Seoul CCEI Identifies and Fosters 32 Metro Local Creator Teams

The Seoul Center for Creative Economy & Innovation (SCCEI) has vigorously taken its first step on a journey to lead regional innovation by finally selecting 32 promising local creator teams in the Seoul metropolitan area. On April 23rd, it successfully held an orientation for the selected small business owners, signaling the full-scale launch of its annual support program. The 'Local Creator Nurturing Project' is a nationwide commercialization support project overseen by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development, and the Seoul Center for Creative Economy & Innovation is responsible for managing its operations in the Seoul metropolitan area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon. The core objective of this project is to discover and support the growth of small business owners who creatively reinterpret unique local resources and culture to create new value. The orientation laid a practical foundation for the successful establishment of the selected teams' businesses. It provided detailed guidance on the annual business roadmap and support programs, and conducted training on the commercialization fund execution procedures and precautions, enhancing participants' understanding. In particular, the vivid practical experiences and sharp business insights shared by Bae Tae-gwan, CEO of Oysterville and a senior entrepreneur, received enthusiastic responses from the participants. The local creators who are receiving significant anticipation in the Seoul metropolitan area this year include a total of 32 teams such as Hayansul, Crafter, Bad Hat Brothers, Gourmet Cloud, Yeolmaedalpyeong, Space Hue, Pureun Gongshik, Sistro, Visitarian, and Aria Workroom. Unprecedented support is generously provided to the selected local creators for business advancement. Individual teams receive up to 40 million KRW, and collaborative teams receive up to 70 million KRW in commercialization funds, accompanied by demand-based customized startup education and professional mentoring programs. In addition, strong networking opportunities with leading companies and investors are provided, as well as chances to expand public engagement through participation in major festivals such as Local Week and the Integrated Festa. Furthermore, growth will be accelerated through diverse synergy programs including support for Startup Village workspaces and links to district-level startup schools. Lee Young-geun, head of the Seoul Center for Creative Economy & Innovation, stated, "We will spare no effort in providing comprehensive support to enable local creators in the Seoul metropolitan area to stand tall as 'entrepreneurial small business owners' through innovative business models based on local resources." He also expressed his ambition to "lead sustainable growth through organic linkages with various regional startup ecosystems." This support from the Seoul Center for Creative Economy & Innovation is expected to inject new vitality into the local economy of the Seoul metropolitan area and serve as a crucial turning point in creating success stories for innovative small business owners.