FIX 2025 Startup Arena: 522 Business Deals, ₩13.5 Billion Investment

"FIX 2025 Startup Arena," which concluded grandly at Daegu EXCO, presented a feast of innovative technologies, injecting new vitality into South Korea's startup ecosystem. Marking its second year, this event is being lauded for not just being a simple exhibition, but for having laid a practical foundation for the global leap of innovative companies poised to lead the future. The arena, featuring a total of 30 innovative startups, was truly a showcase of technological prowess. Companies that won CES and FIX Innovation Awards, as well as outstanding companies from Samsung Electronics C-Lab Outside and Daegu Creative Economy Innovation Center, joined in large numbers to present technologies representing Daegu City's five major future new industry sectors, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), bio/healthcare, robotics, and eco-friendly/energy. Participating companies directly demonstrated their self-developed advanced technologies and products, attracting keen interest from global venture capitalists (VCs), large and mid-sized enterprises, and overseas buyers who visited the event. During the four-day event, a remarkable 522 active business consultations took place, opening up possibilities for potential investment and cooperation. Notably, five of the participating companies received the Global Media Pick Award, garnering international attention. The honors of the FIX 2025 Innovation Awards went to I'M SYSTEM, Korea Green Data, and Panesia. I'M SYSTEM, which heralded innovation in the future medical field with its micro-robot for vascular procedures, received the Top Innovation Award. Korea Green Data, which presented an ESG management model with its AI-based energy and carbon management solution, and Panesia, which targeted expansion in the global data center market with its CXL-based AI acceleration system, each received an Innovation Award, once again proving their unique technological prowess and growth potential. Support for startup growth was also generously provided. Eleven innovative organizations, including Hana Securities, iM Bank, and IBK Changgong Daegu, participated, offering a total of approximately 170 one-on-one customized mentoring and consulting sessions, helping companies resolve the challenges they faced and accelerate their growth. Furthermore, at the Daegyeong-Region Innovative Startup IR Demo Day held on the first day of the event, early-stage startups showcased their technologies and business models to investors, knocking on the door of investment. The Daegu Creative Economy Innovation Center conducted a total of 16 investment consultations with 12 companies, amounting to approximately 13.5 billion KRW, through its ICT Investment Meetup, providing practical opportunities for attracting investment. Han In-guk, CEO of Daegu Creative Economy Innovation Center, expressed his ambition, stating, "FIX 2025 Startup Arena has established itself as a crucial platform for startups to gain competitiveness on the global stage." He added, "The Daegu Center will continue to spare no effort in actively supporting market entry both domestically and internationally, as well as technological advancement." This event served as a venue to get a glimpse of Daegu City's future new industry map and to confirm the bright future of innovative startups in South Korea.