🚀 K-Style Expo Q4 2025: K-Culture Innovation & Global Investor Pitching
K-Style Expo Q4 2025: Powering the Future of K-Culture
(K-Beauty | K-Fashion | K-Content | K-Learning | K-Gaming)
We’re back with the fourth edition of K-Style Expo — the premier online stage where the boldest Korean startups in K-Culture (K-Beauty, K-Fashion, K-Content, K-Learning, and K-Gaming) meet world-class investors seeking the next wave of global innovation.
This quarter, the spotlight is on startups that are reshaping Korea’s cultural exports — from breakthrough beauty and fashion to transformative learning platforms, boundary-pushing content IP, and immersive gaming experiences.
👉 Whether you’re an investor scouting the next unicorn or a startup ready to expand globally, this is where the future of K-Culture meets global capital.
| About the Organizers
| Event Schedule
Welcome Message – Opening remarks by beSUCCESS representative
Keynote Speech – Insightful keynote from prominent figure in the industry (TBA)
VC Introductions – Quickfire intros: 30 seconds per investor
Startup Pitching – Each startup gets 3 minutes to pitch + 3 minutes Q&A
| Who Should Attend?
🎯 Investors
Gain early access to high-potential startups in K-Beauty, K-Fashion, K-Content, K-Learning, and K-Gaming.
Tap into the surging global demand for Korean cultural products and services.
Be a first mover investing in Korea’s next generation of unicorns.
🚀 Startups
Pitch to investors actively searching for K-Culture innovation.
Gain exposure, feedback, and potential funding opportunities.
Get valuable feedback to grow and refine your business strategy.
Build connections with founders, mentors, and collaborators across Asia and beyond.
| Why You Should Attend?
K-Culture is not just influencing trends — it’s shaping the future of global markets across beauty, fashion, content, learning, and gaming.
The fourth K-Style Expo is designed as a curated, high-impact platform that drives real conversations, strategic partnerships, and actionable outcomes.
If you want to be part of Korea’s innovation story — whether as an investor or founder — this is the room you can’t afford to miss.
| Calling Start-Up Founders
Are you a K-Culture startup ready to take the global stage? We’re now inviting applications for the Top 10 pitching slots at K-Style Expo Q4 2025.
Criteria for Startups
Stage: Early-stage and medium-stage startups.
Objective: Looking for investment, strategic feedback, or global exposure.
Sectors: Open to all areas of K-Culture — including K-Beauty, K-Fashion, K-Education, K-Content, K-Entertainment, and K-Gaming.
As a selected startup, you’ll:
Pitch to investors actively seeking K-Culture innovation.
Gain exposure, constructive feedback, and potential funding opportunities.
Build connections with mentors, founders, and collaborators across Asia and beyond.
Get actionable guidance to grow and scale internationally.
⚠️ Selection Process: All applicants will go through a competitive screening, and only 10 startups will be chosen to pitch.
SELECTION TIMELINE
⭐ Prize for the Top Startup
Exclusive Support Beyond the Stage
The 1st Place Winner of K-Style Expo Q4 2025 will receive an EXCLUSIVE POST-EVENT SUPPORT PACKAGE, specially curated by the organizing committee, including beSUCCESS.
As part of this premium award, the winning startup will receive:
✔ Exclusive Post-Event Support Package
✔ Minimum 5 curated 1:1 investor introductions (qualified, hand-selected)
✔ Priority consideration for beSUCCESS global media exposure
⚠️ Limited Seats
Space is limited to ensure quality interactions and exclusive access to top-tier professionals and opportunities.
Only 10 startups will be selected to participate.
If you're serious about Korea’s next wave of innovation, register early to secure your spot.
| Keynote Speaker - Danara Kizzy Kuhn
Danara Kizzy Kuhn is the Founder and CEO of BrandUp Korea, a consultancy dedicated to empowering foreign-owned startups in Korea and guiding Korean brands in their global expansion. With deep expertise in Korea-focused marketing, market entry, and cross-cultural brand strategy, she has become a trusted advisor to entrepreneurs navigating the complexities of the Korean business landscape. A graduate of Korea University, Danara brings firsthand insight into what it takes to build, grow, and sustain a startup in Korea. In her keynote, she shares practical strategies and real experiences on “How Startup Founders Survive in the Korean Business Ecosystem.”
| Investors & Judges on Board
We proudly announce the forward-thinking investors from across the globe joining the fourth edition of K-Style Expo as judges.
