The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA, Chairman Jang Won-sam) and the Global Development Cooperation Institute (GDCI) at Kookmin University (President Jeong Seung Ryul) launched a program to select promising local startups through “The National Startup Fest 2026,” held in Vientiane, Laos, on April 23–24, and to provide them with startup grants and follow-up incubation support.

△ Laos “The National Startup Fest 2026”

“The National Startup Fest 2026” is Laos’ first nationwide startup competition, hosted by the Lao Ministry of Industry and Commerce and sponsored by KOICA, Kookmin University, the World Bank (WB), and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), among others. The event was held with the aim of discovering startup ideas that address economic and social challenges faced by local micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) through technology, AI, and innovation. Notably, this competition is significant because it introduced a “startup ecosystem model” that goes beyond simply identifying startups using Official Development Assistance (ODA) funds to include linking them with private-sector commercialization and investment opportunities.

A total of 15 teams participated in the competition. Following the judging process, “Laligence,” which proposed an AI chatbot SaaS platform, took first place; “Sensorclouds Team,” which presented an IoT-based smart equipment predictive maintenance solution, took second place; and “Sao a dee Car wash,” which proposed an unmanned self-service car wash platform, took third place. The first-place winner, ‘Laligence,’ focused on the inefficiencies of the Lao distribution market, which is dominated by small business owners, and proposed an automated customer service solution tailored to social media-based transaction environments such as Facebook and WhatsApp. It was highly praised for its local relevance, including support for the Lao language and integrated payment functions.

As part of the “Project to Establish a Department of Digital Innovation for SMEs and Build a Foundation for Training Specialized Personnel in Laos,” KOICA will provide startup grants of $5,000 for first place, $3,000 for second place, and $2,000 for third place to the winning teams. In addition, Kookmin University’s Graduate School of Global Entrepreneurship and Venture Business plans to support the winning teams’ practical commercialization and investment connections by operating a six-month intensive incubation program that covers business model refinement, minimum viable product (MVP) development and market research, market testing and pivoting, and investor relations (IR) support.

The core hub of this program is the Laos MSME and Startup Innovation Center (MSIC). The MSIC serves as the core infrastructure for the “Project to Establish a Department of Digital Innovation for SMEs and Train Specialized Personnel in Laos,” currently being promoted by KOICA and Kookmin University. It was designed as a platform that provides integrated support for startup incubation, mentoring, investment connections, and global expansion based on collaboration among industry, academia, and government in Laos. It distinguishes itself by going beyond basic education or vocational training to support startups and SMEs capable of entering the actual market, aiming to create a structure that leads to job creation and industrial development.

In his congratulatory remarks, Jeong Young-soo, the South Korean Ambassador to Laos, stated, “This is a meaningful occasion where the Lao government’s commitment to fostering digital startups—which will serve as a key growth engine for the Lao economy—meets South Korea’s technology and experience, which have been proven on the international stage.” He added, “I hope this event will serve as a cornerstone for laying the foundation for Laos’ sustainable growth, going beyond the creation of short-term results.”

In his keynote address, Kim Byung-jun, Director of the Institute for Global Development Cooperation at Kookmin University, remarked, “The simultaneous emergence of startups in AI, IoT, and service innovation is creating momentum for Laos’ digital transformation.” He added, “We will continue to foster globally competitive companies in collaboration with the MSME and Startup Innovation Center.”