Empowering Innovation: ASEAN-Korea Centre Brings Next-Gen Startups to NextRise 2026 (June 18-19)

Empowering Innovation: ASEAN-Korea Centre Brings Next-Gen Startups to NextRise 2026 (June 18-19)

- Exhibition booth, pitching, and 1:1 business meetings held at COEX, Seoul -

The ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC, Secretary General Kim Jae-shin) participated in 'NextRise 2026,' one of Korea's largest global startup fairs, held at COEX from June 18 to 19. At the event co-organized by the Korea Development Bank (KDB) and the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), the AKC introduced promising ASEAN startups, contributed to strengthening exchanges between ASEAN and Korean startups, and explored new business opportunities through three key activities: startup pitching, one-on-one business meetings, and booth exhibitions.

At the exhibition, 30 startups from the ASEAN Member States were featured. Selected and nominated by their respective governments, these startups had previously participated in the 'ASEAN-Korea Startup Week 2025'. The participating companies represented a wide range of innovative sectors such as artificial intelligence, robotics, digital healthcare, marine biotechnology, environmental monitoring, e-commerce, and digital platforms. During the event, the booths also showcased information on participating startups and notable success stories from the ASEAN startup ecosystem, while promoting the upcoming 'ASEAN-Korea Startup Week 2026' scheduled for this October.

Three outstanding startups at the 'ASEAN-Korea Startup Week 2025,' participated in this event to showcase their innovative business models and technologies. These included QuikBot Technologies (Singapore), which pioneered an agentic AI-powered interoperable robotics platform integrating autonomous delivery robots and smart building infrastructure for smart cities; RIFFAI (Thailand), a satellite and AI company utilizing Earth Observation technologies to monitor environmental changes through advanced satellite imagery and neural network-based analysis; and Umami Bioworks (Singapore), a marine biotechnology company developing sustainable and cruelty-free solutions for cosmetics, wellness, and nutrition through its AI-powered cell cultivation platform.

The participating startups engaged in pitching sessions, business networking, and exhibition activities throughout the event to explore collaboration and investment opportunities with Korean corporates, accelerators, and venture capital firms. The startups noted, "NextRise 2026 provided a valuable opportunity to engage directly with Korean investors and industry stakeholders, explore potential business partnerships, and expand networks for future entry into the Korean market."

The 'ASEAN-Korea Startup Week 2026*' is scheduled to take place in October. During the week, 30 early-stage ASEAN startups will visit Korea to participate in a capacity-building program and engage in startup pitching sessions with Korean accelerators to promote their businesses and attract investment.

*The ASEAN-Korea Centre has organized the 'ASEAN-Korea Startup Week' since 2018 with the aim of nurturing startups in the ASEAN region and building a foundation for cooperation in the startup sector.

Annex 1. 'NextRise 2026' Startup Leaflet

Photo 1.

▲ ASEAN-Korea Centre exhibition booth at 'NextRise 2026.' June 19, COEX, Seoul.

Photo 2.

▲ Secretary General Kim Jae-shin of the ASEAN-Korea Centre poses for a group photo with startup representatives who participated in the 'ASEAN-Korea Startup Week 2025.' June 19, COEX, Seoul.

Photo 3.

▲ Representatives from QuikBot Technologies (Singapore), RIFFAI (Thailand), and Umami Bioworks (Singapore) deliver startup pitches during the 'ASEAN-Korea Centre: Next Generation Startup Pitch' session. June 19, COEX, Seoul.