Hana Financial, Kyung Hee team up to foster regional startups
Hana Financial Group and Kyung Hee University have joined forces to cultivate young entrepreneurs outside Seoul, aligning with a broader government drive to strengthen regional startup ecosystems and stimulate local economies.
The two institutions signed a memorandum of understanding for the fifth edition of Hana Social Venture University, a public–private initiative conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Employment and Labor. Now in its fifth year, the program partners with regional universities to help students and recent graduates transform promising ideas into community-rooted businesses.
Program scope and impact
Since its inception, Hana Social Venture University has trained roughly 5,000 participants. Of those, 431 teams are currently operating businesses, demonstrating the program’s growing track record in turning early-stage concepts into viable ventures.
What’s new in the fifth edition
The latest round will recruit about 1,500 aspiring entrepreneurs from 30 universities nationwide. Centered on artificial intelligence–based entrepreneurship training, the curriculum is designed to equip participants with both technical fluency and practical startup skills.
Support will span the entire startup journey, including:
- Idea discovery and validation
- Business modeling and go-to-market strategy
- Commercialization support and pilot testing
- Fundraising readiness, including investor pitching
Stronger regional networks and mentorship
Participants will gain access to a consultative body formed by participating universities, creating a national peer network to share resources and know-how. The program will also connect teams with experienced regional founders for hands-on mentoring, with an emphasis on helping startups embed locally, build sustainable operations, and scale within their communities.
“We will continue to provide full support to build a virtuous cycle in which young people’s challenge and growth lead to regional economic growth,” said Ham Young-joo, Chair and CEO of Hana Financial Group.
