Korea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association
Korea Startup Accelerator and Early Stage Investors Association (KAIA) is a Korean non-profit, government-designated industry association that credentials accelerator professionals, represents 308 VC/accelerator/CVC member companies, and runs education, IR, and policy programs for the early-stage investment ecosystem.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2017
- HeadquartersSeoul, South Korea
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Korea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association does
Korea Startup Accelerator and Early Stage Investors Association (KAIA, 사단법인 초기투자액셀러레이터협회) is a Seoul-headquartered non-profit industry association founded in December 2017 (as Korea Accelerator Association) and merged with the Korea Early Stage Investment Association (KESIA) in July 2024. It is designated by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups as the sole authorized credentialing body for registered startup planning professionals (창업기획자 전문인력) under the Venture Investment Promotion Act and, effective 2027, will additionally assume accelerator statistics duties from KISED. The association represents 308 member companies as of July 2026 — primarily accelerators, venture capital firms, corporate venture capitals, and technology holding companies — concentrated in the Seoul/Gyeonggi region (219 members) and serves a secondary base of aspiring early-stage investment professionals.
KAIA's product portfolio centers on the KAIA Education Center, which delivers the government-recognized 50-hour Startup Planner Professional Training (KRW 1.3–2.4M per participant depending on member status) alongside Accelerator Junior, Investment Screening Skill-Up, Growth/Incubation Expert, and 1Day KAIAcademy courses. Recurring IR and networking programs (BLiNK-N with NextRise, WSAF, SOAR IR DAY, KAIA Club House) connect startups with member investors, while proprietary publications — the monthly Startup Investor Trend Report and the Korea Accelerator Industry White Paper — and standardized SAFE/CPS contract templates establish the association as the sector's reference data and documentation source. Operations span four South Korean offices (Pangyo HQ, Seoul, Daejeon Education Center, Busan Southeast Regional) plus a Vietnam office opened October 2024.
The business model is a hybrid of recurring member dues from 308 corporate members and per-program fees from individual professionals and non-member companies attending education and networking events. Go-to-market is event-driven and community-led: flagship conferences and IR programs serve as the primary demand-generation channels, supplemented by the KAIA website member lounge, social media (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn), email newsletters, and a press release archive. Distribution is overwhelmingly in-person across Korean startup hubs with international extension via cross-border partnerships (notably the June 2026 CICASME MOU for Korea-China SME cooperation) and APEC/ASEAN+3 alliance participation. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, but is described as generated entirely through member subscriptions and education program fees.
Korea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Korea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association
- Legal name
- 사단법인 초기투자액셀러레이터협회
- Website
- https://k-aia.or.kr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2017
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Korea Startup Accelerator and Early Stage Investors Association (KAIA) is a Korean non-profit, government-designated industry association that credentials accelerator professionals, represents 308 VC/accelerator/CVC member companies, and runs education, IR, and policy programs for the early-stage investment ecosystem.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Korea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industry Association Services
- NAICS
- Business Associations (813910), Professional Organizations (81392), Business, Professional, Labor, Political, and Similar Organizations (8139)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Governance & Board Effectiveness Advisory (BPAHAFAC)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Lean Management & Continuous Improvement (Kaizen) (EDABAKAA)
Keywords
Where Korea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seoul
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices4 records
Markets served
Korea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Professional Education Programs: The association operates the KAIA Education Center (액셀러레이터 교육원) which delivers professional training programs for accelerators, venture investors, and startup ecosystem professionals. Programs include the 창업기획자 전문인력 양성과정 (50-hour certification course), 액셀러레이터 주니어 과정, investment review skill-up courses, and 1Day academy seminars. Revenue is generated through program registration fees charged to members and non-members.
