Submit a Proposal

Applied Ventures Submission Process:

To submit your idea or concept for consideration, you must agree to terms below and complete the submission form with an Executive Summary of your business plan. The Executive Summary should include:

  • Biographical information of key management
  • Description of the product and/or service
  • Explanation of your market, competition and differentiation
  • Funding history and plan

Once we receive the information, it can take 2-4 weeks for the initial review process. Upon completion of this initial review, you will either be asked to submit additional information or informed of our decision.

Please do not disclose any confidential information to us.

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By submitting this form, you agree and represent to us that any information or data that you provide to us ("Information") is considered non-confidential and non-proprietary to you or any other party, and Applied Ventures has no obligation towards you or any other party to protect such information. 

Any information you transmit shall be considered non-confidential and non-proprietary information regardless if marked "confidential" or "proprietary."  Applied Ventures will have no obligation of any kind with respect to such information.  By communicating with Applied Ventures, you acknowledge and agree to the foregoing terms.  If, after consideration of your non-proprietary disclosure, we wish to have further discussions, we may wish to enter into a confidentiality agreement with you.

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ASTRA Korea 2023 Submission Process and Criteria:

Applied Ventures is leveraging its technical and industry expertise to accelerate one of the world’s most innovative startup ecosystems in Korea. The aim is to collaborate with startups and transform disruptive possibilities into reality. We will also connect the selected startups with our network of customers, supply chain partners, and co-investors across leading corporate and financial venture capital firms. We are looking to meet startups that are pioneering innovations in areas of our interest (see Selection Criteria).

Examples of Korean startups invested in by Applied Ventures’ Korea Fund I: Enjet (IPO), MakinaRocks, Point Engineering (IPO) and SuNAM (IPO)

Dates to remember:

  • Last date to submit application: March 17, 2023
  • Announcement of shortlisted startups: March 22, 2023
  • Tech talks: March 23 – April 5, 2023
  • Pitch day: April 6, 2023, 9:30 am KST

Venue

  • Intercontinental Seoul COEX (524 Bongeunsa-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 06164, Korea)

The Journey

The step-by-step process of participating in ASTRA Korea:

  • Submit your proposal online
    • Use this submission form to provide your info and upload your proposal to start your ASTRA Korea journey.
    • In your proposal, please include: company overview, description of technology/product/solution, explanation of your market, competition and differentiation, funding history and business plan.
    • Please mention “ASTRA Korea” in the required “Executive Summary” field of the submission form.
  • Tech talk
    • Selected startups will be asked to present a dedicated tech talk to the Applied Ventures team and relevant Applied Materials business units.
  • Pitch day
    • Selected startups will pitch their business to a panel of global and local VC, CVC and Applied Materials business units.
  • Investment
    • If the proposed product/solution and fit are validated, Applied Ventures will evaluate the startup as an investment candidate.

Areas of Interest:

  • Semiconductor and display manufacturing technologies: advanced memory, logic, packaging and equipment, EDA SW, AI chips, chiplets, heterogeneous integration, metrology and inspection, More than Moore, extending Moore’s law
  • Advanced optics and photonics: quantum photonics, silicon photonics, optical communication, optical diagnostics (healthcare), short and mid-infrared (SWIR) optics
  • Supply chains for semiconductor and display manufacturing
  • Sensors: temp sensor, flow sensor, gas sensor
  • Advanced materials: semiconductor and display materials, coatings, high-value materials
  • Industry 4.0: AI hardware/software for semiconductor and display fabs, smart manufacturing solutions
  • Green and sustainable manufacturing technologies for semiconductor, display and battery

Selection Criteria

Startups selected for ASTRA Korea will be assessed based on the following criteria:

  • Address high-value problems in at least one of these areas of interest
  • Offer differentiation from existing market solutions
  • Potential addressable market
  • Available demonstration of proof-of-concept or available within a year
  • Ongoing engagement with customer(s) or potential customers is an advantage but not mandatory
  • IP portfolio and/or Freedom to Operate is an advantage

Upon completion of this initial review, you will either be asked to submit additional information or informed of our decision. Please do not disclose any confidential information to us.

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