#South Korea #Seoul #Korea Startup Forum #Global Startup #COMEUP 2025

COMEUP 2025: Recode the Future Launched in Seoul

The entrepreneurial landscape is set to transform as COMEUP 2025, a premier global startup festival, officially launched on November 20, 2025, in Seoul, co-hosted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) and the Korea Startup Forum (KSF). Running from December 10 to 12 at COEX Seoul, the festival brings together a confluence of innovative startups, global investors, and prominent corporations, all aimed at fostering collaboration and inspiring the next wave of entrepreneurial endeavors.

This year's theme, Recode the Future, resonates deeply with the impetus for startups to push boundaries—both industrially and nationally—through the lens of technological innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit. Attendees can look forward to a rich array of programming, including conferences, exhibitions, investment pitching, business matchmaking, and open innovation sessions that highlight the festival's key themes of Technology, Globalization, and Entrepreneurship.

As part of this year's festivities, prominent figures in the startup ecosystem will take the stage. Noteworthy speakers include Tarek Amin, the CEO of HUMAIN, the national AI company of Saudi Arabia, and Sunghyun Park, the CEO of Rebellions. Their insights are expected to enrich the dialogue surrounding the fusion of technology and entrepreneurship.

A focal point of COMEUP 2025 is fostering meaningful collaborations and investment opportunities for Korean startups in the global arena. This year's event specifically invites an extensive list of global venture capitalists (VCs), corporate venture capitalists (CVCs), and accelerators, thereby offering Korean innovators increased access to international funding. Attendees can benefit from pre-arranged and self-matching meetings, investor booths, and sessions that are intricately linked to significant venture investment briefings.

The involvement of major global companies and leading Korean brands is set to be extensive. As part of the Open Innovation program, 35 companies—including industry giants such as Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai Motor Company, NVIDIA, and NHN—will operate booths. They will showcase successful collaborations with startups and conduct numerous meetings to explore future partnerships.

International participation is poised to soar at this edition of COMEUP. Following the impressive turnout of four national pavilions in 2024, this year's festival will host seven national pavilions from countries including Saudi Arabia, India, Japan, and Canada, along with newcomers like Australia, Angola, and Sierra Leone. These pavilions will engage in exhibitions, investment pitching, conferences, and networking activities, thereby enhancing the festival's global reach.

Beyond showcasing startups, COMEUP 2025 will also highlight ventures focused on social impact. This dedicated session will feature three founders, including Jong-kyu Kim, CEO of 60hz, discussing how their innovative solutions are addressing the pressing climate crisis. Impact investors, such as Sopoong Ventures and the Impact Foundation, are expected to set up booths for consultations with social entrepreneurship teams.

Programs designed for students and the general public will be further enhanced. The COMEUP Docent Tour will provide guided experiences led by ecosystem experts, deepening visitors' comprehension of entrepreneurship. Additionally, a COMEUP Flea Market will allow attendees to experience and purchase innovative consumer products from startups.

On December 12, eight startup teams from six domestic and international universities, including Seoul National University, will present their innovative startup ideas during introductory entrepreneurship seminars aimed at nurturing the next generation of founders.

Besides these main events, a series of side activities will take place, enriching the overall experience for attendees. These include the opening ceremony of the OpenData X AI Challenge, offering AI startups the opportunity to validate their technologies, the Challenge! K-Startup 2025 Grand Finale, a collaborative competition hosted by ten government ministries, and the 2025 K-Startup Grand Challenge Demo Day, showcasing top international teams.

Minister Seongsook Han emphasized, “From deep-tech innovation transforming daily life to global expansions transcending industries and borders, COMEUP 2025 will display how startups are rewriting the future. We invite your interest and participation.”

With free registration ongoing until December 8 at comeup.org, this festival promises to be a melting pot of ideas, innovation, and inspiration for those eager to delve into the startup ecosystem.

Attendees will leave with not just insights, but also networks and collaborations that may shape the future of their entrepreneurial journeys.