Korea is strengthening its foothold in the United States’ innovation landscape. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) will open the Startup & Venture Campus (SVC) in Silicon Valley, creating a permanent base for Korean startups in the world’s most competitive tech hub. Alongside the launch, the ministry is expanding its partnership with United Korean Founders (UKF) to deepen cross-border investment and networking for Korean ventures in the U.S.

MSS to Open Startup & Venture Campus in Silicon Valley

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) announced that its Startup & Venture Campus (SVC) in Silicon Valley will open in January 2026. The campus will serve as an integrated headquarters for Korean startups and venture firms entering the U.S. market, offering one-stop support across business incubation, financing, and global expansion.

The SVC will house several key public and private institutions, including Korea Venture Investment Corp. (KVIC), Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME), Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development (KISED), Korea Technology Finance Corporation (KIBO), and the Korea Venture Capital Association (KVCA).

Together, these agencies will provide infrastructure, mentoring, networking, and investment linkage to help startups establish operations and partnerships in the U.S.

Linking Policy Infrastructure with Global Investor Networks

The launch of the Silicon Valley SVC coincides with MSS’s growing collaboration with UKF (United Korean Founders) — a nonprofit organization formed by Korean founders and investors in the U.S.

UKF organizes the “UKF 82 Startup Summit” twice annually: in January on the West Coast and October on the East Coast.

MSS and Korea Venture Investment Corp. recently co-sponsored the UKF 82 Startup Summit 2025, held in New York from October 16 to 18 as a part of the KOOM Festival 2025. During the summit, seven Korean startups in AI, robotics, and deep tech sectors met with 12 U.S. venture capital firms including SOSV, Third Prime, and Collaborative Fund.

The event included company presentations and one-on-one investment meetings, positioning Korean startups to attract early international funding.

The ministry confirmed that it has been cooperating with UKF since early 2025 to host investment IR sessions and networking programs that connect Korean founders with global investors.

By linking the SVC and the UKF network, the government intends to create a dual platform — a physical campus in Silicon Valley and an ongoing venture pipeline through UKF events — to continuously support Korean startups’ entry into North America.

Building a Sustainable Bridge to the U.S. Market

Kim Bong-deok, Director-General for Venture Policy at MSS, emphasized the strategic role of the initiative:

“The network of Korean founders and investors formed through UKF serves as a crucial foundation for Korean startups entering the U.S. market.
We will continue to collaborate with UKF and global partners centered around the Startup & Venture Campus to help Korean startups expand successfully in the U.S.”

Event organizers also underscored the growing importance of Korean innovation in the global tech landscape.

UKF representatives noted that the summit attracted nearly 10,000 attendees this year, reflecting the rising influence of Korean-led startups and investors across both coasts of the United States.

A Strategic Step Toward Global Competitiveness

The establishment of a permanent Korean startup base in Silicon Valley is a milestone in Korea’s push to transition from regional success to global influence in innovation.

Until now, Korean startups have relied primarily on short-term acceleration programs or limited exchange partnerships to access the U.S. market. By creating a dedicated hub backed by public agencies and venture funds, the SVC provides a sustainable gateway for market entry, investor relations, and technology commercialization.

The dual-track strategy — combining policy infrastructure (through SVC) and investor engagement (through UKF) — signals a structural shift in how Korea approaches globalization.

This also aligns with the government’s broader mission to make Korea one of the world’s top AI and venture powerhouses and reinforces the nation’s position as a bridge between Asia’s startup ecosystems and the U.S. venture capital market.

This physical presence of Korean institutions in Silicon Valley provides founders and investors with easier, consistent access to localized mentorship, financial resources, and long-term partnerships in the U.S., while also reducing friction in cross-border deal-making.

Korea’s Expanding Cross-Border Innovation Framework

The Startup & Venture Campus and UKF partnership together mark a new phase in Korea’s startup globalization agenda. They reflect the government’s intent to move beyond short-term acceleration and toward institutionalized international expansion.

As Korea pushes to become one of the world’s top four venture powerhouses, the success of the Silicon Valley Startup & Venture Campus is likely to shape the next wave of cross-border cooperation, driving stronger connections among Korean startups, global investors, and the U.S. technology ecosystem.

– Stay Ahead in Korea’s Startup Scene –
Get real-time insights, funding updates, and policy shifts shaping Korea’s innovation ecosystem.
➡️ Follow KoreaTechDesk on LinkedIn, X (Twitter), Threads, Bluesky, Telegram, Facebook, and WhatsApp Channel.