- Member Dues and Services: Member companies (308 as of July 2026) pay membership dues to access association benefits including networking, investment linkage programs, policy advocacy, and exclusive member services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | 창업기획자 전문인력 양성과정 (50 hours) - Primary flagship certification program for accelerator professionals |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | 1Day KAIAcademy - Single-day intensive seminars for investors |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Alumni Day / Networking events for program graduates |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | 액셀러레이터 성장보육 전문가 양성과정 (Growth/Incubation Expert Course) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Korea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KAIA is a nonprofit industry association that delivers professional education and government-authorized certification programs for accelerator and early-stage investment professionals through the KAIA Education Center. It provides investment linkage (IR) programs connecting startups with capital providers, runs industry research and publishes trend reports and standardized contract templates, conducts policy advocacy with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and hosts networking events for its 308 member companies across Korea.
Product overview
KAIA operates as an integrated platform offering accelerator and early-stage investment ecosystem services through multiple interconnected programs. The core offerings include the KAIA Education Center providing professional certification training (창업기획자 전문인력 양성과정), specialized courses (액셀러레이터 주니어 과정, 투자심사 스킬업 교육과정), and IR/networking programs (BLiNK-N, WSAF, SOAR IR DAY, KAIA Club House). Research publications (스타트업 인베스터 트렌드 리포트, 산업백서) and practical tools (실무가이드, 표준계약서) complement the service portfolio. The LIPS program supports small business investment linkage. Together, these products form a comprehensive ecosystem supporting the entire startup investment lifecycle from training to investment execution.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 308 member companies (as of July 2026) representing the majority of Korea's registered accelerators and early-stage investment firms
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Korea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Korea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Korea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- China International Cooperation Association of SMEs (CICASME)coreKAIA signed an MOU with CICASME (China International Cooperation Association of SMEs) at the 2026 APEC SME Business Forum in Shenzhen, China, to establish a comprehensive cooperation framework for Korean-Chinese SME and startup ecosystem linkage. The partnership covers cross-border startup support, joint innovation competitions, investment matching platforms, policy and market information exchange, talent and technology exchange, and collaborative brand programs including forums, roadshows, and startup competitions.
- Venture Square (벤처스퀘어)coreVenture Square, a leading Korean startup media and accelerator, co-organized the KAIA Club House & IR event with KAIA and the Gyeonggi Creative Economy Innovation Center. Venture Square provides its startup discovery and media network, while KAIA contributes its investment network for joint IR programming.
- Gyeonggi Creative Economy Innovation Center (경기창조경제혁신센터)coreThe Gyeonggi Creative Economy Innovation Center co-hosted the KAIA Club House & IR event with Venture Square and KAIA, contributing its startup cultivation capabilities to support promising startups in gaining investment opportunities.
- Baemin Startup Square (배민스타트업스퀘어)minorWoowa Brothers' open startup space that hosts KAIA Club House events, providing the venue and startup community hub for investment networking programs.
- Korea International Trade Association (한국무역협회)coreThe Korea International Trade Association co-organizes the NextRise conference, South Korea's largest startup event, and partners with KAIA for side events including WSAF 2026 and BLiNK-N with NextRise 2026.
- Industrial Bank of Korea (한국산업은행)coreCo-organizer of NextRise 2026, South Korea's largest startup event, partnered with KAIA for the WSAF 2026 and BLiNK-N side programs.
- WBAF (World Business Angels Investment Forum)minorKAIA is a member of WBAF and has been engaged in its international angel investment and startup ecosystem activities since 2021. The association's advisor also serves as WBAF Asia Organization Chair.
- Korea Venture Capital Association (KVCA)minorCollaborates on venture investment policy and shares investment partnership announcements through the KAIA program/05 funding bulletin board.
- APEC SME Service AllianceminorKAIA participates in APEC SME Service Alliance activities as part of its international cooperation framework, collaborating with Asia-Pacific SME service organizations.
