22 September 2025, Seoul – Entrepreneurs from the Republic of Korea and across the Asia-Pacific gathered at the SDG Sprint 2025 Demo Day to present impact-driven innovations in digitalization and the green transition. The Demo Day marked the conclusion of an eight-week acceleration programme under the Youth Co:Lab initiative, co-led by UNDP and the Citi Foundation, designed to advance innovative solutions for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Organized by the UNDP Seoul Policy Centre with implementation support from Impact Square, SDG Sprint 2025 offered tailored mentorship, training, and networking opportunities to participating start-ups. CVC Capital Partners contributed award grants and mentorship, further strengthening the start-ups’ business strategies and scaling potential. This collaboration reflects the joint commitment of development actors, the private sector, and innovation partners to advancing youth-led solutions for sustainable development.

In acknowledgment of the potential to positively contribute to the achievement of the SDGs and to the local and regional impact ecosystem, Impact Awards were presented by UNDP to Alternō, a Viet Nam-based developer of sand-based thermal batteries that cuts energy costs and enables large-scale CO2 reductions by converting surplus renewable electricity into high-temperature heat for factories, and Surplus Indonesia, an Indonesia-based inclusive circular economy platform that rescues surplus food, fashion and household goods through a digital marketplace, AI inventory tools, upcycling and EV-based distribution, thereby reducing waste and CO₂ emissions while cutting consumer costs.

CVC also conferred Innovation awards to ANPOLY, a Republic of Korea-based producer of plant-based nanocellulose materials from biomass and upcycled waste, delivering sustainable alternatives for packaging, cosmetics, batteries and biomedical applications, and Zolv, a Seoul-based developer of Chlorine dioxide-emitting pads that extend fruit shelf life, decrease post-harvest food loss, and deliver fresher produce.

Launched in July of this year, the cohort brought together 25 start-ups from the Republic of Korea and across the Asia-Pacific who benefited from the programme’s mentorship and capacity-building support. The top 12 start-ups were invited to pitch their innovative solutions in the areas of digital transformation and green transition. Start-ups benefited from acceleration support that included diagnostic sessions, expert matching, and ongoing mentorship, complemented by online lectures on impact business management and strategy. Structured mentoring with industry experts and investors, alongside hybrid workshops and networking sessions, provided start-ups with practical insights, personalized guidance, and expanded access to networks. These activities helped participants strengthen their business models, enhance scalability, and increase their potential for long-term impact.

First launched in 2017, SDG Sprint is implemented through partnerships with the Youth Co:Lab, co-led by UNDP and Citi Foundation, and other public and private partners to strengthen the impact start-up ecosystem in Korea and the Asia-Pacific region.

About Youth Co:Lab

Co-created in 2017 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Citi Foundation, Youth Co:Lab aims to establish a common agenda for countries in the Asia-Pacific region to empower and invest in youth, so that they can accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through leadership, social innovation and entrepreneurship. Read more about Youth Co:Lab here, and initiatives by Youth Co:Lab in Korea here: https://www.youthcolab.org/republic-of-korea

About Citi Foundation

The Citi Foundation works to promote economic progress and improve the lives of people in low-income communities around the world. We invest in efforts that increase financial inclusion, catalyse job opportunities for youth and reimagine approaches to building economically vibrant communities. The Citi Foundation's "More than Philanthropy" approach leverages the enormous expertise of Citi and its people to fulfil our mission and drive thought leadership and innovation.  Learn more at www.citigroup.com/citi/ foundation or follow @Citi

About the United Nations Development Programme

UNDP is the leading United Nations organisation fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP.

About UNDP Seoul Policy Centre

UNDP Seoul Policy Centre is a facilitator of innovative development cooperation to catalyse the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. Through its SDG Partnerships programme and other South-South and Triangular Cooperation initiatives, the Centre supports countries by sharing innovative, tested-and-proven practices and policy tools on strategic development issues globally. Learn more at undp.org/policy-centre/seoul or follow at @UNDPSPC.