B-Launch: ComeUp's Predecessor

The heartbeat of the Korean startup ecosystem began in 2012 with 'beLAUNCH'. This largest startup conference in Asia, launched under private initiative, imprinted the then-unfamiliar concept of a 'startup event' domestically. Starting with 1,500 attendees at the Renaissance Hotel in Yeoksam-dong, it moved to COEX, and by 2015, under the name 'beGLOBAL', it reached the pinnacle of a privately led event connecting Seoul and Silicon Valley. Numerous startups that now represent the industry, such as KnowRe, Remember, MyRealTrip, Spoon (Mykoon), Bank Salad, and JANDI (Tosslab), made their names and laid the foundation for their success on the beLAUNCH stage. It is also a living witness that clearly demonstrates the dynamic growth process of the ecosystem, including companies that overcame the pain of closure and rose again, or those that pioneered new paths through pivoting. After beGLOBAL concluded in 2015, following a four-year hiatus, the government-led 'COMEUP' took over the baton starting in 2019. 'COMEUP 2025', to be held at COEX from December 10th to 12th, has established itself as Korea's largest startup event under the slogan 'Recode the Future'. Now, 13 years after the first beLAUNCH, COMEUP has evolved into a truly global startup festival, recording 80,000 visitors, participation from 45 countries, and 111.8 billion KRW in investment attraction as of 2024. The essence of a startup event unequivocally lies in the 'efficiency of encounters'. It's about numerous stakeholders like investors, partners, and potential customers gathering in one place for three days to rapidly form networks and seize a few meaningful opportunities. Over the past 13 years, beLAUNCH and COMEUP have played a decisive role in helping numerous startups accumulate experience and grow, thereby laying a solid foundation for the Korean startup ecosystem. We look forward to seeing what future will be rewritten on this stage.