The Korea Startup Forum(KSF) is inviting startups from around the globe to participate in the COMEUP Stars 2024 program. This initiative aims to empower early-stage startups and elevate the event’s global prominence. The program will select 140 teams across three leagues: Runners League, Rookie League, and Rocket League. A qualifying round in mid-September will narrow the field to 60 teams that will pitch to a global audience at COMEUP 2024.

New Leagues and Opportunities

The Runners League is a newly established category designed to promote entrepreneurship among the general public, providing a platform for anyone with innovative ideas to start a business. This league will select 20 teams that have not yet incorporated, irrespective of age, nationality, or industry.

The Rookie League will feature 100 teams, specifically targeting startups founded within the last seven years that have secured less than $1 million in total funding. Meanwhile, the Rocket League will highlight 20 established teams recommended by the COMEUP Advisory Committee and venture capitalists.

Accelerating Programs, Mentorship & Rewards

COMEUP 2024 will enhance its support for early-stage startups through various accelerating programs. These programs will include practical lectures on entrepreneurship, investor relations (IR) writing, marketing, legal matters, human resources, and labor. Additionally, there will be interactive seminars and talks by leading figures in the startup ecosystem. Selected startups will receive hands-on mentorship from VC firms and access to new networks.

Finalists in the COMEUP Stars 2024 program will enjoy numerous benefits. The top three teams with outstanding pitching performances will secure opportunities to participate in Viva Technology 2025. The top 10 teams will receive discounts on coworking spaces at DREAMPLUS. All finalists will benefit from one-on-one mentoring sessions with VCs, on-site booths, invitations to private networking events, and exclusive access to business matching opportunities at COMEUP 2024.

Application and Event Details

Applications for the COMEUP Stars 2024 program are open from June 3rd to July 5th. Finalists will be announced on August 2nd after a thorough evaluation process. Startups interested in participating can apply via the COMEUP official website.

Sang-woo Han, Chairman of the COMEUP 2024 Advisory Committee, expressed strong support for the initiative. “We will provide active support to those with innovative ideas and capabilities, using COMEUP as a springboard to go global,” Han stated. “This year, as we expand our participation to include not only early-stage startups but also aspiring pre-entrepreneurs, we’ll focus on advancing our tailored accelerating program to the next level.”

COMEUP 2024 will be held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea, on December 11 and 12. The event promises a diversified program with new formats, including showcases for promising startups to unveil their new technologies, job-matching sessions for youth, and all-day meet-ups to connect startups with major tech companies and corporations.

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