Korea University Wins First Place at National Venture Investment Competition

Graduate students from Korea University (President Kim Dong-One) have demonstrated that their capabilities extend beyond the laboratory and into the real-world capital market.

On January 16, a team from the Department of Future Science and Technology Business at the KU Graduate School won first place at the University Venture Investment Competition in Korea (UVICK) hosted by the Korea Venture Capital Association.

In light of this victory, the KU team will represent Korea at the world’s largest international venture investment competition, the Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC), where they will compete against top global talent.

Unlike a simple pitch contest, the competition was conducted as a real-world simulation in which students assumed the role of venture capital (VC) analysts, identifying promising startups and making investment decisions.

Amid intense competition from leading research universities such as KAIST and POSTECH, the KU team was recognized for demonstrating professional-level analytical rigor and logical reasoning throughout the entire investment process, including due diligence, investment strategy development, and term sheet design.

Among the startups presented by the organizers, the KU team selected Deep Fusion AI, a company developing 4D imaging radar technology, as their final investment target. Their evaluation went beyond high level understanding of the technologies involved, incorporating comprehensive analysis of business model scalability, financial stability, and market growth potential.

In particular, drawing on their expertise in advanced technologies, the team successfully translated “the language of the laboratory” into “the language of the market,” proposing concrete and realistic investment terms that impressed the judging panel.

This achievement reflects the strength of KU’s Crimson Start-up Support Foundation and its comprehensive, full-cycle startup support system. The university operates a customized two-track strategy that distinguishes between undergraduate and graduate students.

The Department of Future Science and Technology Business integrates engineering expertise with managerial insight to cultivate research-driven investment professionals who understand both technology and markets. The organic integration of its academic curriculum with hands-on startup programs has significantly enhanced students’ practical competencies.

A representative from the Crimson Start-up Support Foundation said, “Entrepreneurship should no longer be seen as a vague challenge but as one of the most realistic and powerful career paths. We will continue to provide full support so that the outstanding technologies developed by our graduate students do not remain dormant, but instead attract capital investment and realize their full potential.”

In light of this victory, the KU team will represent Korea at the world’s largest international venture investment competition, the Venture Capital Investment Competition (VCIC), where they will compete against top global talent. Unlike a simple pitch contest, the competition was conducted as a real-world simulation in which students assumed the role of venture capital (VC) analysts, identifying promising startups and making investment decisions. Amid intense competition from leading research universities such as KAIST and POSTECH, the KU team was recognized for demonstrating professional-level analytical rigor and logical reasoning throughout the entire investment process, including due diligence, investment strategy development, and term sheet design.