South Korea’s largest global startup festival, COMEUP 2024, will take place at COEX in Seoul from December 11 to 12. Hosted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, this flagship event showcases Korea’s thriving startup ecosystem and facilitates global networking opportunities. With participants from around 40 countries, COMEUP 2024 promises to be a vibrant platform for innovative startups, investors, and thought leaders from across the globe.
Now in its 6th year, COMEUP began in 2019 to introduce Korea’s startup ecosystem to the world and provide a platform for exchange among members of the global startup and venture ecosystem. Innovative startups and investors from approximately 40 countries are expected to attend this year’s event.
Expanding the Scope of COMEUP 2024
The slogan for COMEUP 2024 is ‘Innovation Beyond Borders’, reflecting the role of startups in driving global innovation beyond national and technological boundaries. The event will feature diverse programs, including conferences, pitching sessions, and exhibitions under themes such as deep tech, inbound, and SIS (Sustainable Innovation by Startups).
A major highlight this year is the relocation of the event venue from Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) to COEX, resulting in a space more than twice as large, thereby strengthening its status as a global startup festival.
The participation of overseas startups has also expanded significantly. Around 150 startups and investors from 40 countries, including the UAE, Japan, Uganda, and Colombia, will join various programs. National pavilions will be hosted by the UAE, Japan, and India, while Uganda and Colombia will operate dedicated exhibition halls. The African Development Bank will also participate, showcasing promising African startups.
Inbound programs for international startups will be enhanced. A policy promotion center will provide information on Korea’s startup policies, visa issuance, and settling in Korea. Additionally, through the K-Startup Grand Challenge Demo Day, foreign entrepreneurs will compete for a total prize pool of $400,000.
James Jung, of beSUCCESS Media Group, is actively involved as part of the COMEUP organizing committee, particularly in global outreach and PR efforts, contributing to its expanded international presence.
Fostering Deep-Tech and Climate Innovation
Special sessions will address climate tech and carbon neutrality. The SIS conference will discuss activating voluntary carbon markets, fostering climate tech startups, and showcasing open innovation collaborations between deep-tech startups and large corporations.
To enhance engagement with global investors, the K-Global Venture Capital Summit 2024 will be held at the SKY31 Convention from December 10 to 12. Approximately 130 domestic and international venture capitalists and startups will participate in pitching and networking programs.
Minister of SMEs and Startups Oh Young-joo stated, “COMEUP has grown into a global startup festival over the past five years. This year, with the slogan ‘Innovation Beyond Borders,’ we are moving to a larger venue at COEX to scale up the event. With participation from delegations from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and international organizations like the World Trade Center (ITC) and African Development Bank, this will truly be a global event.”
She further emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to fostering 1,000 deep-tech startups by 2027 and enhancing infrastructure, including a planned “deep-tech town” near Hongdae. Additionally, the Ministry is supporting initiatives like creating a global fund worth KRW 1.2 trillion and introducing special visas to position Korea as Asia’s leading startup hub.
Minister Oh concluded, “Through COMEUP, we will showcase the innovations of startups worldwide and highlight the future shaped by these innovations. Our goal is to establish COMEUP as a premier startup festival representing all of Asia, not just Korea.”
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