As Korea sharpens its focus on global startup expansion, COMEUP Stars 2025 has emerged as a critical barometer of founder ambition. With 559 startups applying for just 20 slots across the U.S., Japan, China, and Europe, the program’s record 27.9:1 competition rate underscores both the intensity of domestic innovation and the urgency for Korean startups to secure global footholds.

COMEUP Stars 2025: Record Competition Highlights Korea’s Global Startup Ambitions

The COMEUP Stars 2025 program, part of Korea’s flagship global startup festival in Seoul, has closed its latest round with unprecedented demand. A total of 559 startups applied, marking a record-high 27.9:1 competition rate for one of the country’s most visible global expansion platforms.

Organized by the Korea Startup Forum (KSF), COMEUP Stars is the discovery and acceleration track within the annual COMEUP festival.

For 2025, the program underwent a major overhaul, removing earlier divisions based on fundraising stage and shifting its focus toward outbound support for overseas expansion. The new model will select 20 startups—five each targeting the U.S., Japan, China, and Europe—to receive region-specific acceleration and mentoring.

North America and Asia Lead as Target Markets

Applications were open between July 21 and August 22, attracting strong interest from startups aiming to enter North America (44%) and Japan (34%), with smaller but notable shares for China and Europe (11% each).

The figures highlight where Korean startups perceive the strongest opportunities: the U.S. for scale and venture capital access, and Japan for proximity and technology adoption. These patterns reflect a broader strategic push in the Korean startup ecosystem toward positioning in markets with high technology absorption capacity, market size, and post-entry scalability.

Focus on AI and Practical Market Readiness

The applicant pool also highlights Korea’s sector strengths. AI startups made up the largest share with 102 companies (18.2%), confirming the sector’s central role in Korea’s global tech ambitions. Other active fields included healthcare and biotech, software, energy and sustainability, beauty and fashion, and media and entertainment.

When asked about preferred mentoring areas, startups prioritized product localization strategies (77.6%) and local market analysis (75.5%), signaling a clear focus on building practical pathways for international competitiveness.

Acceleration Through Regional Partners

Following document and interview evaluations, KSF will announce the final 20 startups on September 17. Selected companies will attend orientation and workshops on September 22–23, then join tailored acceleration programs in October–November through regional “partner houses”:

• Pen Ventures (U.S.)
• Shinhan Futures Lab Japan
• E-Land China EIV
• Start2 Group (Europe)

These partnerships link Korean startups with established accelerators in each region, embedding them directly into local investment and business networks.

Support includes IR pitching and exhibition booths at COMEUP 2025, overseas business trip invitations in 2026, and international PR. Each partner house will provide localized benefits such as workspace access, program integration, and pitch competition invitations, aligning Korea’s startups with regional investment and business ecosystems.

Strengthening Korean Startups for Global Market Entry

For Korea’s startup ecosystem, the record turnout at COMEUP Stars 2025 illustrates how founders are increasingly positioning themselves for global expansion rather than domestic competition.

The emphasis on outbound acceleration reflects a broader ecosystem shift—moving beyond domestic fundraising stages to equipping Korean startups to compete directly in U.S., Japanese, Chinese, and European markets.

Han Sang-woo, Chairman of the Korea Startup Forum, noted:

“This year’s COMEUP Stars will serve as an outbound program that enables Korean startups to leap into global markets. It strengthens overseas expansion capabilities while broadening the global connectivity of Korea’s startup ecosystem.”

Looking Ahead: COMEUP Stars 2025 in Seoul

The COMEUP 2025 festival will be held from December 10–12 at COEX in Gangnam, Seoul, bringing together founders, investors, policymakers, and ecosystem builders.

This year’s edition will place stronger emphasis on global collaboration, investment attraction, and cross-border startup partnerships, positioning Korea as a hub that connects Asian innovation with the rest of the world.

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