Applications are open for the Urban Innovation Challenge: Citypreneurs Seoul 2019. Young people are both digitally and physically connected, constituting the most urbanized generation we have ever experienced. Out of the 1.2 billion young people alive today, 717 million are located in the Asia Pacific, making youth the key to unleashing the region’s next economic miracle. They will also be the most impacted by the challenges – from inequalities to climate change – that the SDGs seek to address. Further, As such, initiatives that bring different sectors together to collaborate through innovation, entrepreneurship, also, the harnessing of young people’s leadership offer huge potentials for exponential development to achieve the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

Challenge theme

All chosen Urban Innovation Challenge Citypreneur teams will fall under one of the following three themes:

• • Healthy & Inclusive Ageing: Improve health and wellbeing for all, at all ages, and also, empower older persons to be economically and socially included in their city
  • Developing Skills: Upgrade skills and promote lifelong learning for jobs of the future for everyone
  • Green Consumption Production: Change the way we make, buy and dispose to protect our planet

Benefit

For the top 30 finalists

• • • (Seed Track) Business model mentoring & pitch clinics
    • Permanent membership with Citypreneurs, right to use official Citypreneurs branding
    • Networking opportunities with global finalists
    • Further, Travel subsidy for teams coming from outside of Seoul
    • Tech transfer opportunities
    • Also, Joint project opportunities with larger companies
    • Low-interest borrowing rights from the Citypreneurs Community Fund (300K USD)
    • Invitation to UN Conferences and Events

For Winners

GENERAL

• • • Investment opportunities from a pool of interested money (50M+ USD)
    • Further, Awards from UN and Seoul City Officials
    • Private Demo Day with investors
    • Also, Impact evaluation matrix development guidance

SEED TRACK (3 Teams)

• • • Go-to-market consulting
    • Total award money of 22M KRW

GROWTH TRACK (3 Teams)

• Pilot and R&D opportunities with cities, including Seoul
• Further, Invitation to international, high-level panels
• Company introduction at Mayoral meetings and/or UN Conferences

Eligibility

Citypreneurs acknowledges that start-ups may be at various stages of development, and thus offers a dual track system:

• Seed Track: Designed for early-stage start-ups still working on their prototype development with the flexibility to focus on urban issues specifically identified by partner agencies.
• • • • Founded in 2016 or after
      • Further, Under Series A round investment
      • MVP (Minimum Viable Product) ready
• Growth Track: Designed for start-ups that have three or more years of experience with market-tested prototypes and are looking to scale up.
• • • • Founded in 2015 or before
      • Further, Series A round investment and over
      • Product verified in the market