The Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea Institute of Startup and Entrepreneurship Development (KISED) said on the 31st they will take part in "BIBAN 2025," the Middle East's largest Start - Up event to be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from Nov. 5 to 8 (local time), and operate a "K-Startup integrated pavilion."
"BIBAN" is the Middle East's largest startup support event hosted by the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority of Saudi Arabia (Monsha'at). Start - Ups, investors, government agencies, and accelerators from more than 150 countries take part in this international event, which this year is held under the theme "Global Destination for Opportunities."
A total of 31 startups will participate in this "K-Startup integrated pavilion," including five corporations housed at the Global Business Center (GBC). The Korea Institute of Startup and Entrepreneurship Development (KISED) plans to help these corporations join a variety of programs aimed at entering Middle Eastern markets and attracting global investment, including ▲ business meetings ▲ product exhibitions and demonstrations ▲ pitching sessions.
In particular, during the exhibition, a networking event inviting local Saudi investors and media and a business matching program will be held together, raising expectations for participants to achieve tangible export and investment results.
During the event, the finals of the international Start - Up competition "EWC (Entrepreneurship World Cup) 2025," organized by the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority of Saudi Arabia and the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN), will also take place.
The EWC 2025 finals will bring together the top 100 teams that passed intense preliminaries in more than 150 countries to compete based on their technologies and business viability for a total of $1.5 million in prize money and opportunities to attract overseas investment, and eight Korean startups advanced to the EWC finals. They are Thomathone, Spacemap, BANF, Crimo, RebuilderAI, Angelswing, Refundi, and Qubic. The Korea Institute of Startup and Entrepreneurship Development (KISED) plans to actively support these corporations' final presentations to elevate the status of Korean startups.
Yu Jong-pil, head of the Korea Institute of Startup and Entrepreneurship Development (KISED), said, "BIBAN 2025 is a bridgehead for entering Middle Eastern markets, including Saudi Arabia, and an important opportunity to showcase the global growth potential of K-Startups," adding, "We will actively support participating corporations so they can achieve tangible results by connecting with local networks and investors."