An event where Korean startup founders gather on the global stage to survey the ecosystem will be held in Silicon Valley in the United States.
The startup community UKF (United Korean Founders) said on the 28th it will hold the 2026 UKF 82 Startup Summit at the Fox Theatre in Redwood City, California, from Jan. 9 to 12, 2026.
The summit will draw a large number of startup founders, venture capital (VC) firms, and industry leaders active around the world.
This year features the most star-studded speaker lineup to date. Founders and executives from promising startups at home and abroad, including OpenAI, Slack, Gusto, IonQ, Naver Webtoon, Lunit, Orum Therapeutics, Nota AI, Rebellions, Amogy, and Korea Credit Data, will take the stage.
The event runs for three days. On the 9th, an invite-only networking program will take place, including a Startup Pitching session, with 30 to 40 startups participating alongside investors.
On the 10th, the main event, the 82 Startup Summit, will be held. It will run in both Korean and English, bringing together founders and investors from around the world to connect through a variety of programs, including startup exhibition booths, panel talks, and venture capital (VC) sessions.
On the 12th, the East Meets West event will take place. U.S. and Asian VCs, including Goodwater Capital, Altos Ventures, and Lightspeed, will co-host discussions on global investment trends and entrepreneurial spirit.
UKF is a global community centered on Korean and Korean diaspora founders, operators, and investors active worldwide, working to promote the international consolidation and cross-border cooperation of the startup ecosystem.
Event registration and startup booth applications are available through the UKF official channel.