Top 12 Deep Tech Startup Teams from Science and Technology Universities to Compete for the Ultimate Title at COEX on the 30th
[For more diverse corporate information on the startups mentioned in this article, please visit the Unicorn Factory big data platform, Data Lab.]
A total of 12 faculty and student startup teams have been confirmed to advance to the finals of the "2026 K-Deep Tech Startup King of Kings," a leading domestic deep tech (advanced technology) startup competition. The teams will compete for the grand prize on the 30th at the Plus Stage in Hall B of COEX in Seoul Samsung-dong.
The K-Deep Tech Startup King of the Kings competition, hosted by Unicorn Factory, a specialized media platform for startups under Money Today (registration link: https://forms.gle/McNBqdiBts8RJazVA), is jointly organized by the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), POSTECH (formerly Pohang University of Science and Technology), and the Korea Energy Technology Engineering University (KENTECH). The event is supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Research & Development Special Zone Promotion Foundation. This year’s competition was established to support the growth of promising regional deep tech startups in line with the government’s “Five Poles, Three Special Zones” policy and to build a regional innovation and growth ecosystem.
The teams advancing to the finals were selected by a review panel separately assembled by Unicorn Factory, which conducted a comprehensive evaluation of investor presentation (IR) materials and other factors. The candidates had been recommended through internal reviews at the startup centers of six science and technology-focused universities.
This year's finals will showcase a wide range of deep tech innovations, including a portable CT (computed tomography) scanner that can confirm within six minutes whether all cancerous tissue has been removed during surgery, a device that accurately identifies the location of robots even in factories where visibility is obscured by dust and smoke, and an AI platform that handles video production, editing, and collaboration all in one place.
In the faculty-founded startup category, AI Robotics (DGIST), MillTrack (KAIST), Vidasonic (UNIST), Onion AI (GIST), Aicellon (POSTECH), and Greenepfl (KENTECH) will advance to the finals. In the student-founded startup category, Colbit (KAIST), LMNT Biotech (DGIST), Elba (UNIST), Assist (GIST), Astromat (POSTECH), and Earthus (KENTECH) will also take the stage in the finals.
Milltrack targeted the situation in which autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) lose their line of sight in industrial environments. Existing AMRs primarily use LiDAR and cameras to determine their own location. As a result, their positioning performance may degrade in factories where dust, steam, or smoke is generated, or outdoors under strong sunlight.
The "AMR+" developed by Millitrack is a system that involves attaching trackers to robots and installing tags throughout the work site. It can determine location with an accuracy of 3 centimeters from a distance of 30 meters and supports travel speeds of up to 12 meters per second. The tags can be used for up to 20 years on a single battery, eliminating the need for separate wiring construction.
Vidal Sonic has developed a fusion imaging technology that combines ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging in a single device, enabling simultaneous visualization of tissue structure and microvasculature at the same location. While ultrasound reveals organ morphology and boundaries, photoacoustic imaging visualizes microvasculature by leveraging the light absorption properties of blood. The company applied these two technologies to an ultra-compact rotating scan probe, allowing for 360-degree imaging of the interior of tubular organs. A representative from Vidal Sonic stated, "We plan to first supply imaging equipment for physicians and biomedical researchers, before expanding our business scope into clinical endoscopy systems for the bile ducts and pancreatic ducts."
Greenefl has developed a technology that produces biogas by utilizing agricultural and forestry waste, such as rice straw and discarded wood. Most domestic biogas facilities use wet-process methods that rely on high-moisture feedstocks, such as food waste wastewater or livestock manure. According to the company, its "ADOS" system applies dry anaerobic digestion technology, which processes solid materials without a separate liquefaction step, achieving a biogas yield two to four times higher than conventional wet-process methods.
Elba developed an AI video collaboration platform based on the video production experience accumulated from operating 15 channels with a combined subscriber base of 3 million. Within six months of its launch, it secured 4,700 monthly active users (MAU), 70% of whom are overseas users. Assist has developed technology that reproduces traffic accident situations in three dimensions (3D) based on black box footage and analyzes the proportion of fault. Astromat built a solution that uses AI to determine which metals need to be mixed and in what quantities when specific properties are input, applying this to the development of extreme materials used in space launch vehicles and satellites. The goal is to establish a domestic supply chain for special steel for space applications, which currently has a high degree of import dependence.
