In a landmark initiative, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups of South Korea has announced the hosting of the ‘Global Startup Day in Jeju’, scheduled for the 3rd and 4th of this month at the Jeju International Convention Center (ICC). This event is strategically aligned with the APEC Ministerial Meeting on Small and Medium Enterprises, underscoring a commitment to fostering innovation and sustainable growth across the Asia-Pacific region. The two-day gathering is expected to attract over 300 participants, including aspiring entrepreneurs, startups, and global venture capitalists, offering a unique platform for networking and collaboration.
The event aims to embody the three key themes of the APEC Ministerial Meeting: innovative growth, sustainability, and inclusive development. Notably, it integrates three major components: the ‘Challenge K-Startup’, the ‘K-Startup Grand Challenge’, and the ‘Global Venture Investment Summit’, creating a comprehensive suite of activities that cater to a diverse audience.
The opening ceremony will feature a groundbreaking AI hologram presentation illustrating the global startup ecosystem, setting the tone for the discussions and activities that will follow. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with the Korean startup landscape, hear inspiring stories from successful entrepreneurs, and witness live pitch sessions from domestic and international startups participating in the Challenge K-Startup and the Grand Challenge.
The Challenge K-Startup, recognized as a premier platform for nurturing innovative startups in Korea, serves as a vital gateway for young entrepreneurs. Over the past six months, a rigorous selection process, supported by ten government ministries, has culminated in the selection of 225 teams from an initial pool of 7,377 applicants. These teams will present their business ideas during the event, showcasing the creativity and potential of the next generation of entrepreneurs.
During the opening ceremony, attendees will also benefit from sessions designed to share insights from previous winners of the Challenge K-Startup, including discussions led by notable figures such as Lee Se-young, the CEO of the AI-driven company Luten. An alumni gathering will further enrich the experience, allowing emerging startups to connect with seasoned entrepreneurs. Exhibitions will highlight innovative products from established companies, including AI-based smart webtoon production platforms and advanced agricultural robots.
The K-Startup Grand Challenge showcase will be another highlight, featuring 40 selected international startups along with previous participants and local investors. Among the presenting companies are Veritas Vietnam, which creates eco-friendly pallets from agricultural waste, NIIO, an American art tech solution, and Groundup.AI from Singapore, which specializes in AI-driven factory equipment monitoring. Their presentations will provide invaluable insights into the global entrepreneurial landscape.
Moreover, the event will spotlight success stories of international startups that have established a presence in Korea, such as KFTV, a French AI-driven platform for exporting Korean culture, and Polymerize, a Singaporean platform providing chemical and material information. These narratives will be complemented by reverse pitch sessions where domestic investors will share their strategies for investing in foreign startups.
On the second day, the Global Venture Investment Summit will convene over 70 international organizations to discuss economic trends and investment forecasts. This summit will facilitate a dialogue on collaborative opportunities in the global venture capital space, further enhancing Korea’s position as a central player in the international startup ecosystem.
Minister Han Seung-sook emphasized the significance of the Global Startup Day in Jeju, stating, ‘This event marks a pivotal moment for connecting startups with investors and expanding the global entrepreneurial ecosystem. We are committed to supporting Korea’s evolution into a global startup hub through collaboration with APEC member countries.’ The outcomes of this event are anticipated to pave the way for future growth and innovation in the region, fostering a vibrant startup culture that transcends borders.
[관련기사] https://n.news.naver.com/mnews/article/366/0001104916?sid=101
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