Women's Startup Contests Hit a Record 39:1 Participation Ratio

• 1,712 applications for the 27th Women’s Startup Competition, reaching a 39:1 ratio
• Tech leads: Big Data & AI tops interest, followed by bio/healthcare and femtech sectors
• Top 44 teams selected to compete, with cash prizes and pathway to K-Startup Awards

South Korea’s Women’s Startup Competition, which has been around for 27 years, recorded its highest-ever competition ratio of 39:1.

The Women Entrepreneurs Comprehensive Support Centre (WECSC) announced on April 28 that the “27th Women’s Startup Competition 2026,” received a total of 1712 applications for the competition, of which 44 teams will be selected to participate. Participation in this year's competition increased by 66 percent, compared to the previous year.

The Women’s Startup Competition is the only national women-only entrepreneurship competition in the country, and it has produced many successful start-ups like BioBricks that won the Grand Prize (Presidential Award) at the “Challenge! K-Startup 2024” Startup League, and Innersia (the leader in the femtech space).

Women entrepreneurs’ interest in technology-driven businesses is high this year with regard to Start-up Competitions.

Big Data and AI received the most applications (454) of all the technology and innovation-based Cancellation categories, followed by bio and healthcare with 141 teams and femtech with 108 teams.

In conjunction with the Lifestyle and Consumer Goods segments, K-Food received 231 applications, Women’s Home and Family Care had 226 applications and K-Beauty received 130 applications were among the categories that generated a large amount of interest from women entrepreneurs.

Chang-suk Park, Chairwoman of WECSC, said, “As the Ministry of SMEs and Startups promotes the ‘Startup for All’ initiative, the record-breaking participation in this year’s Women’s Startup Competition is injecting new vitality into the startup ecosystem.”

Chairwoman Park added, “In particular, women-focused sectors—uniquely positioned to solve everyday inconveniences with keen sensitivity and empathy—are an unparalleled domain. I am confident that women-led companies combining technology and emotional intelligence will become a new growth engine for our economy.”

This program invites teams of female entrepreneurs who have launched their business within the last 7 years or aspire to launch a new venture. There are 44 women teams that will participate and compete during "Women in Business Week" (July 1-7) in 2020.

There will be cash awards and recognition for the winners including an award from the Minister of Small and Medium Enterprises and Startups as well as cash prizes of up to 20 million won. Some of the winners will have the opportunity to advance to the preliminary round of the 2026 K-Startup Awards program.