K-Pitch: Gyeonggi Startup Showcase NYC + Private Lunch
Discover Korea’s Next Wave of AI, Robotics, Commerce, Energy, and Consumer Innovation
Join Plug and Play NYC and Gyeonggi Business & Science Accelerator (GBSA) for an exclusive investor showcase featuring 10 selected startups from Gyeonggi Province, one of Korea’s most important innovation and business regions.
This industry-agnostic showcase brings together Korean founders building across AI, robotics, e-commerce, consumer intelligence, food technology, clean energy, 3D content, architecture software, edge AI, and biotechnology.
For investors, corporate venture teams, and strategic partners, this event offers a direct opportunity to meet high-potential Korean startups, explore cross-border investment opportunities, and connect with ecosystem partners supporting both Korean startups entering the U.S. market and U.S. companies looking to expand into Korea.
The participating startups will be in New York City for the week, making this showcase a timely opportunity to meet the founders in person and continue conversations beyond the event.
*Why Gyeonggi Province*
Gyeonggi Province is Korea’s largest economic region and one of Asia’s most dynamic innovation hubs. Surrounding Seoul, Gyeonggi is home to many of Korea’s leading technology companies, industrial clusters, research institutions, manufacturers, and fast-growing startups.
For investors, Gyeonggi offers access to a strong pipeline of emerging companies from one of Korea’s most commercially active regions. For corporates, it serves as a strategic gateway into Korea’s innovation economy, with strengths across AI, semiconductors, robotics, mobility, energy, bio-health, biotechnology, and digital transformation.
This showcase is more than a pitch event. It is a connection point into the Korea-U.S. innovation corridor — helping investors discover Korean startups and helping corporates identify technologies, partnerships, pilots, and market-entry opportunities connected to Korea.
*About Plug and Play NYC*
Plug and Play NYC is part of Plug and Play’s global innovation platform, connecting startups, investors, corporations, and ecosystem partners across key technology sectors. For this showcase, Plug and Play NYC serves as a bridge between Korean startup innovation and the New York investment ecosystem.
*About GBSA*
Gyeonggi Business & Science Accelerator (GBSA) is a public innovation and business support organization representing Gyeonggi Province, Korea. GBSA supports startups, SMEs, and technology companies through acceleration programs, global expansion initiatives, business development support, and international market access.
For this event, GBSA is bringing a curated group of promising startups from Gyeonggi Province to New York to connect with investors, corporates, and ecosystem partners.
*Why Investors and Corporates Should Attend*
Attendees will have the opportunity to meet 10 selected Korean startups in one curated setting, discover companies across multiple high-growth verticals, connect directly with founders exploring U.S. market expansion, identify potential investment, partnership, pilot, and market-entry opportunities, build relationships with Korean ecosystem partners, and continue conversations with founders while they are in NYC for the week.
*Agenda*
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM | Registration, Welcome & Opening Remarks. Introduction to Plug and Play, GBSA, and the Gyeonggi startup ecosystem.
11:00 AM – 11:50 AM | Startup Showcase
Ten selected Korean startups will present their companies, technologies, market opportunities, and global expansion plans.
11:50 AM – 12:00 PM | Investor Transition
Brief transition before founder-investor conversations.
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Founder-Investor Conversations & Lunch
Meet the founders directly, explore investment opportunities, and build connections with Korea’s emerging innovation companies.
*Featured Startups*
1. SAZO / 사줘
CEO: Maro Gil
Vertical: AI · E-Commerce · Cross-Border Commerce
Why Investors Should Watch: Making global online shopping easier by using AI to simplify overseas purchasing, shipping, and customs.
2. BlackWho’s / 블랙후즈
CEO: Eunho Lee
Vertical: AI · Consumer Intelligence · MarTech
Why Investors Should Watch: Turning real customer interviews into actionable market insights for brands and consumer companies.
3. SNAX / 스낵스
CEO: Taekwon Lee
Vertical: FoodTech · Consumer Products · K-Food
Why Investors Should Watch: Developing next-generation functional snacks with food technology built for quality, freshness, and global appeal.
4. Rudens / 루덴스
CEO: Jihwan Jeong
Vertical: Generative AI · 3D Content · Creator Tools
Why Investors Should Watch: Enabling users to create immersive 3D digital content with AI-powered no-code tools.
5. UBIS / 유비스
CEO: Junho Shin
Vertical: Generative AI · 3D Characters · Digital Content
Why Investors Should Watch: Transforming a single 2D image into a 3D character for gaming, media, and digital content creation.
6. Reebotics / 리보틱스
CEO: Seungmin Baek
Vertical: Robotics · Logistics · Industrial Automation
Why Investors Should Watch: Building autonomous robotic solutions that improve productivity in logistics, delivery, and industrial operations.
7. AllAI / 올에이아이
CEO: Yonggak Kim
Vertical: Edge AI · AI Hardware · Simulation
Why Investors Should Watch: Developing AI devices and simulation tools that bring faster, smarter AI performance directly to the edge.
8. EONUS / 이온어스
CEO: Eun Heo
Vertical: ClimateTech · Energy · Battery Solutions
Why Investors Should Watch: Providing safe, portable clean-energy systems for mobile power supply and energy resilience.
9. Starkium / 스타키움
CEO: Jeongwan Lee
Vertical: PropTech · ConstructionTech · Generative AI
Why Investors Should Watch: Using generative AI to help architects and builders create building designs faster and more efficiently.
10. RadaHaim / 라다하임
CEO: Heon Ju Lee
Vertical: BioTech ·
Why Investors Should Watch: An MIT Ph.D.-led company with commercialization experience with KT and D’Live, planning to launch organoid culture medium-based cosmetics.
*Featured Innovation Themes*
Artificial Intelligence · Robotics & Automation · Cross-Border Commerce · Consumer Intelligence · FoodTech & K-Food · Clean Energy & Battery Solutions · 3D Content & Digital Media · PropTech & ConstructionTech · Edge AI & AI Hardware · Biotechnology
*Who Should Attend*
This event is ideal for venture capital investors, angel investors, family offices, corporate venture capital teams, strategic investors, corporate innovation teams, technology scouts, enterprise business development teams, U.S. companies exploring Korea market expansion, and ecosystem partners interested in Korea-U.S. startup opportunities.
Korea Rising: Gyeonggi Startup Showcase NYC offers a direct look at Korea’s next generation of globally minded founders during their New York market visit, creating a meaningful connection point between the New York investment community and Korea’s innovation ecosystem.