Grand prize: Onlyl Co.; excellence award: During; merit award: Artmoto
Yangju held the awards ceremony for the 2026 Yangju Youth Startup Competition on Tuesday at the city hall conference room, presenting startup grants and certificates to three winning youth entrepreneur teams.
During May, 48 prospective and early-stage entrepreneurs applied for the competition. A first-round document review — assessing the specificity of business plans and the competitiveness and growth potential of each startup idea — narrowed the field to 12 applicants. A second-round presentation review then determined the final three winners, one each for the grand prize, excellence award and merit award.
Onlyl Co. took the grand prize for its proposal "MobFlex V2," an AI-powered personalized recovery exercise management solution built on medical wellness principles, earning a startup grant of 10 million won ($7,230). MobFlex V2 analyzes users' physical responses and exercise specialists' assessment data using AI to deliver customized recovery workout programs.
During claimed the excellence award for developing a height-adjustable arch pad made from its own proprietary materials, receiving a startup grant of 6 million won. The product lets users adjust the arch height to suit their individual foot condition, and the company has established market viability based on existing sales and consumer reviews.
Artmoto Co. won the merit award for developing "SafeRider," an AI-based safe-transaction platform for used motorcycles, and received a startup grant of 4 million won. The platform aims to reduce information asymmetry in the used-motorcycle market by using AI-powered inspections to provide buyers with details that are difficult to verify on their own — including a vehicle's condition and whether it has been illegally modified — thereby limiting consumer harm.
The winners plan to use the grants to advance their technology and services, pursue marketing efforts and drive commercialization suited to each venture's stage of growth. The city said it will monitor the use of funds to ensure they are spent transparently and appropriately, while continuing to track progress and support the winning companies as they work toward stable growth.
Lee Gyeong-ran, head of the Youth and Sports Division, said the competition had allowed the city to identify a diverse range of young entrepreneurs with strong technology and business potential. "We will continue to actively support youth entrepreneurs in turning their ideas into real businesses and growing into companies that represent the region, grounded in fair and transparent program management," she said.
pjh@heraldcorp.com
