COMEUP 2024, Korea’s premier global startup event, commenced on Wednesday at COEX in Seoul. Held under the theme Innovation Beyond Borders, the two-day event (December 11-12) brings together entrepreneurs, investors, and key stakeholders from over 40 countries, providing a platform for networking, knowledge exchange, and collaboration within the global startup ecosystem.
The event features a diverse range of programs structured around three key sub-themes: Deep Tech, Inbound, and Sustainable Innovation by Startups (SIS). Attendees can engage in startup exhibitions, conferences, keynote speeches, investor relations (IR) pitching sessions, open innovation programs, and legal consulting services tailored for startups.
Approximately 260 startups from both Korea and abroad are showcasing their innovations, with international participants making up over half of the exhibitors. Notably, national pavilions from the UAE, India, Japan, and Sweden highlight their respective startup ecosystems. Additionally, specialized exhibition zones dedicated to deep tech fields such as big data, artificial intelligence (AI), and biohealth offer attendees hands-on experiences with cutting-edge technologies
COMEUP 2024 also spotlights foreign entrepreneurs aspiring to establish businesses in Korea. More than 20 overseas startups are featured in the Startup Korea Pavilion, a dedicated exhibition zone designed to facilitate market entry and business networking. Among the participants is Carlos El-Kik Lloret, CEO of AiMA Beyond AI, a Spanish startup specializing in AI-driven digital human solutions. AiMA made headlines as the first company to obtain Korea’s newly introduced Startup Korea Special Visa in November 2023. Initially facing visa-related challenges due to educational qualifications, the company benefited from the new visa program, which evaluates startups based solely on their innovation and market potential, opening new avenues for international entrepreneurs in Korea.