SK Telecom has launched a new incubation program with the goal of building a collaborative ecosystem with startups in the AI field. The plan is to identify startups that can align with the company's AI strategy and provide support in both technological and business aspects.


SKT announced on the 21st that it is launching the AI startup discovery and nurturing program 'SKTCH with AI' and will recruit participating companies from the same day until August 18.

'SKTCH' is a name combining SKT and Tech, and it is a platform operated to strengthen collaboration with startups.

In this program, we plan to select 15 companies based on their AI technology competitiveness and potential for collaboration with SKT.

Applications can be submitted through the SKTCH website (sktch.sktelecom.com).

Selected startups will be provided with customized support for six months.

Specifically, these include expert mentoring and seminars, support for collaboration and business advancement with SKT, participation in domestic and international exhibitions, management infrastructure such as office space, and opportunities to attract investment from venture capital firms and related organizations.

SKT's in-house AI agent, the 'AI Reviewer,' will also be deployed in the screening process.

SKT expects that this will enable it to increase the speed of the review process and the consistency of the evaluation.

In the future, we plan to advance this by having AI pre-screen clear judgment areas, allowing personnel to focus on parts requiring precise review.

Meanwhile, at 'SKTCH for Good,' an ESG startup incubation program launched by SKT last April, a competition rate of over 10 to 1 was recorded, and a total of 13 companies were selected on the 8th of this month, including 9 companies in digital inclusion and care, 3 companies in climate disaster response, and 1 company in digital crime prevention.

SKT It was explained that the utilization of AI technology has increased in the ESG sector as well, and that the number of companies stepping forward to solve problems related to seniors and single-person households has grown.

Eom Jong-hwan, Head of SKT’s Sustainable Management Office, said, “Combining SKT’s AI technology and capabilities with the ideas of startups can create even greater synergy,” adding, “We will continue to expand the collaborative ecosystem as an AI partner growing together with startups.”