SparkLabs selects five teams for Startup Autobahn’s 100-day program

SparkLabs, the operator of Mercedes-Benz Korea’s startup accelerator platform “STARTUP AUTOBAHN,” announced on the 10th that it has selected five teams for its 100-day program.

More than 100 Korean companies applied to STARTUP AUTOBAHN during its month-long recruitment period, which began in July. The applicants represented a range of fields, including artificial intelligence, autonomous driving, vehicle electrification and EV infrastructure, security, entertainment, and enterprise solutions, resulting in competition of more than 20 applicants per spot. After two rounds of document reviews and a presentation event called “Selection Day,” five teams were chosen in the fields of future mobility, enterprise solutions, and sustainability. The selected teams—Seoul Robotics, Coconut Silo, Happy Technology, 13th Floor, and VestellaLab—will receive intensive training and tailored mentoring over roughly 100 days, beginning with an orientation held today. Experts from SparkLabs, Mercedes-Benz Korea, and across the Daimler Group network will lead the sessions. The teams will also prepare for proof-of-concept (PoC) projects with Mercedes-Benz Korea. In addition, Seoul Startup Hub, an affiliate of the Seoul Metropolitan Government and a co-operator of the program, will provide each team with project funding and workspace.

Immediately after the 100-day program, the teams will present their results to domestic and international investors at “Expo Day.” One winning team will have the opportunity to work on collaborative projects with the Daimler Group and domestic and international partner companies, as well as to receive the Minister of SMEs and Startups Award and be selected for support under the ministry’s startup development program next year.

“We expect the joint efforts of SparkLabs, Mercedes-Benz Korea, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, and Seoul Startup Hub to make STARTUP AUTOBAHN a success and provide a strong foundation for discovering and nurturing the next generation of leading mobility companies,” said Eugene Kim, co-CEO of SparkLabs. “We will actively support the selected startups so they can advance their technologies and build synergies with partner companies through PoC projects.”

Launched in Germany, STARTUP AUTOBAHN is being held in Korea for the seventh time worldwide. The global open innovation platform was established by the Daimler Group in 2016 to identify promising startups and build partnerships. Organized by Mercedes-Benz Korea, the program is operated by global startup accelerator SparkLabs, with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and Seoul Startup Hub, an affiliate of the Seoul Metropolitan Government, as co-operators. It offers startups a range of benefits, including expert mentoring, networking opportunities, and access to investment.