Seoul's NextRise 2026 Startup Fair Draws 540 Startups and 4,000 Corporate Meetings

The Korea International Trade Association (KITA) and Korea Development Bank (KDB) concluded NextRise 2026 at COEX in Seoul on June 19 after a two‑day program (June 18‑19). The fair showcased more than 540 startups, including about 140 overseas teams from 30 countries, and hosted 23 global corporations such as LG, CJ, Hanwha Aerospace, Google Cloud and Renault.

Over 4,000 one‑on‑one business consultations were held across more than 170 exhibition booths, linking startups with investors, corporate partners and ecosystem players. The conference featured over 60 expert sessions on future strategic industries—AI, biotechnology, creative industries, defence, and more. Highlight speakers included Marc Manara, Head of Startups at OpenAI, and Robert Langer, MIT professor and Moderna co‑founder.

The event also presented the NextRise 2026 Awards, honoring 32 startups across categories such as AI infrastructure, bio‑healthcare, physical AI, space technology, quantum security and sustainable materials.