The Korea Conference, a springboard for groundbreaking Korean startups aiming to debut in the U.S. market, was successfully hosted at the Four Seasons Hotel in Beverly Hills on August 17.
The conference was graced by representatives from eight innovative Korean startups across various sectors and saw participation from over 200 industry investors, venture capitalists, and entrepreneurs. This event was preceded by an inaugural networking soiree aboard the Fanta Seaone Yacht on the evening of August 16.
Sponsored by the Consulate General of Korea in Los Angeles and exclusively media-partnered with the Korea Daily, the Korea Conference aims to bridge promising Korean companies with global investments and partnerships.
Jenny Chu, the founder of the Korea Conference and a seasoned investment banker with ties to UBS, Morgan Stanley, and JPMorgan, inaugurated the event. “Driven by my deep affection for my homeland, I initiated the Korea Conference to harness my expertise in aiding the next generation of ambitious Koreans to realize their business aspirations, not just domestically but on a global scale,” said Chu.
The esteemed Korea Conference Advisory Board was introduced. Jose Feliciano, owner of the English Premier League (EPL) club Chelsea; Jason Cowett, co-founder of Odyssey, a global investment firm specializing in the aerospace industry; Tom Lawrence, chairman of the Eden Club, an exclusive membership for the world’s wealthiest individuals; Prince Lorenzo de Medici of the Medici family of Florence, Italy; and Michael Riady, advisor to Indonesia’s state-owned Lippo Group.
A unique “battle” format set the Korea Conference apart. Jenny Chu likened it to “a Star Wars of startups,” where the startups vied for the top spot. In a theatrical touch, Stormtroopers from the iconic Star Wars franchise took to the stage, escorting the presenters to a rapturous audience.
The eight startups presented their diverse and innovative business proposals on the stage. SP&E presented a combination of fire extinguisher and smoke eliminator, RNR introduced Monoplex & Cine Marketplace, KeyPair showcased Encrypted Automated Liquidity Pool Management, VitaBon presented a Nicotine vaping substitute, MindAI unveiled a Multi-level AI language model, Art in Motion Labs demonstrated NFT-based content creation, ShiftBio proposed using Immunotherapy to remove pathological cells, and Daeyoung Chaevi introduced smarter and more efficient ways to charge Electric Vehicles.
[8 innovative startup gems from Korea compete at Korea Conference]
Two recurring participants, ShiftBio and Daeyoung Chaevi, highlighted their accomplishments since their last appearance. Notably, ShiftBio celebrated collaborations with US-based exosome producer RoosterBio and French multinational Dassault Systèmes.
Daeyoung Chaevi, after being distinguished as the premier Asian operator of electric vehicle charging in the U.S., also revealed their impending North American launch event in Waterford, Michigan on August 23.
Six judges evaluated the presentations based on three criteria: content, entertainment value, and presentation skills. The panel of judges consisted of Min Suh, CEO of Cube Sphere; JB Lee, founder and CEO of Amaze VR; Prince Lorenzo De Medici, CEO of Medici Family Office; James Huang, president of EXP Reality; Ugwunna Ikpeowo, COO of Clearlake Family Office; and Jinhyeok Jeong, chairman of Taylormade.
ShiftBio clinched the title of the top presenter. ShiftBio’s presenter, Ki Hoon Nam, conveyed, “This recognition reinforces our faith in our capabilities. Our next step is to captivate investors to elevate us further.”
James Huang, chairman of eXpCommercial, commended the event’s innovative format, emphasizing its refreshing deviation from traditional conference norms. Some participants voiced a desire for extended interaction times with investors in future editions.
An emotional Chu, reflecting on the day, remarked, “This conference will remain etched in my memory. The overwhelming support truly moved me.”
The event culminated with the startups seizing the opportunity for in-depth discussions with potential investors, setting the stage for promising collaborations.
BY MOOYOUNG LEE, JUNHAN PARK [lee.mooyoung@koreadaily.com, park.junhan@koreadaily.com]
