#South Korea #Seoul #Innovation #Startup Festival #COMEUP

COMEUP 2025 Wraps Up Successfully

The COMEUP 2025 festival, hosted in Seoul, South Korea, has successfully concluded after an exhilarating three days from December 10 to 12. Organized by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) and the Korea Startup Forum (KSF), this flagship global startup festival focused on the theme "Recode the Future."

Entering its seventh year, COMEUP has cemented itself as a notable platform for innovation, showcasing how startups are revolutionizing various industries through technological advancements and the entrepreneurial spirit. This year's event revolved around three main themes: Deep Tech, Global, and Entrepreneurship, all aimed at strengthening collaboration within the global startup ecosystem.

This year's festival attracted participants from 46 countries, marking a record for international attendance. A vibrant mix of startup founders, investors, enterprise representatives, and government officials gathered, fostering a conducive environment for networking and knowledge-sharing. Over 3,447 investment and business matchmaking meetings were successfully held, a testament to the event's role in creating tangible business opportunities.

Significant updates to the program structure were evident in 2025. The conference sessions were redefined with distinct daily themes corresponding to deep tech, global outreach, and entrepreneurship, enhancing audience engagement and ensuring relevant content delivery.

One of the notable changes this year was the first collaboration among the Korea Startup Forum, Korea Venture Business Association, and Korea Venture Capital Association. This partnership not only attracted a greater influx of global VCs, CVCs, and accelerators but emphasized investment discussions and strategic partnerships. With pre-arranged meetings, investor booths, and sessions dedicated to venture investment briefings, startups were provided with numerous opportunities to secure vital connections.

Expanded side events also captured significant interest, from the Startup Autobahn Korea 2025 to the Challenge! K-Startup Grand Finale. These initiatives further enriched the festival's offerings, inviting broader participation from various sectors. The festival enhanced public engagement through programs such as the COMEUP Docent Tour and a B2C-focused COMEUP Flea Market, showcasing innovation while involving local communities more closely.

Notably, new programs highlighted the festival's commitment to nurturing future entrepreneurial talents. The Future Founder program was introduced this year, placing emphasis on aspiring entrepreneurs through student startup presentations, mentoring sessions, and insights from Gen Z founders on the importance of cultivating entrepreneurial skills as a cornerstone for national competitiveness.

The festival also spotlighted essential discussions centered on social value, featuring climate-tech solutions tackling environmental challenges and sessions exploring the personal experiences of entrepreneurs from familial perspectives. Prestigious competitions such as the COMEUP Stars 2025 Final Pitch and various startup demo days illustrated the breadth of the startup ecosystem, showcasing ventures from early-stage beginnings to globally scaling businesses.

For those who missed the festival, recorded sessions will be made available for on-demand viewing through the festival’s official YouTube channel, allowing a broader audience to benefit from the insights and networking opportunities presented during this dynamic event. Overall, COMEUP 2025 underlined the need for continued innovation and collaboration in the startup arena, setting a promising tone for the future.