Robin Lee (United States)
Robin Lee is a strategic leader at SHOPLINE, a leading SaaS platform empowering retailers to grow their businesses globally. With over 18 years of experience in venture capital and startup advisory, she leads strategic partnerships with venture firms, accelerators, and innovation networks to help emerging brands access funding and scale. Robin has facilitated over $350 million in venture funding across industries such as AI, fintech, and e-commerce. Previously, she served as Venture Partner at Newchip Global Accelerator and Director at Tech Coast Angels, and continues to mentor founders at Techstars, Speedstars, and other global startup programs.
Anthony Haeryong Rhim (South Korea)
Anthony H. Rhim is an investor and AI researcher at SparkLabs, bridging technology, academia, and venture innovation across Berkeley, Hong Kong, and Seoul. His work centers on artificial intelligence, deep learning, and frontier technologies, integrating technical expertise with investment strategy. At SparkLabs, Anthony collaborates with startups and research teams to scale AI solutions and drive cross-border innovation. With experience spanning Silicon Valley and Asia, he brings a global perspective to advancing the AI and startup ecosystem through strategic investments, applied research, and founder mentorship, empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs transforming industries through intelligent technology.
Alok Soni (India)
Alok Dr Soni is an investor at Mudhouse Capital, where he focuses on identifying and scaling early-stage ventures with global ambition. Drawing on deep experience in startup ecosystems and venture investing, Alok drives strategic partnerships, deal origination, and portfolio growth in sectors ranging from enterprise SaaS to emerging consumer technologies. At Mudhouse Capital he brings a founder-centric approach, helping entrepreneurs refine business models, raise capital, and expand internationally. Based between leading innovation hubs, he combines market insight with hands-on mentorship to support high-potential ventures through rapid growth phases and sustainable value creation.
SucSEED Ventures (India)
SucSEED is an Investment Manager of SEBI regulated SucSEED Indovation Fund, an AIF Cat-1 Venture Capital Angel Fund with 300 Crore Fund Corpus (www.sucseed-indovation.com). SucSEED is also the Fund Management Entity (FME) of IFSCA Regulated SucSEED Indovation GROWTH Fund, a 100 USD Mn Fund Corpus (in USD Denomination) from GIFT City - Gujrat, INDIA.
SucSEED Ventures encourages enabling environment by acting as mentors, angels and venture partners to start-up entities and talented & hungry management teams involved and engaged in any area of business and to facilitate, raise, promote, provide and support seed funding and venture capital to such entities and teams.
Arun Rajiah (India)
Arun Rajiah is the Founder of Lvl1 Accelerator, where he helps early-stage founders build, scale, and raise capital. With over 15 years of entrepreneurial and venture experience, Arun invests in and mentors startups from pre-seed to Series A, focusing on GTM strategy, AI-driven automation, and growth consulting. He has founded and exited multiple ventures, served as Group CEO at Orange Holdings, and built Code4Cause, a global tech volunteer network spanning 13 countries. As a pioneer in India’s animatronics industry with RaOneBytes, Arun combines deep technical insight and startup expertise to empower innovators across AI, fintech, healthcare, and emerging technologies.
Michelle Chang (Taiwan)
Michelle Chang is an active investor at Pegatron Venture Capital and a passionate advocate with Women in VSEA, supporting women’s leadership in the venture and startup ecosystem. She focuses on early-stage technology investments, strategic partnerships, and mentoring founders across hardware, AI, and global innovation networks. Michelle bridges corporate venture capital insights with founder-friendly mentorship, helping ambitious startups scale and navigate growth. With a global mindset rooted in Asia’s dynamic tech ecosystem, she is committed to elevating underrepresented voices in venture and empowering diverse founders to build transformational companies.
