Core Insights - The Global Innovation Forum, organized by the Seoul Business Agency, is a significant event aimed at enhancing the global startup ecosystem through international collaboration [1][5] - The event featured a startup competition and networking program, marking the first country-based initiative at CES, with participation from seven leading countries [2][4] Event Overview - The Global Innovation Forum was held on January 7, 2026, as part of CES, and aimed to connect startup ecosystems across countries [3] - The initiative evolved from the Seoul Innovation Forum launched in 2025, showcasing the potential for country-to-country cooperation [4] Competition Details - The event included an IR pitching competition where startups from each participating country presented their innovations to judges [6][10] - This year, the judging panel included both global media and venture capital professionals, enhancing the credibility and investment opportunities for startups [7][8] Awards and Recognition - The Grand Award was won by Firsthabit from the Seoul Pavilion, with prize money of USD 3,000, while Hua Tech International and CubicSpace received second and third places, respectively [10] - Winning startups expressed intentions to leverage their recognition for market entry, particularly into the U.S. [11] Networking Opportunities - The networking session was significantly enhanced compared to previous years, facilitating exchanges among VCs, media, and startups [12][13] - Startups were given opportunities for one-minute PR speeches to introduce their technologies, which received positive feedback [14] Future Aspirations - The Seoul Business Agency aims for the Global Innovation Forum to become a key platform for cross-country cooperation and global startup exchange at CES [15]

Group 1 - The European startup market is experiencing a slow recovery from the global venture capital reset of 2022 and 2023, but signs of a turnaround are emerging, including notable exits and increased interest in AI startups [1] - In 2025, European startups received €43.7 billion ($52.3 billion) across 7,743 deals by the third quarter, indicating that the total investment is on track to match the previous years but not exceed them [2] - European VC firms raised only €8.3 billion ($9.7 billion) through Q3 2025, which is projected to be the lowest fundraising total in a decade [3] Group 2 - Fundraising remains the weakest area in Europe, with a projected decline of 50% to 60% in the first nine months of 2025, primarily driven by emerging managers rather than established firms [4] - The participation of U.S. investors in European startup deals is increasing, having dropped to 19% in 2023 but showing a steady rise since then [5] - U.S. investors are optimistic about the European market due to lower valuations compared to the U.S., making it a more attractive entry point for investments, particularly in AI technology [6]

If Silicon Valley is the cradle of modern life—from AI to burrito deliveries—“Gundo” is the equivalent in hardware innovation. For many of the city’s startups, the harder something is to build, the better https://t.co/aLU1Kwk2z4 ...

In the beachside city of El Segundo a bevy of startups are surfing on a rising tide of venture capital. They share one animating principle: a desire to wrench industrial supremacy back from China https://t.co/N8uo8Druo6 ...

The fall of one of Asia’s top startups eFishery is forcing other founders in Indonesia to make sure their pitches are grounded more in reality rather than hype. https://t.co/5cgKEyExT5📷: Dimas Ardian/Bloomberg https://t.co/bLk8WKcmIV ...

The fall of one of Asia’s top startups eFishery is forcing other founders in Indonesia to make sure their pitches are grounded more in reality rather than hype https://t.co/2BX9DCBvXe ...

Core Insights - COMEUP 2025, Korea's largest global startup festival, officially opened on December 10, 2025, at COEX Seoul, showcasing innovative startups and fostering collaboration between startups, investors, and corporations [1][6] - The festival runs from December 10 to 12 under the theme "Recode the Future," featuring a variety of programs including conferences, exhibitions, and IR pitching [2][6] Event Overview - This year's event includes 275 startups from 46 countries, with national pavilions from seven countries, including Saudi Arabia and India, promoting their startup ecosystems [3] - Keynote speeches are delivered by prominent figures in the tech industry, such as Tareq Amin, CEO of HUMAIN, and Sunghyun Park, CEO of Rebellions, focusing on the festival's theme [3] Investment Opportunities - COMEUP 2025 provides expanded opportunities for startups to connect with global investors and major corporations, with participation from 35 global and Korean corporations [4] - Over 2,000 business matchmaking meetings are arranged, allowing startups to engage with investors and corporations directly [4] Side Programs - Major side programs include the OpenData X AI Challenge, the K-Startup 2025 Grand Finale, and the K-Startup Grand Challenge Demo Day, highlighting top foreign startup teams [5] - The Venture & Startup Awards Ceremony recognizes contributions to Korea's startup ecosystem during the event [5]

This Startup Leans Into AI To Help Novice Founders Move Fast https://t.co/9y5JDeDKbo ...

This Startup Leans Into AI To Help Novice Founders Move Fast https://t.co/9y5JDeDKbo ...

In Silicon Valley, old-school spreadsheet measures are out, while valuing by vibes is in. Startups are raising billions before even making a dollar https://t.co/aeShC5Klcx ...