLUTCH, open to anyone with a passion for entrepreneurship, provides demand-tailored programs for young people aged 34 and under, offering multifaceted support ranging from the formation of strong startup networks to step-by-step competency enhancement. This year, the program will be enriched with three special types: 'Clutch Day', 'Clutch League', and 'Clutch CEO', aiming to meet the diverse needs of young entrepreneurs. First, **Clutch Day** is a core program of the Clutch initiative, a regular networking event held every Tuesday evening from 7 PM to 9 PM. Approximately 20 young people gather voluntarily each week to present their startup ideas and undergo an in-depth idea-building process. It is a space of passion where business items are refined through startup education and study programs, laying a practical foundation for growth. Next, **Clutch League** is an annual 'Youth Startup Idea Competition', open to aspiring entrepreneurs aged 39 or under in the Daegu area, or early-stage startups within 3 years of establishment. Through preliminary and main rounds, participants solidify their business plans and get the opportunity to validate their ideas by showcasing IR pitching for investment attraction on the final stage. This has established itself as a successful gateway and a crucial stage for validating the capabilities of young people in the region who challenge entrepreneurship. Finally, **Clutch CEO** is an innovative program where young people directly become the main drivers of the business. Two representative young entrepreneurs from the region are selected and given the opportunity to participate in the planning and promotion of the Clutch program. During their participation in Clutch, they receive additional support such as mentoring to strengthen their business capabilities, helping them create a true model of youth-led youth businesses. Clutch's success is also proven by the high satisfaction of its participants. According to the results of a self-conducted survey, program satisfaction reached an impressive 4.8 out of 5 points, and the re-participation intention rate recorded an astonishing 98.2%. Lee Jae-hoon, an aspiring entrepreneur who served as a Clutch CEO in 2023, emphasized the importance of the Clutch network, stating, "Collaborating with valuable people I met at Clutch allowed me to concretize my ideas and realize the goal of starting a business." Han In-guk, head of the Daegu Center for Creative Economy & Innovation, expressed his aspirations, saying, "The role of youth startups contributing to local economic revitalization is immense," and "We promise unwavering support for the continuous expansion of the youth startup ecosystem in the region." Beyond simple startup support, Clutch will continue to play a crucial role in illuminating the future of the Daegu region as a startup hub that ignites the passion and awakens the potential of young people.