At Comeup (COMEUP) 2025, the country's largest global startup event that opened on the 10th at COEX in Seoul, meetings between investment firms seeking promising corporations and startups looking to attract investment were in full swing.
At more than 30 booths, investment firms and startup employees sat across from each other and continued their meetings. Startups introduced how their products and services stand out, while investment firms took nonstop notes and reviewed materials as they examined business models and growth potential. Some booths were seen coordinating follow-up meeting schedules. One official said, "What's changed from the transfer is that we can probe the possibility of actual investment or partnerships."
Comeup 2025 is a gathering of domestic and overseas innovative startups and investors, and stakeholders from global, large, and mid-sized corporations, and runs through the 12th. This year's event strengthened its investment and business-matching programs.
On site, connected programs such as the "Challenge! K-Startup 2025 champions' round" were also held. Over three days, 15 corporations will determine the year's best startup team.
A representative of Grunai, which runs the travel service "Catchfrog," took the stage and noted, "We can resolve information asymmetry in the travel process." The person added, "Consumers want certainty, but trips get ruined by algorithms favorable to sellers," and explained, "We track ticket price volatility like stocks to tell you when to buy, and we present city-by-city lodging rankings based on reviews filtered for ads."
Some corporations were also put to the test by the public and investors through presentations that day. Commissioners seated on both sides of the stage listened to the corporate pitches, taking busy notes as they assessed growth potential and more.
Stress Solution, developer of the personalized hearing solution "Healing Beat," introduced the product by saying, "If you have your own data, you can measure stress relief, sleep, concentration, and more." The company added, "It is being used actively by sports teams such as Hanwha Life Esports and SK Knights," and said, "It is effective for easing pre-game nerves and for academics, and revenue has been generated since this year."
In particular, many visitors lingered in front of the "snaac" booth. Snaac is a nonprofit AC made up of Seoul National University students. In partnership with VC partners such as GS Retail, Kakao Ventures, and DSC Investment, it selects teams that have no prior fundraising history and include at least one Seoul National University member, and awards prize money.
Jeong Dong-un, head of Snaac, said, "On campus we operate as a club, and outside we act as a nonprofit AC to help activate the startup ecosystem." Jeong said, "So far, about 50 teams have received prize money," and added, "We joined Comeup to work with entities that actually execute investments and with startups looking to hire students."
At this year's Comeup, seven countries, including Saudi Arabia and India, set up national pavilions to promote their own startups and startup ecosystems. Around the venue, domestic and overseas stakeholders were seen in conversation. SRP Crane Controls, an India-based manufacturer of industrial crane power and control systems, also took part to introduce its technology.
One official said, "Since it's the first day, the mood is largely exploratory, but exchanges are happening among participating corporations by country," and added, "We hope to discuss joint projects or cooperation with Korean corporations."
Minister Han Seong-sook of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups said, "Innovation cannot be completed alone, so it is important to create opportunities for various actors in the startup ecosystem, such as startups, investment firms, global corporations, and large and mid-sized corporations, to communicate and interact."
The Minister said, "This year's event theme is 'time to rewrite the future,' and the government will firmly back efforts so that the seeds sown at Comeup 2025 can bear fruit," adding, "We look forward to a new future that everyone writes together."