Women's Startup Event Marks All-Time High 39:1 Competition Ratio

By: WE Staff | Tuesday, 28 April 2026

• Record 39:1 participation with 1,712 entries
• Strong surge in AI, Big Data, and tech startups
• 44 finalists to receive funding and global opportunities

The Women’s Startup Competition, now in its 27th year, witnessed an unprecedented surge in participation, recording its highest-ever competition ratio of 39:1.

The Women's Entrepreneurs Comprehensive Support Center announced on April 28 that 1,712 teams entered the "27th Women's Startup Competition 2026"; 44 of these teams will be selected as finalists. This represents a 66 percent increase from the number of teams that applied for the equivalent competition in 2022.

The Women's Startup Competition is the only domestic competition in South Korea focused solely on female entrepreneurs. The Women's Startup Competition has produced successful businesses like BioBricks, which recently received the Grand Prize (Presidential Award) at the "Challenge! K-Startup 2024" Start-up League and Innersia – the world's leading femtech firm!

This year's competition is noteworthy, due to the growth in women entrepreneurs interested in technology intensive industries.

Within the technology and innovation sector, Big Data and Artificial Intelligence (454 teams) received the highest number of participants out of any of the individual categories. In addition, a large number of high-tech start-up ideas were developed by entrepreneurs interested in developing their business in bio-healthcare (141 teams) and femtech (108 teams).

Within the lifestyle and consumer goods sector, we experienced a large number of submissions for K-Food (231 teams), Women & Family Care (226 teams), and K-Beauty (130 teams).

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.”

“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”, she added.

The Women’s Startup Competition provides support to women entrepreneurs by offering financial assistance and guidance after being chosen as participants in this global startup contest through either direct support (cash prizes) or indirect support (grant funding).

The 44 teams selected from among all applicants, the following types of prizes will be available: $1 million for the Minister of SMEs and Startup's award; a cash prize of no more than $3 million for each company in the top ten overall; up to $3 million of cash for award-winning companies that do not place in the top ten; direct or indirect support for each finalist selected by the judging panel; and the chance to be a finalist in the K-Startup of the Year 2026. For additional details regarding how to apply, you can visit our website.