KDB Opens Asia's Largest Startup Fair 'NextRise 2026'

'NextRise 2026, Seoul,' Asia's leading startup fair co-hosted by Korea Development Bank (KDB) and Korea International Trade Association (KITA), opened on June 18. This year's event brings together more than 540 innovative startups and about 270 large and mid-sized domestic and international companies and venture capital firms for booth exhibitions, one-on-one business meetings, and industry-specific lectures.

Korea Development Bank and Korea International Trade Association announced that they kicked off 'NextRise 2026, Seoul' at COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul, on the same day. The event is held over two days, from June 18 to June 19. Now in its eighth year, NextRise is co-hosted by Korea Development Bank, Korea International Trade Association, Korea Venture Business Association, and Korea Venture Capital Association. This year's event, under the slogan 'Shape the Next,' features booth exhibitions by promising startups in future industries, global companies, one-on-one business meetups, keynote speeches and panel discussions by industry experts, and IR pitching sessions for promising startups.

The booth exhibition features the largest-ever participation of over 540 innovative startups from Korea and abroad. There are industry-specific booths for AI, bio, content, and defense, while global companies such as LG, CJ, and Hanwha Aerospace, along with startup-related organizations, operate 23 booths to introduce collaboration cases and innovation achievements with startups.

In particular, marking the 140th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and France, France is participating as the guest of honor, with more than 140 overseas innovative startups from 30 countries joining the event. Global big tech companies such as Nvidia, Amazon Web Services, and Google Cloud are also participating in the booth exhibition to share the latest global technology trends.

The venue also features experience zones where visitors can directly interact with innovative technologies from future unicorn companies, such as humanoid robots, AI drones, and Security Token Offerings (STO). Korea Development Bank and Korea International Trade Association plan to use this opportunity to boost public interest in promising future industries and the venture ecosystem. The signature one-on-one business meetup program of NextRise is also being held at the largest scale in Asia, with more than 270 global corporations and investment firms including Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor Company, Nvidia, Airbus, IMM Investment, and Altos Ventures, as well as over 1,100 startups. These participants will hold on-site business partnership and investment consultations according to pre-arranged schedules.

On the four conference stages within the exhibition hall, keynote speeches and panel discussions will be held focusing on future strategic industries such as AI, bio, content, and defense. Industry experts and promising startups from Korea and abroad will participate to explore the future of their sectors and share the latest trends and innovation insights.

Specialist lectures are also part of the event. Steven Daevon, JAPAC Head of Engineering at Google Cloud, will give a talk on 'Global Scaling Up for Korean Startups.' Distinguished Professor Kim Jeongsang of Duke University will present on 'The Future of Innovation through Quantum Technology,' and author Lee Byunghan, writer of 'America Exploration,' will discuss 'From the Last Advanced Nation of Industrial Civilization to the First Designer of Digital Civilization.'

Programs for startup investment attraction also continue. On June 18, the Unicorn Stage will feature IR pitches from KDB NextONE and NextONE Busan companies, part of Korea Development Bank's startup incubation program. On June 19, the Innovation Stage will celebrate the 900th session of Korea Development Bank's venture investment attraction platform, NextRound, by hosting a special round focused on aerospace. In addition, an open innovation concert will be held to share innovation achievements in the venture ecosystem, along with startup and job orientation sessions offering on-the-ground stories from the ecosystem.

At the opening ceremony, Park Sangjin, Chairman of Korea Development Bank, said, "The relentless efforts, achievements, and innovative ideas of startups are a new driving force and source of vitality for the Korean economy," adding, "I look forward to sharing insights into advanced strategic industries, including AI, at NextRise, and creating new opportunities for the growth of the venture ecosystem and for startups to take a leap forward." Kwon Daeyoung, Vice Chairman of the Financial Services Commission, also commented, "Startups are the key players to lead us through this era of rapid transformation," and added, "The government will actively support the activation of the venture and innovation ecosystem through the recently launched National Growth Fund."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.