Jeonbuk National University (JBNU) Startup Support Group (Director: Professor Guk Gyeong-su) announced that it successfully concluded the 'JBNU-GNU Union IR' over two days, on the 11th and 12th, at the Startup Lounge Kiwoom Space.

The event was organized to provide a venue for joint investment attraction between the Honam region (Jeonbuk National University) and the Gyeongnam region (Gyeongsang National University). It aimed to address low investor accessibility caused by regional limitations and to promote the exchange and expansion of regional investment infrastructure.

A total of 23 companies participated: five beneficiary companies of JBNU's '2025 Sports Industry Startup Support Project', nine beneficiary companies of JBNU's '2025 Startup-Centered University Program', and nine beneficiary companies of Gyeongsang National University's '2025 Startup-Centered University Program'. Each company pitched its business model. One-on-one startup consultations and a talk concert to address challenges were also held.

As part of the joint investment program, the Sports Industry Pre-Early Startup Support Center and the Honam-region Startup-Centered University conducted basic training and one-on-one intensive mentoring to strengthen investment attraction capabilities during the first 'Consulting IR Program' (June 25–26).

For outstanding companies, follow-up support included professional mentoring by investment reviewers and enhancement of IR materials. In the second 'AI (Accelerating IR) Program' (September 29–30), eight participating companies signed investment commitment letters (total committed amount: 1 billion KRW). 

During the event, collaborative discussions took place between 12 investment specialized companies centered in the Honam and Gyeongnam regions and investment firms from the Seoul area. As a result, some start-ups received positive investment feedback, leading to follow-up meetings and increasing the likelihood of concrete investment and of securing investment in the following year.

Professor Guk Gyeong-su, Director of JBNU's Sports Industry Pre-Early Startup Support Center, stated, "We will strengthen follow-up support to ensure active investment attraction through systematic investment programs, including IR pitching to enhance investment capabilities, training on investment strategy development, matching with investment experts, and networking."