Korean startup funding: Claude Code finds government grants

Anyone who's ever tried to navigate grants and support programs knows it's a real labyrinth. Red tape, complicated websites, information scattered everywhere. It's a time-consuming job requiring monk-like patience, something a startup usually doesn't have.

What if there was a way to automate all that? Maybe with a little AI lending a hand? In South Korea, someone had the brilliant idea to do just that, focusing on the very tangle of opportunities the government offers businesses. A real relief for those who'd rather develop their product than fill out forms.

Essentially, the djfksjd/ir-search project acts like a digital bloodhound. It uses "Claude Code" capabilities to sift through a myriad of Korean government websites, such as K-Startup, NIPA, KOCCA, SMTECH, and others. The goal is to collect data on all available support programs.

Once the trove of information is gathered, the AI steps in to classify it. It doesn't just provide a simple list but categorizes programs into three types: those for immediate support, those requiring long-term planning (roadmap), and those offering specific variations or adaptations. This means less time wasted reading irrelevant stuff.

This tool is a real lifesaver for Korean startups and small businesses. The djfksjd/ir-search project was developed for the Korean market and supports the local language, making it a highly specific tool for that context. Imagine having an assistant that tells you exactly where to look and what to expect from various calls for proposals.

Even though it's "Korea-only" (yes, sadly we can't use it for our European grants), the idea behind it is brilliant. It shows how artificial intelligence, and specifically "Claude Code skills" in this case, can be used to solve real, bureaucratic problems, not just to generate unicorn images or write poetry. Maybe one day someone will do something similar for us, who knows.