Korea Development Bank (KDB) and the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) have announced their plans to host ‘NextRise 2024, Seoul,‘ which is Asia’s largest startup fair, at COEX in Samsung-dong, Seoul, from June 13th to 14th.

Now in its 6th edition, ‘NextRise 2024, Seoul’ is being co-hosted by KDB and KITA, with key involvement from the National Research Council of Science & Technology, Korea Venture Business Association, and Korea Venture Capital Association.

In 2023, the event drew 20,000 visitors, leading to 257 startups forming business partnerships and achieving successes. Notably, 78 startups successfully secured investments totaling around 419 billion won. The fair’s international appeal was evident with participation from major corporations, startups, and investors from over 10 countries.

This year’s NextRise will showcase booths from over 450 startups and global companies. Additionally, it will feature participation from 150 global large and medium-sized enterprises, along with over 70 VC firms engaging in 1:1 business meetings with startups. Anticipated to be the largest event yet, it follows the success of the previous year.

The event will spotlight key startup trends in areas such as AI, advanced semiconductors, and future mobility. Diverse programs are on offer, including expanded participation of local startups, talk concerts featuring unicorn founders, keynote speeches by industry experts, and simulated investment opportunities for attendees.

The signature program of the event, Meetup, is set to exceed last year’s scale, with over 220 domestic and international reputable global companies, including Hyundai, Kia, LG Electronics, SK Telecom, HP, and Volvo, along with domestic and international investment firms slated to participate.

KDB expressed optimism about the event’s continued growth, stating, “Over the past 5 years, the participation of global companies and startups seeking tangible results such as business collaborations and investment attraction through NextRise has steadily increased.” They emphasized the role of this year’s NextRise in further strengthening innovation and growth within the venture ecosystem by bridging boundaries and gaps.