Seoul Gears Up for Global Startup Grand Festival “Try Everything 2023”; Aims for $55 Million Investment Boost

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has announced the much-anticipated “Try Everything 2023,” a three-day global startup grand festival at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) from September 13 to 15. With a focus on strengthening overseas networks and supporting Seoul’s startups in their global expansion, this year’s festival aims to attract significant investments from global partners, including the renowned global investment company EQT and Changgang Graduate School of Business (CKGSB).

The annual “Try Everything” festival, initiated with “Startup Seoul: Tech Rise” in 2019, reflects the challenging spirit of Korean startups as they fearlessly pursue success without the fear of failure. In the previous edition, “Try Everything 2022,” attended by approximately 60,000 participants both online and offline, keynote speakers Sebastien Borget, co-founder of The Sandbox, and Tyler Cowen, a professor at George Mason University, shared valuable insights, inspiring startups and members of the Korean entrepreneurial ecosystem. In addition, various programs were held, including the announcement of the ‘Seoul Open Innovation 1000 Vision’ for win-win cooperation between large and medium-sized companies and startups.

This year’s “Try Everything” festival will focus on expanding overseas networks and providing enhanced support to Seoul’s startups to achieve global momentum in their expansion endeavors. The festival aims to facilitate overseas investments by broadening the participation of international partners, and knowledge-sharing sessions will enhance understanding of the worldwide startup ecosystem and exchange various startup strategies.

In light of global economic concerns, “Try Everything 2023” aims to attract an investment of 70 billion won (approximately 55 million USD), making it a top priority. The number of startup exhibition booths will be doubled to accommodate more startups and investors, with 100 booths available for participation this year.

Aspiring startups with impressive practices, such as intellectual property creation, attracting domestic and foreign investment, venturing into global markets, and entering overseas markets, are encouraged to participate. Offline exhibition applications will be accepted until August 8, while online exhibition applications can be submitted until September 11 through the website.

For customized regular meetups, startups can apply through the “Try Everything” website and “Startup Plus,” an integrated platform for Seoul startups. Additionally, startups keen on one-on-one meetups with domestic and foreign investors can apply via the festival’s website from August 1 to August 25.

As the event marks the first since the declaration of Corona Endemic, attendees will have the opportunity to experience the technology of Seoul startups through interactive exhibition booths. The festival aims to engage college students and prospective entrepreneurs, fostering an entrepreneurial culture and encouraging participation from the general public.

Visitors to “Try Everything 2023” will be treated to an “experience-type exhibition hall” featuring artificial intelligence and augmented reality (AI/AR) technologies, offering a hands-on experience of startup innovations. With over 100 startup exhibition booths, attendees can explore Seoul’s impressive range of startups.

The festival promises various inclusive programs, including “Startup Busking” for young entrepreneurs showcasing specific startup items, the “Startup Tournament Quiz Show” to determine the startup knowledge king through a quiz, and the “Promising Startup Awards” selected by citizens.

In addition to lectures by renowned figures from home and abroad, the festival will facilitate open innovation with global conglomerates and cooperation programs with major domestic startup players. Detailed program information will be continuously provided through the festival’s website at a later date.

Kim Tae-gyun, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Economic Policy Office, said, “Try Everything, which celebrates its 5th this year, focuses on supporting startups to attract investment as they are struggling due to the global economic slowdown. As this is the first event after the Endemic Declaration, we will spread the entrepreneurial culture through experience-type programs in which ordinary citizens, such as prospective entrepreneurs and college students, can participate.”

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