Dankook University’s Startup Support Center, led by Director Nam Jeong-min, announced on March 10 that it is recruiting companies to participate in the 2026 Sports Industry Startup Support Project.
The initiative is part of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation’s Sports Industry Startup Support Project (Preliminary & Early Startup Support Center). It aims to identify promising startups in the sports sector and help them commercialize their businesses while connecting them with investors.
The program is open to prospective founders and early-stage startups (under three years) in the sports industry—firms that already have sports-related ideas or are planning to launch ventures in the sports field.
Dankook plans to select roughly 14 companies.
Selected startups will receive commercialization funding of up to 58.5 million KRW (approximately $43,875), with an average award of 45 million KRW (approximately $33,750).
The program also includes investor-relations training and IR pitch-deck production, AC/VC investment-matching demo days, stage-specific networking for sports startups, PoC meetings with major and mid-sized sports companies, global expansion programs, and tailored specialization tracks.
Notably, Dankook will leverage the university’s sports research facilities and industry-academic networks to accelerate startup growth.
The university will run specialized support programs as well, including connections to sports-related agencies and industry networks, direct investment links through Dankook’s tech-holding company and private investment funds, and access to incubation spaces and equipment.
Applications close at 4:00 PM on the 24th.
Applicants can apply online through the Sports Industry Support website; select Dankook University as the operating institution when submitting your application.
An online information session will be held on the 11th at 10:30 AM to cover program details and the application process.
Nam Jeong-min said, \"Using our sports science research capabilities and startup support infrastructure, we will actively support sports and AI-convergence startups so they can grow into globally competitive sports companies. We welcome applications from companies with innovative sports startup ideas.\"
