The UNIST Startup Support Team is pleased to announce the successful hosting of the REALTON, a nationwide startup idea competition for graduate students, which took place at the University-Industry Cooperation Building on July 20, 2025. Organized by the UNIST Startup Support Team, the event drew participation from 26 universities across Korea, with a total of 18 teams competing in a dynamic showcase of innovative concepts.
Sponsored by the Office of University and Industry Cooperation at UNIST and hosted by the Incorporated Association DAUM, the competition featured teams presenting creative ideas focused on emerging industries such as information technology, next-generation nuclear energy, and artificial intelligence. The event also garnered support and encouragement from local officials, including representatives from Ulsan Metropolitan City, the Ulsan Metropolitan Council, the Meta Leadership Ulsan Center, and the Future Energy & Environment Research Institute.
This year marked the first implementation of a public judging system, allowing real-time feedback from a panel of diverse judges, including potential end-users. This approach helped refine participants’ startup ideas into more practical and impactful solutions.
The competition’s top honor, the Grand Prize, was awarded to Team Globuddy for proposing a community platform tailored for overseas students seeking study or employment opportunities. Team E-UM received the Excellence Award for their innovative AI character creation solution.
A key highlight of REALTON was the integration of a public judging process, which effectively engaged the audience and provided valuable insights to participants, fostering a more realistic and viable startup environment.
A representative from the UNIST Startup Support Team commented, “Through this competition, we aim to strengthen the entrepreneurial capabilities of graduate students and lay a solid foundation for nurturing future talent in AI, next-generation nuclear energy, and IT sectors,” adding. “We are committed to continuing our role as an innovation hub that grows alongside the Ulsan region.”
