K-Scouter 2026: South Korea Market Entry Programme for Innovative Startups

Programme Overview

K-Scouter 2026 is an international acceleration programme designed to help innovative startups from around the world establish and grow their businesses in the Republic of Korea.

Backed by Korea's Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) and the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development (KISED), the programme provides selected startups with structured market-entry support, business matching opportunities, investor engagement, and access to one of Asia's most advanced innovation ecosystems.

The programme is operated by The Innovators, a Korea-based accelerator specialising in supporting international startups entering the Korean market.

Programme Benefits

Selected startups will participate in a five-month hybrid acceleration programme that includes:

• Business matching with Korean customers and corporate partners
• Investor introductions and networking opportunities
• Product-market fit validation
• Proof of Concept (PoC) opportunities
• Market-entry planning and localisation support
• Korea business ecosystem training
• Company establishment guidance
• Startup Visa (D-8-S) support
• Legal and administrative business support
• Round-trip airfare support to Korea
• Participation in COMEUP 2026, Korea's flagship global startup festival
• Long-term support for expansion into Korea and the broader Asia-Pacific region

Programme Timeline

Application Deadline

10 July 2026 (15:00 KST)

Programme Period

Online Phase: August – November 2026

On-site Programme: December 2026

Programme duration: Five months (Hybrid).

Who Should Apply?

The programme is open to innovative international startups that:

• Are registered outside South Korea
• Have no existing business presence in Korea
• Are less than seven years old (or up to ten years for Deep Tech startups)
• Are led by a non-Korean founder or CEO
• Demonstrate a clear interest in entering the Korean market
• Operate within innovative technology sectors

Priority sectors include:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
• Deep Tech
• B2B SaaS
• Healthcare
• Robotics
• Advanced Manufacturing
• ESG and Sustainability
• Enterprise Technology

Additional consideration is given to B2B and B2B2B business models.

Why Korea?

Korea provides startups with access to:

• One of the world's most advanced digital economies
• Strong government support for international startups
• Corporate partnership opportunities
• Venture capital and investment networks
• Proof of Concept opportunities
• Advanced technology infrastructure
• A gateway into the wider Asia-Pacific market

Programme Outcomes

Participants receive support throughout every stage of market entry, including:

• Product-market fit refinement
• Korea business readiness training
• Business matching before arrival
• Market-entry execution
• Company establishment
• Customer acquisition support
• Strategic partnership development
• Long-term business expansion within Korea and Asia-Pacific

Application Deadline

10 July 2026

Click HERE to visit the official website

Interested startups can submit their applications through the official K-Scouter application platform before the closing date.