Good morning! It’s Monday, July 10, and the heat is on. In this Issue 15, I will be offering a preview of the upcoming Korea Conference, where innovative Korean startups will be showcased to international investors. The Korea Conference is scheduled to take place on August 16-17 in Los Angeles.
Welcome to Katchup Briefing, the Korea Daily’s weekly English newsletter. Here, I will keep you informed with the latest news updates and perspectives from the Korean American community. If you’re interested in exploring more articles and columns from previous weeks, please visit koreadailyus.com.
Modeled after the successful Israel Conference, the Korea Conference aims to spotlight Korean startups across various industries to the mainstream U.S. market, with the ultimate goal of attracting investment from global conglomerates and venture capitalists.
The Korea Conference was established in 2022 by Jenny Chu, a veteran in investment banking with 30 years of experience. Chu, who has worked at esteemed institutions such as UBS, Morgan Stanley, and JPMorgan, also serves as the head of global business development at Boar’s Club, managing the assets of some of the world’s wealthiest families.
The idea for the Korea Conference originated from Chu’s aspiration to create an event similar to the Israel Conference, which successfully introduced Israeli innovative startups to U.S. investors and tech giants. Her vision became a reality in March 2022, when the Korea Conference organized its inaugural event, presenting three Korean startups to mainstream U.S. investors. Daeyoung Chaevi, a manufacturer of electric vehicle charging platforms, was one of the startups introduced at the Korea Conference in 2022 and was later selected as a U.S. EV charger operator.
While last year’s launch ceremony served as a test bed, this year’s Korea Conference will be the official inaugural event.
The South Korean Ministry of Science and Technology recommended promising startups to the Korea Conference organizing body, with The Korea Daily serving as the exclusive media sponsor for the event.
Ten Korean startups, carefully selected based on criteria such as innovative technology, management philosophy, corporate culture, and revenue structure, will make their debut in the U.S. mainstream at the Korea Conference. Among them are MindAI, an artificial-intelligence developer; RNR, a theater management and multiplex solution provider; and Art in Motion, a Korean NFT (non-fungible token) art-licensing company.
The event will span two days: the opening day will feature a VIP dinner on August 16, followed by the main event on August 17. Both events are by invitation only. The VIP dinner will take place aboard the FantaSea One yacht in Marina del Rey harbor, hosting 100 invited VIPs, including startup CEOs and investors.
The following day, the main event will be held at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a total of 200 attendees, including startup CEOs, investors, and advisors.
Feliciano, a renowned global investment tycoon, expressed his anticipation, saying, “Korean companies possess unique skills and know-how. I eagerly anticipate witnessing the synergy created by the convergence of their innovative technologies and investor support, leading to mutually beneficial outcomes.”
The Korea Conference is poised to become a prominent platform for Korean startups with innovative technology to gain exposure in the international arena.
By Mooyoung Lee lee.mooyoung@koreadaily.com