- ASEAN+3 SME Service AllianceminorKAIA participates in ASEAN+3 SME Service Alliance cooperation platforms, contributing to regional SME innovation service system development across Asia-Pacific.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Korea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Korea International Trade Association (KITA): Major Korean business association co-organizing NextRise 2026 with KAIA. Comparable as a leading Korean industry association convening domestic and international members, offering policy advocacy, networking, and trade promotion services.
- Asian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (AVCA): Regional industry body for venture capital and private equity in Asia. Comparable to KAIA in advancing industry standards, policy advocacy, and investor education for the early-stage investment ecosystem, though covering a broader asset class and wider geography.
Emerging players
- Startup Genome: Global startup ecosystem research and accelerator network. Comparable to KAIA in producing annual startup ecosystem reports and connecting accelerators internationally, with a research/data-forward offering vs. KAIA's regulatory authority.
- Plug and Play Tech Center: Global accelerator and corporate innovation platform with Korea operations. Comparable to KAIA's accelerator constituency in delivering IR programs, batch-based startup support, and corporate-VC integration, though operating as a for-profit accelerator rather than an association.
Direct peers
- World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF): Global angel investor and early-stage ecosystem organization with high committee structure. KAIA's advisor chairs WBAF Asia, and KAIA participates in its international programs, making it a directly comparable international counterpart for angel/early-stage investor credentialing.
- Global Accelerator Network (GAN): Global network of accelerators offering peer learning, branding, and investor access. Comparable to KAIA in serving the accelerator community with certification, networking, and ecosystem services, though GAN is member-based globally vs. KAIA's Korea-centric regulatory authority.
- China International Cooperation Association of SMEs (CICASME): Chinese SME cooperation association under MIIT. KAIA signed an MOU with CICASME in June 2026 for cross-border startup cooperation, making it a directly comparable national association serving SMEs and early-stage investors in the largest Asian counterpart market.
- Korea Venture Capital Association (KVCA): Korea's primary venture capital industry association. Closely comparable to KAIA as a domestic membership organization representing investors, sharing policy advocacy work and ecosystem coordination across Korea's startup investment landscape.
Broad incumbents
- National Venture Capital Association (NVCA): U.S. venture capital industry association with advocacy, research, and training programs. Comparable to KAIA as an established national association representing investors and advocating for the venture ecosystem, with broader asset-class scope.
Others
- Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development (KISED): Government agency under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups that historically handled accelerator statistics and ecosystem programs. KAIA will absorb KISED's accelerator statistics duties in 2027, making it a closely related entity on the regulatory and data side of Korea's startup ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Korea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association social profiles
Digital presenceKorea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Korea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Korea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Korea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments6 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Korea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association
What does Korea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association do?
KAIA is a nonprofit industry association that delivers professional education and government-authorized certification programs for accelerator and early-stage investment professionals through the KAIA Education Center. It provides investment linkage (IR) programs connecting startups with capital providers, runs industry research and publishes trend reports and standardized contract templates, conducts policy advocacy with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and hosts networking events for its 308 member companies across Korea.
Is Korea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association a public or private company?
Korea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Korea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association founded?
Korea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association was founded in 2017. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Korea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association based?
Korea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, in the Asia region.
How does Korea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Professional Education Programs are the primary driver. The others are member Dues and Services.
Who are Korea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Korea International Trade Association (KITA) and Asian Venture Capital & Private Equity Association (AVCA). Emerging players are Startup Genome and Plug and Play Tech Center. Direct peers are World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF), Global Accelerator Network (GAN), China International Cooperation Association of SMEs (CICASME) and Korea Venture Capital Association (KVCA). National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) is listed as a broad incumbent. Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development (KISED) is listed as an others.
Does Korea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association have an API?
No public API is recorded for Korea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association.
What industry is Korea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association in?
Korea startup Accelerator and early stage Investors Association's product category is Industry Association Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAFAC, Governance & Board Effectiveness Advisory, with a secondary code of EDABAKAA, Lean Management & Continuous Improvement (Kaizen). Its NAICS code is 813910 and its SIC code is 8600.