, /PRNewswire/ — The Korea International Trade Association (KITA) and Korea Development Bank (KDB) successfully wrapped up NextRise 2026, Seoul, Asia’s leading startup fair, at COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul, after a two-day run from June 18 to 19, 2026.
This year’s exhibition featured the largest startup showcase in the event’s history, with more than 540 Korean and international startups, including around 140 overseas startups from 30 countries. Participating companies presented new technologies through booth exhibitions, while 23 global corporates, including LG, CJ, Hanwha Aerospace, Google Cloud, and Renault, joined the fair to explore collaboration with startups.
The 1-on-1 business meetup program, one of Asia’s largest of its kind, held more than 4,000 consultations across over 170 booths, connecting startups with major global corporates, investors, and venture ecosystem partners to identify concrete business cooperation and investment opportunities.
The conference program shared global trends and practical insights through more than 60 expert sessions on future strategic industries, including AI, Biotechnology, Creative Industry, and defence, as well as strategies for startups seeking overseas expansion. Major sessions included OpenAI Head of Startups Marc Manara on the next era of AI, MIT Institute Professor and Moderna co-founder Robert Langer on bio innovation, CJ CheilJedang’s Hee-jun Lee on sustainable K-Food growth, and KAIST Professor Man-Ki Kim on applications of dual-use technologies.
NextRise 2026 also introduced new on-site programs designed to broaden participation in the venture ecosystem, including experience zones where visitors could see technologies from future unicorn candidates, such as humanoid robots, AI drones, and Security, as well as startup and job-fair programs and 1-on-1 recruitment meetups connecting startups with young AI developers.
A total of 32 startups were named honorees of the NextRise 2026 Awards, as detailed below:
- Top Innovator Prize went to MangoBoost (AI infrastructure) and AmtixBio (Bio/Healthcare).
- Next Innovator Prize was awarded to MakinaRocks (Physical AI), EverEx (Digital healthcare), I.T.Science (Defense/Aerospace), CSO (Space technology), ROBROS (Humanoid robotics), IMT (Digital healthcare), BEI (Battery technology), and JJ&COMPANIES (Maritime decarbonization).
- Rise Innovator Prize recipients included Qunova Computing (Quantum/HPC), WithPoints (Robotics automation), EYL Inc. (Quantum security), Shutagen (Physical AI/Manufacturing), GoLe Robotics (Construction robotics), Hurotics (Wearable robotics), LSCM (Advanced materials), and Stellarvision (Satellite data intelligence).
- International Innovator Prize / Global Innovator Prize honored Ionic Wind (Thermal technology), Ti Intelligence (Brain-computer interface), Chosen Digital (EV energy software), BIKI (Agrifood tech), N&E Innovations (Sustainable materials), ArbaLabs (Edge AI), AVITA (AI avatars/Physical AI), Inziv (Semiconductor inspection), BUYCO (Logistics SaaS), Hybrid Lidar Systems AG (LiDAR sensors), LetinAR (AR optics), Asteromorph (Scientific AI), Wert Intelligence (Patent AI), and Noah’s Farm (Food AI).
An official from the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) stated, “At this critical juncture of major transformation, where AI is changing our way of life and industrial paradigms, the role of startups with innovative technologies is more important than ever,” adding, “KITA will actively support these innovations so that they can transcend barriers between the national government, industries, and companies and lead to tangible results.”
