Busan Metropolitan City and the Busan Center for Creative Economy and Innovation will host BOUNCE 2026 at BEXCO Exhibition Center 1 from October 7 to 8. The startup festival marks its 10th anniversary under the theme "Glowing Decade, Bright Future" and will reflect on the region's past achievements while preparing for the next decade. It will again be held jointly with the Asian startup expo FLY ASIA 2026 to expand participation across domestic and international ecosystems.
A Decade of Startup Growth
This year's edition is aligned with key national startup programs, including the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' "Entrepreneurship for All" and TIPS initiatives. Programs are tailored to startup growth stages and specific needs, covering global expansion, investment attraction, and business partnerships. The organizers intend to move beyond information sharing and support direct business connections.
Two-Day Agenda for Global Reach and Investment
Day one will focus on global engagement through global startup pitching and global partner pitching sessions. These activities are designed to connect domestic and international startups with overseas startup ecosystems, investors, and potential collaborators. The global track aims to create concrete exchange and cooperation opportunities for participating companies throughout the day.
Day two will center on investment with programs such as Welcome to TIPS IR, reverse pitching, TIPS Next Demo Day, and the BCCEI Startup BuS Picks IR Showcase. These sessions are designed to expand fundraising opportunities for promising startups. Organizers expect the investment track to connect high-potential companies with active investors.
Corporate, Investor, and Global Participation
One-on-one consultations will run over both days to help meetings lead to real collaboration and investment. The event has confirmed 25 large and mid-sized companies, including Kakao Mobility, Naver Cloud, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Lotte Department Store, and Hanwha Ocean. It has also secured 30 specialized investment firms such as Series Ventures, LX Ventures, and Hana Capital.
Global office hours will feature nine partner organizations from seven countries, including Garuda Spark Innovation Hub and Lotte Ventures Vietnam. These sessions will provide overseas expansion consultations and networking for startups seeking international markets. The format is intended to translate initial meetings into practical business outcomes, such as export partnerships, for local companies.
Past Performance and Expanded Opportunities
Last year's BOUNCE 2025 delivered 382 one-on-one business consultations, including 189 open innovation meetings with large companies and public institutions and 85 investment consultations. Based on that performance, organizers plan to further upgrade the matching program this year. The goal is to help promising startups achieve visible outcomes in investment attraction and overseas market entry.
Additional features include special booths for the "Entrepreneurship for All" initiative and a startup one-stop support center. There will also be exhibition booths for specialized sectors such as smart marine technology and fintech. A networking event called BOUNCE NIGHT will bring together startup ecosystem participants for informal exchanges during the two-day festival.
Registration and Organizer Perspective
Advance registration is free and available until October 2 through the official website at www.bswbounce.com. Participation is open to startups, investors, corporate representatives, and the general public. Kim Yong-woo, CEO of the Busan Center for Creative Economy and Innovation, said the event will become a practical exchange platform for shared growth among large companies, investors, and startups.
BOUNCE 2026 arrives as a milestone for Busan's startup ecosystem, reflecting 10 years of development while setting the stage for the next phase. The event combines global networking, investment matchmaking, and corporate collaboration in a single venue. Organizers expect the expanded program to generate tangible business results and support regional startups entering global markets.