Global Startup Festival 'ComeUp 2023' to be Held on the 8th of Next Month

The ComeUp event held in 2022.

'COMEUP 2023,' the largest startup event in Korea, will be held from the 8th to the 10th of next month at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul.

COMEUP is a platform that showcases Korea's outstanding startup ecosystem to the world and facilitates exchanges between Korean startups and the global startup ecosystem. Since its inception in 2019, it has grown into a global startup event attracting over 50,000 visitors annually.

This year marks the 5th edition of COMEUP, with innovative startups, investors, and startup stakeholders from 29 countries both domestic and abroad expected to participate.

The biggest feature of this year's COMEUP is its advancement as an international event. Building on the government's overseas strategic efforts initiated through visits to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, COMEUP will host a diverse group of participants from 28 countries, including a delegation of 180 members from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, as well as representatives from the United States, France, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, Indonesia, and Uganda. A separate Global Zone will be established and operated specifically for overseas participating companies.

More than 160 venture capital firms (VCs), including domestic and international VCs and corporate venture capitals (CVCs) participating in the 'Global CVC Conference,' will attend. Significant achievements are expected in various startup fundraising efforts and global expansion.

Additionally, COMEUP 2023 aims to evolve into a startup growth platform. For COMEUP Stars, which focuses on discovering and nurturing early-stage startups, 13 top-tier domestic and international investment firms have been selected for the first time this year. Each investor will pre-match with 10 startups and provide intensive mentoring, showcasing investment attraction (IR) pitching and maximizing the potential for follow-up investments.

The business matching program, previously held only during the event period, will now be operated year-round through the establishment of an online platform. This will expand opportunities for investment and collaboration necessary for startup growth.

Lee Young, Minister of SMEs and Startups, stated, “The world has entered a ‘digital age of exploration’ where competition transcends borders, and in this new era, the role of startups that are flexible, fast, and equipped with digital technology is most important.” He added, “I hope COMEUP will serve as an opportunity for K-startups to interact with startups and stakeholders worldwide and actively expand overseas.”