ComeUp 2020 to Support Startups Post-Coronavirus Era

The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced last week that it would host the ComeUp 2020 startup event in November in Dongdaemun Design Plaza. The ministry hopes to help startups establish themselves in the international market.

ComeUp is a global networking event for innovative ventures and startups that boast the highest authority. Since last year, the ministry launched the brand ComeUp intending to develop it into a global startup festival such as Slush in Finland and Tech Crunch Disrupt in the United States.

The COVID-19 pandemic put on hold and canceled many events and conferences. However, the ministry said the annual event, both physical and online, would continue. The event would connect enterprises and companies better with investors in their early phases.

During the 2020 ComeUp Organizing Committee event held in Gangnam, Minister Park Young-sun said that despite the suspension of major conferences such as Finland’s Slush, and Spain’s MWC, the ministry would still push through with ComeUp 2020 as planned.

At the ComeUp 2019 inaugural event last year, around 21,000 attendees from 61 countries provided business talks and networking with 4,900 startups and 650 venture capitals.

The organizing committee said that the event would start on November 19 and end on November 21.
The event would focus on online enterprises and contactless services optimized for the post-coronavirus era.

Opportunity Amid Crisis

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, contactless-based services have been rapidly growing along with online services. Work-at-home schemes, videoconferencing, social distancing, food deliveries, and online markets are becoming the new norm.

Park said that the ministry would focus on how to make such companies and services advance into large business entities domestically and internationally. The minister added that the crisis would be an excellent opportunity for innovative startups to promote their technologies.

If successfully held, ComeUp 2020 would become the standard of global startup event brand that attracts the world’s attention. The three-day event would be held at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) located in Seoul.

ComeUp 2020 would create more promotional, and investment opportunities for startups since online platforms would be used in promotions.

“Innovation ventures and startups would play a key role in making Korea a leading digital powerhouse in the post-corona era.”

– Park Young-sun, SMEs and Startups Minister