South Korea has sharpened its focus on global expansion for startups through COMEUP Stars 2025, the flagship program of its annual global startup festival. Twenty companies have been chosen across four target regions — the United States, Japan, China, and Europe — after a record-high competition. With tailored acceleration, investor matching, and market-entry support, the initiative reflects Korea’s determination to overcome its scale-up gap and build internationally competitive unicorns.
COMEUP Stars 2025 Names Final 20 Startups for Global Push
On September 18, the Korea Startup Forum (KOSPO) announced the 20 startups selected for COMEUP Stars 2025. Applications surged to 559 companies, producing the highest-ever competition ratio of 27.9:1.
Each region will host five startups:
- United States: Riibotics, Refundy, Minimap, Moulder Korea Co., Zenerate
- Japan: RealDraw, Locally (로컬리), BeMyFriends, Indent Corporation, Omnious
- China: GroovyX, Lillycover, Bitnal Dental Studio, Alpes, Walla
- Europe: Softionics, eMotiv, UMTR, Wellmatix, Kalman
These startups span robotics, AI, software, healthcare, lifestyle, fashion, ESG, and entertainment. They will join specialized regional acceleration programs through PEN Ventures (U.S.), Shinhan Futures Lab Japan, E-Land China EIV, and Start2 Group (Europe).
COMEUP Stars 2025: A Festival Pivoted Toward Global Expansion
COMEUP Stars, traditionally divided by investment league, has been overhauled to emphasize outbound international support. Instead of categorizing companies by funding stage, the 2025 edition aligns each with region-specific partners offering mentoring, investor connections, and office access.
The program begins with orientation and workshops on September 22–23. Startups will then showcase at COMEUP 2025, held December 10–12 at COEX, Seoul, through investor pitches, networking events, and national pavilions. In 2026, participants will join business trips to target markets for deeper collaboration and local engagement.
Helping Startups Secure Growth Momentum in Overseas Market
Han Sang-woo, Chair of KOSPO, emphasized the strategic intent:
“COMEUP Stars was designed to help Korean startups secure growth momentum in overseas markets. We hope the selected companies will strengthen their competitiveness and elevate Korea’s position in the global startup ecosystem.”
The regional accelerators also underscored practical support. PennVentures will guide U.S.-bound startups in rapid market entry, Shinhan Futures Lab Japan will mentor companies on local consumer alignment, E-Land China EIV will offer IP and investor support, and Start2 Group will provide Europe-focused mentoring and office access.
Redefining Korea’s Startup Expansion Model
The selection of 20 companies is more than a showcase — it represents Korea’s strategy to bridge the scale-up funding gap that has long challenged startups. While early-stage firms often attract domestic investment, few succeed in scaling globally. COMEUP Stars aims to fill this void by providing cross-border startup acceleration backed by institutional partnerships.
The record-high competition also signals strong domestic demand for international support. By aligning startups directly with foreign accelerators and investors, Korea positions itself as a venture capital hub in Asia that is not only nurturing early-stage innovation but also exporting scalable companies.
For global investors, the program highlights a curated set of Korean startups ready for cross-border venture capital opportunities in high-demand sectors such as AI, healthcare, robotics, and ESG-driven industries.
COMEUP Stars 2025: Toward a More Global Korean Startup Ecosystem
COMEUP Stars 2025 marks a turning point in how Korea prepares startups for the world stage. With a record number of applicants, tailored regional programs, and strong government backing through the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and KISED, the initiative is designed to build stronger bridges between Seoul and global innovation hubs.
If executed effectively, the program could help Korea evolve from a fast-growing domestic startup ecosystem into a recognized player in the Asia-Pacific startup expansion landscape, ensuring more Korean companies move from early promise to sustainable global growth.
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