Regional Startups Connect with Investors at Korea Angel Investment Association's Scale-Up Summit

The Korea Angel Investment Association (KAIA) held its 'Scale-Up Summit 2026' on July 15th at COEX in Seoul, aiming to boost follow-on investment opportunities for promising regional startups. The event, co-organized with the Korea Institute of Planning and Evaluation for Technology and Industry (KEIT), focused on connecting startups with proven business performance and technological validation to investors from the Seoul metropolitan area.

Fourteen startups from the technology and agri-food sectors participated in investor relations (IR) sessions. In the technology track, companies like Yumede, Awesome Nicx, and Solty Korea presented their ventures. The agri-food track featured Signal Care, Uniai, and Insight FI, among others, showcasing their business models. Following a review, Yumede, an AI urology medical platform company, received the KAIA President's Award, while Signal Care, an alternative feed ingredient company, was awarded the KEIT President's Award.

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This summit is expected to serve as a bridge connecting the Seoul metropolitan area's investment infrastructure with regional startups, and the government will spare no policy support.

Post-IR sessions included personalized investment consultations and networking opportunities based on pre-identified investor demand. KAIA plans to establish a 'Regional Hub Follow-up Management Pool' for companies with high investment potential, offering ongoing support for their growth. This initiative aims to bridge the gap between regional startups and the capital concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area.

Kim Bong-deok, Director of Venture Policy at the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, expressed hope that the summit would serve as a bridge connecting Seoul's investment infrastructure with regional startups, pledging government support. KAIA President Lee Jong-hoon reiterated the association's commitment to continuing support for regional startups entering their growth phase, ensuring they have access to follow-on investment opportunities.

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We will continue to provide linked support so that regional startups that have entered the growth stage can secure follow-on investment opportunities.