By now, we all know how COVID-19 has battered the industry and ecosystem globally — with offline tech events among the casualties. To this end, major event organisers had to either cancel, postpone indefinitely, or move their event to the virtual realm.

While these key overseas startup events saw changes in response to the pandemic — especially in terms of the initial dates set — one rising conference in South Korea has kept things according to the original plan while removing the element of offline gathering. From the timeline, to the experienced lineup of speakers and investors, to the agenda and various side events, COMEUP 2020 has been moving ahead at full speed with its entire programme unscatched.

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The organising committee has made this possible by establishing a clear identity for the event and setting a global standard model (at the onset of the pandemic) with their thorough preparations as an online-oriented event.

Launched in 2019, COMEUP serves to promote the Korean startup ecosystem at home and abroad, while also embracing innovation from international startups. That year, the conference welcomed over 21,000 attendees from 60 countries, with more than 4,900 startups and 650 VCs in participation. Even though it’s only in its second year, the event has seen a rapid growth in interest from foreign startups and stakeholders. Not surprisingly, considering the force behind its organising committee: their local government via the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the Korea Institute of Startup and Entrepreneurship Development (KISED), and the private startup ecosystem.

A locally initiated gathering for the global audience

Spread across three days, the event’s virtual platform will hold keynote speeches, panel discussions, exhibitions, networking events, and other startup-exclusive events. Each component in the agenda aligns with the theme, “Meet the Future – Post Pandemic” and will explore how startups everywhere will solve and overcome the global challenges.

This year, there will be over 100 subject matter experts who will cover 12 sessions on topics critical to startups today: K-Quarantine, Policy, Digital Healthcare, Environment, Open Innovation, AI & Robots, Telecommuting, Manufacturing, Commerce, and Education. The sessions are based on three focus areas: Social System, Work, and Life.

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Among the line-up of speakers are well-known global lecturers, such as Co-Founder and CTO of IONQ, Professor Kim Jungsang of Duke University, CEO of Kurly, Kim Seulah, and professor Henry Chesbrough of UC Berkeley, known for his contributions in open innovation.

Participating in the K-Quarantine sessions are Chun Jongyoon, CEO of Seegene. Seegene is the manufacturer of COVID-19 test kits and widely regarded as an exemplary company of K-Quarantine. Joining him is Kim Jinyong from Incheon Medical Center, Division of Infectious Diseases, the office that established global standards with its “drive-through testing”.

Investor networking and business matching

Selected startup participants will have the opportunity to network with the 90 plus investors joining the virtual event, such as Albert Shyy, Managing Director at Burda Principal Investment, Andreas Surya, Principal at Kejora Ventures, and more. Corporate partners will also be joining the event, so startups will

K-Startup Grand Challenge 2020: COMEUP Stars

The three-day gathering will not be complete without the special events geared towards startups. A few months ago, the COMEUP organisers opened the global call for startup applications for an opportunity to pitch their innovation at the event. From over 1,000 applications received during the call for applications, 120 startups made it to the “COMEUP Stars” roster — 59 of which are from South Korea.

These COMEUP Stars are provided with support for production of their corporate promotional videos and online booths, as well as opportunities to make promotional pitches to the investors participating in the event.

Online booths and other exciting features on a powerful platform

The COMEUP homepage will be structured to showcase and stream all the programmes, such as the main conference and the rest of the events. Additionally, the IR pages and corporate overview pages of the COMEUP Stars will be visible, so anybody can access their information.

The excitement doesn’t end there. Online booths will also be built so investors can login and view the corporate information of these startups and make business matching requests. This feature will enable real-time matching of startups, investors, and buyers, and host one-on-one counseling sessions.

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The platform itself was designed to present a lively atmosphere by implementing Virtual Showrooms that utilise VR technology in the homepage so the users will feel as if they are participating in an offline event hall.

Minister Park Young-sun from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups has great hopes about the event’s direction moving forward, saying, “COMEUP 2020 consistently hosts online events despite the difficulties presented by the COVID-19 crisis and I wish the event creates a lot of interest and participation from all involved.”

COMEUP 2020 is happening virtually from November 19 to 21, 2020. For more information and to sign up to the exciting event, click here.

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