South Korea’s National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA) hosted Korea-Japan Innovation Connect Fukuoka 2026 in Fukuoka from October 6 to 9. Five Korean SaaS startups joined the program. The event generated 39 business meetings and US$1.3 million in deal size.
Business meetings and outcomes
The pitch event drew 62 attendees, including 35 local investors and buyers. A separate one-on-one session connected the startups with 15 local buyers. PangoGY began talks with a local firm on a proof of concept contract.
Participating startups
The startups covered privacy, legal tech, AI agents, staffing, and advertising software. ONE PEOPLE presented its CATCHSECU personal data protection SaaS. buptle introduced B-Law, a contract and legal management platform.
Local engagement
Participants visited companies, investors, and public agencies in Fukuoka. Inos said it would review the solutions internally. Fukuoka City linked the tools to regional labor shortages and administrative efficiency.
Local advisers said Japanese communication, sales contacts, and differentiation matter for entering Japan. PangoGY and buptle will continue proof of concept discussions with local partners. EasyTask and WondersLab will explore demand in logistics, healthcare, and on-premise AI agents.