Daegu-Gyeongbuk Youth Startup Competition Concludes, 10 Teams Compete with Innovative Ideas

A moment where the fervent passion of youth entrepreneurship in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions shone brightly, the ‘2025 Daegu·Gyeongbuk Startup Festival – Startup Twinkle Contest’ successfully concluded on the 26th. Beyond a simple competition, this contest was a platform for young entrepreneurs' passionate journey to introduce novel ideas to the world and explore practical business expansion opportunities. Under the organic cooperation between the Daegu Center for Creative Economy & Innovation (DCCEI) and the Gyeongbuk Center for Creative Economy & Innovation (GBCCEI), 10 teams of young entrepreneurs, selected through fierce regional preliminary rounds, took to the main stage to present their innovative visions. Notably, prior to the contest this year, both centers collaborated to run a 'Boost-up Camp,' focusing on strengthening the capabilities of the participants. Through professional mentoring and in-depth education, young entrepreneurs gained valuable insights and built strong networks through mutual exchange, fostering opportunities for co-growth beyond mere competition. Behind the success of this contest was the significant role of 'CLUTCH,' DCCEI's core youth startup support program. CLUTCH, which has consistently discovered and nurtured young entrepreneurs in the region since 2020, demonstrated its power and popularity by recording a high competition rate of 3:1 in the selection process for the participating teams. The teams that overcame fierce competition to reach the glorious winners' stage are as follows: The Grand Prize (Minister of SMEs and Startups Award) went to **Celenit (CEO Lee Joong-ho)**, who showcased an innovative idea. The Top Excellence Award (Daegu-Gyeongbuk Regional SMEs and Startups Office Director's Award) was claimed by **Fire Crew (CEO Cho Yong-jae)**, while the Excellence Award (Daegu·Gyeongbuk Center for Creative Economy & Innovation CEO Award) was presented to **THE ONE M TECH** and **Humanics**. And the Korea Scholarship Foundation President's Special Award was received by **EAST TO WEST (CEO Koo Bon-moo)**. Koo Bon-moo, CEO of EAST TO WEST, who received the special award, stated, "Thanks to the special lectures and active networking of the CLUTCH program, I gained deep insights into entrepreneurship, and successfully refined our business model through idea building and professional consultation processes." He expressed his gratitude, adding, "The robust support environment for young entrepreneurs in the region allowed us to continuously challenge ourselves." CLUTCH goes beyond simply discovering ideas; it is a comprehensive support system for the practical challenges and growth of young entrepreneurs in the region. It offers a variety of programs every week, including idea pitching, professional training, and study groups, to enable young people with a fervent passion for entrepreneurship to voluntarily form networks and build practical capabilities. This vibrant platform for exchange regularly takes place every Tuesday evening from 7 PM to 9 PM at the CLUTCH Beta Campus within the Daegu Samsung Creative Campus. Han In-guk, Head of DCCEI, stated, "Through this Twinkle Contest, we were once again able to confirm the boundless ideas and brilliant growth potential of young entrepreneurs." He expressed his strong commitment, saying, "Going forward, the CLUTCH program will continue to be a reliable partner for young entrepreneurs, providing generous support so they can continuously challenge themselves and create innovative achievements." We look forward to a future where the startup ecosystem in the Daegu and Gyeongbuk regions develops even more vibrantly.