The finals of the Deeptech King of the Kings competition will consist of a 10-minute presentation and a 10-minute Q&A session for each team. The Student Startup League will be held in the morning, while the Faculty Startup League will take place in the afternoon. The two teams winning the grand prize in each league will receive the Deputy Prime Minister’s Award (Ministerial Award from the Ministry of Science and ICT) and a cash prize of 3 million won. Four teams receiving the excellence award will be given the newly established Research and Development Special Zone Promotion Foundation Lee (President) Award and a cash prize of 1 million won, while six teams receiving the encouragement award will each receive the Money Today CEO’s Award and a cash prize of 500,000 won.
In addition, the 12th finalist teams will be provided with a one-year scale-up program regardless of whether they win an award. Benefits include corporate promotion, expert consulting, networking with investment firms, and free participation in Money Today's international conference, "K Platform."
"Selecting the Top Startup Teams from Science and Engineering Universities"... K-Deep Tech Investment Experts Unite
MoneyToday's startup media platform, Unicorn Factory, will host the "5th K-Deep Tech Startup King of Kings Tournament" on October 30 at the Plus Stage in Hall B of COEX in Seoul's Samsung-dong district.
Key figures from the venture investment industry will serve as judges in the King of Kings competition. This year, six new organizations have joined the judging panel: GS VENTURES, LB Investment, the R&D Special Zone Promotion Foundation, Blue Point Partners, Series Ventures, and CNTech. The panel includes corporate venture capital (CVC) from major conglomerates, deep-tech-focused venture capital (VC), public institutional investors in technology commercialization, and regional or early-stage specialized accelerators (AC), forming a judging body equipped with both investment and business development expertise.
The finals will feature 12 student- and faculty-founded teams from the six science and technology-focused universities. The event will be conducted in the format of an actual investment recruitment IR (Investor Relations presentation), with each team given 10 minutes for a presentation and 10 minutes for questions and answers. Teams will be evaluated on a 100-point scale, based on the sum of technical merit (30 points), marketability (20 points), business viability (40 points), and team capability (10 points).
The newly joined CVC is GS Ventures, with Hong Seok-hyun, CEO of GS Ventures, serving as the reviewer. GS Ventures was the first CVC established among large conglomerates operating under a holding company structure in 2022. In its early stages, it focused on the bio, climate, circular resources, and energy sectors, but has recently expanded its investment scope to AI and robotics fields, including industrial robots and cooling for AI data centers. It maintains connections with industrial sites by being able to link the technologies of deep tech startups with group affiliates.
In the venture capital (VC) sector, LB Investment is newly participating. Koo Jung-hoe, executive vice president of LB Investment, will be in charge of the review process. Since entering the VC industry in 1999 and joining LB Investment in 2006, Vice President Koo has led investments in deep tech fields, including materials, components and equipment. LB Investment began as LG Venture Capital in 1996 and has invested approximately 1.9 trillion won in about 580 companies to date. Its key portfolio companies include HYBE, Curry, Pearl Abyss, and Toolgen.
The Research and Development Special Zone Promotion Foundation will participate as a sponsor of this year’s competition, also taking part in the judging process. Son Su-chang, head of the Business Management Division at the Special Zone Foundation, will serve as a judge representing the newly established Lee (President) Award (Excellence Award) for this year. The performance results of Lee Sa-jang-sang (수상) can be utilized as bonus points or preferential criteria when applying for future support programs from the Special Zone Foundation.
Head of Division Son stated, "When evaluating deep tech startups, it is essential to consider not only immediate results but also the originality of their technology, entry barriers, and long-term commercialization potential." He added, "We hope this 'King of Kings' competition will serve as an opportunity to discover deep tech startups that leverage superior technological capabilities to solve real-world market problems and drive future industries."
The existing panel of judges also includes participants from Samsung Electronics' Creative Development Center (C-Lab), Ecopro Partners, L&S Venture Capital, and Korea Science & Technology Holdings (KST). Park Nam-hyun, head of the C-Lab division at Samsung Electronics, will participate in the judging process based on his experience in commercializing Samsung Electronics' internal ventures and startups. Startups that emerged from the C-Lab received 17 innovation awards, including two Best Innovation Awards, at "CES 2026," which was held earlier this year.
Lee Jae-hoon, representative of Ecopro Partners, will participate in the review process based on his experience in discovering regional technology companies. Of the 85 startups invested in by Ecopro Partners, more than 80 percent are located in the region.
Choi Chi-ho, CEO of KST, has experience in commercializing technologies from government-funded research institutes and linking them with investment. KST is a technology holding company jointly funded by 17 government-funded research institutions. During Choi (CEO)’s tenure, the company secured follow-on and co-investment totaling 330 billion won.
