Hana Financial Expands Startup Program With Focus on AI Entrepreneurship
Hana Financial Group is recruiting participants for the fifth cohort of its "Hana Social Venture University" program, shifting emphasis toward artificial intelligence-centered startup training. The financial group plans to enroll around 1,500 aspiring entrepreneurs from 30 universities nationwide.
The program, launched in 2022 with the Ministry of Employment and Labor, partners with universities to provide hands-on entrepreneurship education. By the end of 2025, 431 startup teams had launched through the initiative, creating 1,081 jobs.
Hana Financial signed a strategic partnership with Kyung Hee University to strengthen regional startup ecosystems as part of the expanded program. The university partnership signals the group's strategy to embed AI training within established academic institutions.
What the Program Offers
Participants receive support across multiple stages of startup development:
- Business model development and commercialization strategy
- Fundraising and investment consulting
- Legal advisory services
- Post-launch financing assistance
- Sales expansion tailored to different customer segments
The upgraded curriculum emphasizes AI startup capabilities and strengthens cooperation networks among universities and regional startup communities.
Growth Trajectory
The program began in 2022 with 10 universities across five regions. It expanded to 30 universities nationwide the following year, positioning itself as a model for private-sector, academic, and government collaboration.
Hana Financial Group Chairman Ham Young-joo said the group will "continue supporting young entrepreneurs so that their growth and innovation can directly contribute to revitalizing regional economies."
For finance professionals managing startup investments or evaluating emerging business models, understanding AI-focused entrepreneurship programs offers insight into how institutional capital structures support early-stage ventures. Learn more about AI for Finance and how the technology reshapes financial services and investment strategies.
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