[Event Recap] 2025 INCHEON Youth Global Launchpad In Malaysia
1. Event Overview 🔶 INCHEON Youth Global Launchpad 2025 The INCHEON Youth Global Launchpad has become a cornerstone initiative driving INCHEON's young entrepreneurs toward global success. Organized by INCHEON City and the INCHEON Center for Creative Economy & Innovation (ICCEI), the program empowers promising startups to expand overseas through tailored acceleration, market localization, and hands-on global experience — turning early potential into sustainable international growth. Since its inception in 2023, the INCHEON Youth Global Launchpad has played a central role in INCHEON'S mission to empower young innovators and help them bring their ideas to the global stage. The program first supported startups entering Mongolia and Vietnam, before expanding in 2024 to include the United States, Singapore, and Vietnam, offering tailored consulting, acceleration programs, and commercialization funding. Over just two years, the Launchpad has delivered remarkable outcomes: 2023: 10 companies supported, 29 MOUs and partnership agreements signed, ₩21.6 billion in investments attracted, 3 overseas subsidiaries established, and USD 97,113 in export sales, alongside 89 partnership contracts for market expansion. 2024: 12 companies supported, 33 MOUs and agreements signed, ₩20.1 billion in investments attracted, 2 new overseas subsidiaries established, and USD 577,525 in exports. 🔶 2025 INCHEON Youth Global Launchpad In Malaysia Building on such strong momentum, the 2025 Edition continues the mission with new expansion bases in Vietnam and Malaysia, two of Asia's most dynamic and opportunity-rich markets for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. A total of 25 Korean startups participated in the 2025 Program, divided into Track 1 and Track 2. Track 1 focused on pop-up stores, live streaming, and business matching, while Track 2 consisted of pre-startups and early-stage entrepreneurs, featuring seminars, corporate visits, market research, and business matching programs. Among them, 5 startups will target the Malaysian market, while 20 startups will target the Vietnamese market. The Malaysian Program, co-organized by the INCHEON City, ICCEI, The Invention Lab, and Malaysia’s Sunway iLabs, was held in Kuala Lumpur from October 21 to 22. The two-day agenda featured participating startups engaged in demo days, business matching sessions, and networking events with local investors and partners at the FutureX Connect Event. In addition, INCHEON City, ICCEI, and Malaysia’s Sunway iLabs signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) during the event to promote joint POC projects, local commercialization, and ongoing startup exchange, further reinforcing a sustainable partnership framework between Korea and Malaysia. Through these collaborative efforts, the program not only strengthened the presence of Korean startups in Southeast Asia but also laid the groundwork for long-term partnerships and innovation-driven growth in both markets. The following sections provide a closer look at each country’s program highlights and key activities. 2. Event Recap 🔶 Day 1 - Touring, MOU Signing, and Networking The first day of the Malaysia Launchpad began with a guided tour of the Sunway City Ecosystem, an integrated, sustainable urban model that combines economic growth with environmental and social responsibility. This immersive tour introduced participants to one of Malaysia’s leading innovation hubs, offering valuable insight into the country’s entrepreneurial environment and collaborative ecosystem. Following the tour, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing ceremony took place between INCHEON City, ICCEI, and Sunway iLabs. The agreement aims to foster startups, promote joint POC projects, support local commercialization, and enhance global expansion through sustainable cooperation between the two nations. At the event, Mithril Co., Ltd. was highlighted as a successful case of cross-border collaboration, having received an initial direct investment of KRW 300 million from the ICCEI and the program operators. The company later secured a follow-up investment of KRW 2 billion, establishing a strong foundation for its entry into the Malaysian market and exemplifying the program’s effectiveness in driving tangible outcomes. During lunch and dinner, additional networking sessions were held, creating a relaxed yet productive setting for deeper exchanges between Korean startups, Korean institutions, and Malaysian stakeholders. The day concluded with participants gaining valuable insights and forming meaningful connections, setting a strong foundation for the following sessions. 🔶 Day 2 – FutureX Connect: Accelerating Global Collaboration The second day of the Malaysia Launchpad program centered around FutureX Connect Event, a flagship event that brought together innovators, investors, and ecosystem leaders from across Asia to explore cross-border collaboration and new market opportunities. The day began with an insightful panel discussion titled “From Borders to Breakthroughs: AI’s Role in Global Industry Transformation”, where Mr. Jeong Hyun Cho, CEO of Mithril (Korea) joined other industry leaders to discuss how artificial intelligence can enhance operational efficiency, bridge market barriers, and accelerate digital transformation across industries.
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