Comeup (COMEUP) 2025, which has established itself as a stage for expanding exchange and cooperation in the global startup ecosystem, wrapped up, marking record-high overseas participation and leaving investment and business results.
Korea Startup Forum (KOSPO) said on the 15th that the global startup festival Comeup 2025, held at COEX in Seoul from the 10th to the 12th, ended successfully.
This year's Comeup event, under the theme "Recode the Future," highlighted the role of startups leading changes in future industries based on technological innovation and entrepreneurship. With deep tech, global, and entrepreneurship as the core pillars, it ran programs such as exhibitions, conferences, and open innovation, expanding exchange and cooperation among members of the global startup ecosystem.
A total of 46 countries took part in the event, setting a record for the largest overseas participation. Domestic and overseas founders, investors, large corporations, and government officials gathered in one place and achieved results by consolidation of 3,447 investments and business deals.
This year, with Korea Startup Forum as well as the Korea Venture Business Association and the Korea Venture Capital Association joining as co-organizers, the private sector-led startup ecosystem alliance was also strengthened. The three organizations combined startup networks with investment and scale-up competencies, composing everything from program planning to overall operations with a focus on generating investment-centered, tangible outcomes.
Expanded overseas participation also stood out as a key result. Seven countries, including Saudi Arabia, India, Japan, and Canada, ran national pavilions to showcase their startups and technologies. Thirty-five large corporations, including Hyundai E&C, Nvidia, and NHN Cloud, joined the open innovation program to explore collaboration opportunities. In particular, Saudi state-owned artificial intelligence company HUMAIN took the stage as a keynote speaker on opening day and outlined plans to collaborate with Korean startups.
Comeup 2025 also focused on spreading startup culture and values. Through the Future Founder program, introduced for the first time this year, it emphasized the importance of nurturing next-generation founders and prospective startup talent. Presentations and mentoring by student startup teams and sessions featuring Gen Z founders highlighted the role of entrepreneurial talent as the foundation of future national competitiveness.
Various programs were also prepared, including talks on climate crisis response technology, trend analysis of Gen Z founders, and the life of a founder seen from a family's perspective. Comeup Stars 2025 and the Challenge! K-Startup 2025 Grand Finale, aimed at global expansion, as well as the K-Startup Grand Challenge (KSGC) Demo Day for foreign startup teams, operated as stages spanning global scale-up from the early stage.
Han Sang-woo, chair of KOSPO, said, "It was a venue where founders from around the world and global corporations and investors gathered in one place to discuss a new future based on technology and entrepreneurship," and added, "We will continue to strengthen our role so that startups can grow at the center of global innovation."