South Korean conglomerate CJ Group has announced the opening of applications for the third cohort of its “CJ GLO!VentUs” global startup accelerator program, in partnership with Silicon Valley-based Alchemist Accelerator and Gyeonggi Center for Creative Economy & Innovation. The program aims to help Korean startups expand into the U.S. market through intensive mentoring and business development support.
The 12-week accelerator, running from April to July 2025, will select eight promising startups through a competitive application process. Selected participants will receive customized mentoring from Alchemist’s network of successful entrepreneurs and investors, along with potential proof-of-concept opportunities with CJ’s global business units in food, entertainment, and logistics sectors. The top three performing teams will be invited to a Silicon Valley immersion program, including meetings with potential investors and partners.
Applications are open until April 17 through the EventUs platform, with final selections to be announced on May 23. The program particularly welcomes startups with innovative technologies or business models ready for U.S. market entry. Alumni of CJ’s previous accelerator programs and startups previously supported by CJ or GCCEI will receive expedited application processing.
“Through our previous programs, we’ve seen that the U.S. market presents the most significant growth potential for Korean startups,” said a CJ Group spokesperson. “Our partnership with Alchemist provides participants with direct access to Silicon Valley’s ecosystem while leveraging CJ’s global business network across 32 countries.”
Alchemist Accelerator, known for its focus on enterprise startups, has supported over 1,200 companies since its founding, including notable successes like Rigetti Computing and Duolingo. CJ Group, with $30 billion in global revenue, operates major businesses in food and bio (CJ CheilJedang), entertainment (CJ ENM), and logistics (CJ Logistics), offering participating startups unique opportunities for real-world validation and scaling.
The program represents CJ Group’s continued commitment to fostering innovation and supporting Korea’s startup ecosystem. Previous participants have reported an average of 300% revenue growth following the program, with several successfully entering the U.S. market. Interested startups can find more information and apply through the EventUs platform before the April 17 deadline.
