Introducing GSSC

Born out of a mission to empower the next generation of global leaders, The Asian Leadership Conference (ALC), Korea’s premier international conference, kicks off its first ever Global Student Startup Competition in 2025. 

Each year, the Asian Leadership Conference brings together global leaders—political figures from across the spectrum, CEOs, and scholars—to discuss pressing global issues and inspire future generations. 

This year, 60 international and local college students will take center stage, traveling completely free of charge to Seoul, South Korea, to pitch their ventures on Human Centered AI to a live audience of the most influential global leaders.

2025 Theme

Human-Centered AI: Augmenting and
Empowering Humanity

In 2025, the Global Student Startup Competition theme centers on ‘Human Centered AI: Augmenting and Empowering Humanity.’ This challenge urges students to explore the dynamic growth of AI within our society, and how the power of this technology can empower humans, not replace them. As a topic with vast impacts on economies, healthcare, and social structures globally, we selected universities from around the world to bring in their distinct challenges and approaches to this topic. This diversity in perspectives fosters a cross-pollination of ideas, driving creative solutions.