Korean startups achieved strong results at CES 2026, winning major awards and securing significant business opportunities at the world’s largest technology exhibition.
At the K-Startup Pavilion in Las Vegas (January 6-9), 81 Korean startups showcased cutting-edge technologies to global investors, buyers, and industry partners. Among them, 11 companies received 12 CES Innovation Awards, including three Best of Innovation awards: Geeks Loft (Headphones & Audio), Deep Fusion AI (Artificial Intelligence), and CT5 (Artificial Intelligence).
Overall, Korean companies won 206 of 347 CES Innovation Awards across 35 categories. SMEs accounted for 150 awards (72.8%), while ventures and startups won 144 awards. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups organized the K-Startup Pavilion through 19 startup support organizations under the unified K-Startup brand. The Pavilion provided exhibition booths, market-entry training, and business matching opportunities.
At the opening ceremony on January 6, First Vice Minister Roh Yong-seok said, “MSS will continue to support innovative Korean startups as they use CES as a springboard to expand into global markets.” Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley presented a commendation to the Korea Institute of Startups & Entrepreneurship Development for strengthening Korea-U.S. startup exchanges.
Deep Fusion AI CEO Sung Hun Yu said the award reflects “the commercial maturity and technological leadership of our 4D imaging radar deep-learning model,” adding that the company aims to become a global leader in autonomous solutions. MSS positions major international exhibitions like CES as key entry points for global expansion. In 2025, K-Startup Pavilions operated at five flagship events across India, France, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and the United States, supporting over 200 startups.