Witchaya Pruecksamars (Thailand)
Witchaya Pruecksamars is a strategic investment professional at Canvas Ventures, a Bangkok-based multi-family venture capital office focused on deep tech and creative innovation across Southeast Asia. At Canvas, Witchaya supports early to growth-stage startups by sourcing deals, guiding founders, and building bridges between Thai entrepreneurs and global investor networks. Drawing on the firm’s mission to blend technology, creativity and impact, he helps shape investment strategies that address megatrends such as climate tech, the creative economy and social inclusion. With a collaborative, cross-border mindset, Witchaya is committed to empowering ambitious startups to scale regionally and globally.
Shakeel Ahamed (India)
Shakeel Ahamed is the Founder and CEO of WisePrince, a startup accelerator based in Tamil Nadu, dedicated to helping founders build investor-ready ventures. With deep experience mentoring startups and raising multiple crores in funding, Shakeel focuses on strategy, valuation clarity, and purposeful pitching over hype. His approach emphasizes practical innovation — building solutions people truly need and fostering collaborative ecosystems that drive real impact. At WisePrince, he empowers entrepreneurs to scale sustainably while understanding what investors genuinely value.
Shinta W. Dhanuwardoyo (Indonesia)
Shinta W. Dhanuwardoyo is a pioneering Indonesian tech entrepreneur and one of the nation’s most respected digital innovators. As Founder and CEO of Bubu.com, established in 1996, she helped shape Indonesia’s internet and startup ecosystem. Recognized by Globe Asia, Tatler Asia, and Forbes Indonesia among the most influential women in business, Shinta has built her legacy on innovation, inclusivity, and impact.
Under her leadership, Bubu.com evolved into a Cultural Intelligence Agency, launching ventures like Bubu Gaming, LabX, and StartupIndonesia.co. She also leads PT. TODAK Nusantara Group, co-founded SVATA, and advises global institutions including the ADB and United Nations Indonesia, driving regional digital transformation.
Maria Noel de la Paz (South Korea)
Maria Noel de la Paz is the Acceleration Director at Magical, a leading private accelerator and venture capital firm in Chile. With over nine years of experience in startup acceleration, venture capital, and global market expansion, she partners with founders to refine business models and scale internationally.
Previously with Seedstars and Startup Chile, Maria has supported diverse entrepreneurs across Latin America, helping to build innovation ecosystems that promote inclusive, sustainable growth and strengthen the region’s startup landscape.
Harsh Patel (India)
Harsh Rajnikant Patel is an experienced Startup Mentor and Advisor from Evolve8 Studio. He is currently mentoring 20+ tech startups through Startup India, MAARG, Alchemy Accelerator, and Techstars. With over six years in the startup ecosystem and a strong background in software development and entrepreneurship, he has co-founded and invested in 10+ ventures. Harsh excels in business strategy, operations management, and innovation leadership. Passionate about working with creative and ambitious entrepreneurs, he helps startups scale effectively through strategic planning, execution, and mentorship. His forward-thinking approach and commitment to fostering innovation make him a trusted guide in the startup community.
Laura Valls (LV Global, South Korea)
Laura Valls is the founder of LV GLOBAL and a cross-cultural expansion strategist helping Western companies succeed in Korea by eliminating the cultural friction that slows execution and stalls revenue. With 16 years of experience, she diagnoses where Korea or APAC strategies break and rebuilds GTM, partnership, and decision systems with cultural precision. Her Expansion Friction Map™ has supported over €300M in cross-border deals and turned stalled market entries into active pipelines across F&B, wellness, and medical devices. A sought-after speaker, she delivers sharp, practical insights on Korea market entry and high-context buyer dynamics.
Sarath Naidu (SH Partners, Sweden)
Sarath Naidu is an International Growth Partner with Seven Hills Business Partners, supporting SMEs and startups across Europe and Asia. Based between Malmö, Copenhagen, and Oslo, he specializes in identifying new partners, expanding into high-potential markets, and driving strategic value creation. With over three years of independent consulting experience, Sarath helps companies navigate cross-border opportunities and accelerate sustainable global growth through practical, partnership-driven approaches.