The Agency for Overseas Koreans (Director Lee Sang-deok) announced on the 21st that a competition to showcase ‘K-Startups’ on the global stage was held as a key program of the 23rd World Conference for Korean Business Leaders at the Gas South Convention Center in Atlanta, USA.

Since its inception in 2022, the startup competition has provided a platform for promising Korean startups to take on the global market.

This year, approximately 200 startups participated in the preliminary rounds for the Atlanta conference. On the 19th, 20 domestic startups in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), battery technology, biotech, and robotics advanced to the final round, presenting both online and offline.

Each team had 10 minutes to showcase their innovative technologies and global market entry strategies, engaging in a heated competition.

In particular, the introduction of solutions targeting practical problem-solving across various industries garnered significant attention from attendees and the judging panel.

The winner of the offline presentation group was EverEx, a digital healthcare company that introduced an AI-based rehabilitation and correction solution, while the online presentation group’s top prize went to Morphing I, which presented a smart inspection robot using AI and multi-sensors to detect defects in water pipes.

The judging panel, composed of local venture capitalists (VCs), evaluated the startups based on technological innovation, marketability, market entry strategy, and global growth potential.

The 1st and 2nd place winners of the offline presentations received the Agency for Overseas Koreans Director’s Award, while the 1st and 2nd place winners of the online presentations were awarded the Minister of SMEs and Startups Award, and the 3rd place winner received the Korea Federation of SMEs President’s Award, along with prize money.

Director Lee Sang-deok encouraged the participants, stating, “This competition serves as a gateway for startups with new technologies and ideas to enter the global market. The discovery and participation of young, innovative startups will help maximize the potential of the Korean diaspora.”

Yonhap News