"1.7 Million Citizens Raised 13.3 Billion Won in Funding"... Wadiz Unveils 3-Year Small Business Support Results

- 876 Small Businesses Nationwide Participated Through Ministry of SMEs and Startups & Small Business Market Promotion Agency Linked Support Program
- 90% Funding Success Rate, 170,000 Supporters Participated to Revitalize Local Economies
- Health Functional Foods and Traditional Liquor: Success Stories of Local Small Businesses Continue... Second Half Global Expansion Support Accelerates

Wadiz announced on the 24th that through its "Our Neighborhood Crowdfunding" support program, 876 local small businesses across the country achieved cumulative funding of 13.3 billion won over three years.

The "Our Neighborhood Crowdfunding" support program is a small business support initiative conducted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Small Business Market Promotion Agency, which helps small business owners raise funds from local residents, office workers, investors, and others. Small business owners can secure necessary operating capital and create opportunities for direct communication with customers.

Wadiz was selected as the operating institution in November 2023 and has operated the support program for three years until this year.

The company recruited small businesses nationwide requiring capital and supported their growth through crowdfunding. Over three years, a total of 876 small businesses participated, generating cumulative funding of 13.3 billion won from 1.7 million citizens. The success rate of funding projects averaged 90%.

By year, 2023 saw 4.3 billion won, 2024 saw 4.4 billion won in both first and second halves, and 2025 achieved a record high with approximately 220 small businesses participating in just six months and raising 4.6 billion won. The number of supporters who participated in small business funding this year was approximately 50,000.

In particular, to prevent regional disparities, planning exhibitions were operated by region, marketing support was provided, and efforts were made to resolve small business owners' funding difficulties.

A representative success case is Seol-Arae Co., Ltd., a premium health food brand in the Gyeongbuk region. Seol-Arae, a brand created by a Korean medicine doctor, introduced "Yeonyu Chimhyang-hwan" (Soft Wax Agarwood Pill) as a Parents' Day gift set in April and achieved 430 million won in funding in just one month.  

Additionally, in June, Hamahama, a traditional liquor brand based in Jeju Island, introduced "Nutty Makgeolli" made from Jeju buckwheat that was directly roasted by them, attracting attention by achieving approximately 13 million won in funding in just one week.

Choi Dong-chul, CEO of Wadiz Impact who oversaw this project, stated, "Crowdfunding is the fairest stage and a new opportunity for small business owners," and added, "The collaboration between government and private sector is significant in establishing a foundation for small business owners to continuously grow, going beyond simple financial support."

Meanwhile, Wadiz plans to strengthen its position as a partner supporting not only the first online market entry of local small businesses but also their overseas expansion from the second half of this year through AI-based global service advancement and support programs.