COMEUP 2024: A Global Startup Festival Defying Innovation Limits
The COMEUP 2024 event, held on December 11 and 12 at COEX in Seoul, marked a significant milestone in the global startup scene. Organized by the Korea Startup Forum (KSF), chaired by Sangwoo Han, the festival attracted startups, investors, global enterprises, and the general public from an impressive 45 countries, further cementing its international reputation.
Approximately 260 startups participated, with over half being international companies. Notable national pavilions from the United Arab Emirates, India, Japan, and Sweden showcased their technological prowess. Meanwhile, 120 startups from diverse nations like Germany, Austria, Sweden, and South Africa engaged in pitching sessions, exhibitions, and networking opportunities. Esteemed organizations such as the International Trade Center (ITC) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) also contributed to the event's atmosphere.
The focus of COMEUP 2024 was on examining global trends within the tech ecosystem, specifically in areas like Deep Tech, inbound innovation, and sustainable innovation. On December 11, discussions led by experts like Qamar Aftab from Wa'ed Ventures and SungHyun Park from Rebellions delved into cross-border innovation, shedding light on the complexities and opportunities within this vital area. Following this, on December 12, SooJong Kim, the CEO of INNOSPACE, captivated the audience with insights regarding possibilities in the aerospace sector—a talk that took centre stage at the event.
One of the highlights was the Startup Valley public IR pitching event, where Toonimotion, Foretell My Health, and POSCORE stood out as winners in the Rookie League. Their success earned them coveted slots at the upcoming Viva Technology 2025 in France. Other notable finalists included CUBIG, ZETIC.ai, and Tublet Korea, who received accolades for their advancements in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
Another pivotal feature of the festival was the Open Innovation Ground program, which facilitated collaboration between startups and industry giants like Microsoft, NVIDIA, Hyundai Motor, and Siemens. Customized matchmaking sessions enabled crucial discussions around global expansion and funding, leading to 1,900 successful business connections, nearly doubling last year’s record.
A standout was the Inbound Innovation track that spotlighted foreign startups, including AiMA Beyond AI. Based in Spain, this company focuses on AI-driven digital solutions aimed at enhancing human experiences, and they garnered significant attention with their innovative approaches and market entry strategies into Korea.
Chairman Sangwoo Han remarked, "COMEUP 2024 has evolved into a global festival, serving as a platform for startups and investors worldwide to collaborate, break the boundaries of innovation, and shape the future. We will continue to support startups in embracing new challenges and achieving success globally."
For those wishing to relive the event, highlights and memorable moments of comeup 2024 are available on the official YouTube channel.