L&S Venture Capital, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, will have Joo Seong-jin (CEO) participate as a judge. L&S Venture Capital has invested in fields of fundamental technology, including mobility, robotics, space, AI, bio, and healthcare, with a focus on semiconductors and materials, components, and equipment. The firm has established 36 funds to date, with cumulative assets under management (AUM) of 852.4 billion won. Mid-sized manufacturing companies such as Shinsung Delta Tech, Powerlogics, and SL are participating as shareholders, giving the firm a strength in connecting technology startups with the industrial sector.
The three ACs (Accelerator Committees) responsible for the early-stage investment scene also joined the review panel for the first time this year. Blue Point Partners evaluates the potential for commercialization and corporate valuation based on its experience in supporting startups founded on university and research institute technologies. Series Ventures and CNTech are working to identify promising companies and provide subsequent incubation support, drawing on their experience in regional and early-stage company investments.
Lee Yong-gwan, representative of Blue Point Partners, is an entrepreneur-turned-investor who participates in the review process. Lee, a PhD graduate in physics from KAIST, founded plasma equipment company Plasmart in 2000 and sold it to MKS, a NASDAQ-listed company in the United States, before establishing Blue Point Partners in 2014. Blue Point is a deep-tech-focused alternative investment fund (AIF) that has invested in more than 400 startups to date.
Park Jun-sang, CEO of Series Ventures, has grown the firm, which he co-founded in 2017, into a leading accelerator (AC) in the southeastern region of South Korea. To date, he has made direct investments totaling 25 billion won across approximately 80 companies, while cumulative follow-on investments by portfolio companies have surpassed 250 billion won.
Jung Hwa-seong, CEO of CNTech, will also participate as a judge. Jeon Hwa-seong (CEO), who serves as the chair of the Early-Stage Investment Accelerator Association, has invested nearly 1 million won in approximately 580 startups. CNTech has maintained a record for the highest annual investment amount in the accelerator industry for six consecutive years.
Winning teams will receive bonus points when applying for CVC open innovation business partnerships and the Global Digital Innovation Network (GDIN) overseas expansion program. Regardless of whether they win, all 12 finalist teams will also be provided with a one-year scale-up program that includes corporate promotion, expert consulting, and networking with investment firms.
Played with Airbus and cleared the FDA... Outstanding performance by alumni of the 'K-Deep Tech King of the Hill' competition
Manufacturing design AI (artificial intelligence) company Narnia Labs has signed a contract with Samsung Electronics' Production Technology Research Institute to adopt the manufacturing-specialized AI platform 'AslanX.' This marks another major reference secured, following Hyundai Motor, LG Electronics, and LS Electric.
Active electromagnetic interference (EMI) filter fabless company EM Coretech is currently conducting joint R&D with European aircraft manufacturer Airbus on filters for aircraft power chains. The company has also confirmed the application of its own filters to TVs from a major domestic home appliance maker.
Retinal regenerative therapy developer Celliaz has received Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its gene therapy, 'CLZ002'. If final approval is obtained, it can secure market exclusivity for up to seven years.
The three startups share one common trait: they all won the grand prize at the "K-Deep Tech Startup King of Kings" (hereinafter referred to as the King of Kings). Nania Labs received the award in 2022, EM Coretech in 2023, and Celliaz last year.
The King of Kings competition, first launched in 2022, is a growth platform for deep-tech startups hosted by MoneyToday's startup media platform, "Unicorn Factory." Participating institutions include domestic science and technology specialized universities such as the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST), Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), and POSTECH (formerly Pohang University of Science and Technology).
The initiative was designed to promote R&D technology transfer and commercialization, support the growth of promising technology startups, and build a regional innovation ecosystem. Deep-tech startups in the student and faculty entrepreneurship categories, selected from various universities, will take the stage to compete in front of major corporations and venture capital (VC) firms.
The growth trajectories of other award-winning companies are also notable. Tyroscope, which received an Excellence Award in the Student Startup category at the first edition of the competition, secured supply contracts with more than 20 major university hospitals within one month of obtaining a "new medical technology evaluation deferral" designation for its AI solution for assessing and monitoring thyroid eye disease activity last year.
Optico, a winner of the excellent award in the third Teacher Entrepreneurship Competition, has completed Food and Drug Administration approval for three types of photoacoustic imaging diagnostic devices and has exported research equipment overseas. Nanoposeia, which won the Student Entrepreneurship Award last year, has begun proof-of-concept (PoC) projects with major battery and manufacturing companies following seed investment.
[Money Today Startup Media Platform "Unicorn Factory"]
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