Five 'KDB NextONE' Companies to Directly Meet Global Investors

## Korea Development Bank Prepares Ground for Promising Korean Startups to Leap Globally in Silicon Valley As promising domestic startups seek opportunities to advance onto the global stage, the ‘KDB NextRound in Silicon Valley’ event, hosted by the Korea Development Bank (KDB), successfully concluded from April 22nd to 23rd in Silicon Valley, USA. This event, held primarily at the Plug and Play Tech Center, a mecca for startup acceleration, became a crucial stepping stone for Korean startups to build global investment networks and practically explore their potential for overseas expansion. Designed as a key extension of the KDB NextONE program, this event featured five companies – Rovers, MediWhale, ASLEEP, XL8, and Fiaspace – showcasing booths with innovative ideas, while Resolution joined as an observing company to familiarize themselves with the on-site atmosphere. Through direct interaction with potential local venture capitalists (VCs) and investors, they thoroughly explored the realistic possibilities of entering overseas markets. Beyond simply operating booths, participating companies delved deep into the Silicon Valley ecosystem through a variety of programs. An in-depth VC meetup with Jay Chung, CEO of Millennium New Horizon, provided practical insights for developing investment attraction strategies, and a briefing on the U.S. startup ecosystem by Cooley LLP enhanced understanding of the local legal and business environment. Particularly, the casual networking session at Testarossa Winery and the dinner networking with VCs and legal experts were pivotal moments for building valuable personal networks in an informal atmosphere. A representative from Rovers, a participant in this event, expressed great anticipation for its outcomes. He emphasized, "As we are accelerating our entry into the U.S. market and attracting local investment this year, the KDB NextONE Silicon Valley event played a decisive role in establishing high-quality networks with local U.S. VCs and related companies early on," adding, "We are confident that this will give Rovers' U.S. business further momentum." KDB NextONE is the Korea Development Bank's first startup acceleration program, launched in partnership with CNT Tech. It focuses on identifying promising early-stage startups and ultimately helping them enter the global market by connecting them with domestic and international investors. The 'KDB NextRound in Silicon Valley' was more than just a one-off event; it was a valuable platform for domestic startups to explore tangible growth opportunities and envision their future within the world's leading innovation ecosystem. KDB plans to continue actively supporting the global growth of Korean startups through the KDB NextONE program, leading the charge in injecting new vitality into the Korean economy.