Life
Pitch your big idea at FLY ASIA 2026
source: BGCF
Got a big idea? The 2026 Busan International Students Startup Idea Competition is now accepting submissions through Aug. 21.
Tied to FLY ASIA 2026 — Asia's largest startup expo, set for Oct. 7-8 at BEXCO — the competition gives international students a chance to pitch their business ideas on a global stage, backed by hands-on support for aspiring entrepreneurs.
This year's theme, "Startup ideas discovered by international students," welcomes concepts from any field. Extra weight goes to pitches tied to Busan's key industries: maritime, logistics, tourism and AI.
Individual entries and teams of up to five are both welcome, though each team must have at least one international student. To qualify, international applicants must be currently enrolled at a Busan university or be local graduates holding a D-10 visa.
🔍How to enter
Hopefuls can submit required documents by email (busanglobalstartup@gmail.com). Here's the timeline:
-Aug. 21: Submission deadline
-Aug. 25: First-round document screening ends.
-Aug. 28: First-round results are announced; 15 teams advance.
-Sept. 5-20: Selected teams join a two-week capacity-building program covering business planning and strategy to sharpen their pitches.
-Sept. 23: Second round — an investor-relations pitching session.
-Oct. 8: Eight finalists take the stage at FLY ASIA 2026, each with an eight-minute presentation and a five-minute Q&A. Five winners are announced that same day at the award ceremony.
A combined 5 million won in prize money is on the line: 2 million won for the Grand Prize, 1.2 million won for the Excellence Award, 800,000 won for the Merit Award, and 500,000 won each for two Encouragement Award winners. All winners also receive certificates from the Busan Global City Foundation.
For full details, see the notice linked below.
Recruitment for the 2026 Busan International Students Startup Idea Competition, until Aug. 21
◎ Notice: Click
◎ Email for submissions: busanglobalstartup@gmail.com
<Today's Vocabulary - 오늘의 단어>
aspiring: 장차 ~가 될 entrepreneur: 사업가 logistic: 물류 pitch: 발표
Editor: Song Soomi
Copy Editors: Ryu Hyoseung, Anton J. Mapoy