- Blockchain and startup investment expert Aly Madhavji emphasizes the need for startup-friendly policies under the new Korean government, mirroring the regulatory easing and business-friendly environments seen in developed nations.
The Web Summit 2025 Korea Pavilion showcases six startup booths, offering a platform for innovative companies to display their ideas and products to a global audience.
Vancouver, Canada - The Web Summit Vancouver 2025, one of North America's largest tech conferences, concluded successfully on May 30, attracting over 15,000 participants from 117 countries. The event, marking Vancouver's emergence as a new tech hub, showcased the vibrancy of global technological innovation with more than 1,100 startups from 64 nations participating.
According to organizers, more than 1,100 startups from 64 countries participated, demonstrating the fervor of global technological innovation. Notably, over half of the participating startups were led by female entrepreneurs, reflecting the growing trend of diversity and inclusivity within the tech industry. The success of this event underscores Vancouver's emergence as a new tech hub in North America and reaffirms the global influence of the Web Summit.
During the event, 50 trade delegations and 159 partners gathered to foster collaboration, while top investors and key media outlets attended numerous presentations and networking sessions. The conference explored a variety of topics, including AI ethics, gaming industry innovations, and smart energy. Particularly notable were speeches addressing the robust trend of global energy transition that has been gaining momentum since last year.
In an exclusive interview, blockchain and startup investment expert Aly Madhavji highlighted Korea's potential for technological innovation. He suggested that the newly launched South Korean administration could enhance global competitiveness by adopting startup-friendly policies. He further emphasized that developed nations, such as the United States, Canada, and Europe, are focusing on regulatory easing and creating business-friendly environments to secure their competitive edge.
Gene Berdichevsky, the co-founder and CEO of Sila Nanotechnologies, evaluated the transformative potential of the battery market by integrating eco-friendly energy solutions to enhance the performance of car and phone batteries. He highlighted that advances in silicon anode materials could significantly lower battery costs and boost efficiency, presenting distinct advantages over traditional fuel cells.
Additionally, Berdichevsky emphasized the strategic alliance of pairing the United States' Innovation with South Korean manufacturing expertise. South Korea boasts a robust industrial base and proficiency in scaling production, while the United States leads in technological innovation. By maintaining ongoing collaboration among companies in South Korea, the U.S., and Europe, a more resilient and diversified supply chain for batteries, materials, and electric vehicles can be developed. These partnerships are key to accelerating the global deployment of cleaner energy solutions, contingent upon supportive political and policy frameworks that facilitate international cooperation.
Web Summit Vancouver 2025 became the focal point of the global innovation community. During the event, 88 custom meetings were arranged, offering participants professional and efficient networking opportunities. Advanced AI software, Summit Engine, facilitated in-depth discussions across various fields, including healthcare, quantum computing, and emerging technologies.
Web Summit Vancouver's Innovative Networking and Korean Startup Activities
On site at the Korea Pavilion, jointly operated by KOTRA and the Gyeonggi-do Business & Science Accelerator (GBSA), Hyunsoo Choi, Head of KOTRA Vancouver, Manager John Cha, and Ki-hwa Hong, Director of the G-Invest Promotion Department at GBSA, held various side events, including the Korea-Canada Tech Startup Conference alongside six promising startups, exploring strategies for global market expansion.
With the launch of a new administration approaching, South Korea should have utilized this opportunity to showcase innovative technologies from a wider range of companies in order to raise its profile in the technology ecosystem.
The startups showcased future-oriented technologies such as AI-based SaaS, health tech, clean tech, green tech, and clinical trial solutions, emphasizing the global competitiveness and innovative capacity of Korean tech companies.
For instance, the leader in clinical trial innovation, MediIPlus, presented its AI platform, FiCRO, which streamlines the process for pharmaceutical companies and bio startups to find contract research organizations (CRO). By evaluating information on over 29,700 CROs, it cuts costs and time by up to 80%, adapting to the changing global clinical trial environment.
Neurabody is accelerating its global reach with AI and sensor-fused spinal health solutions, offering personalized feedback through smart shirts and lumbar supports. Winner of multiple awards, this system aims to achieve annual revenue exceeding $100 million.
Gayun, a generative AI content platform supporting 160 languages, facilitates fast and cost-effective image and video production targeting the e-commerce and digital marketing sectors. Aiming for an IPO in 2028, it projects sales of 149 trillion won and 500,000 active users by 2027.
Invalab was officially designated as an Impact Startup at the Web Summit Vancouver 2025 and awarded the relevant mark. The company is a bio-solution enterprise that combines drone-based ecological restoration technology with AI-driven biodiversity analysis. It offers a platform that fully automates the process from plant detection in damaged areas to seed ball deployment. Actively involved in numerous carbon-neutral and ESG restoration projects, Invalab is accelerating its entry into the global environmental market, as highlighted by its selection as an Impact Startup at the Web Summit.
AwesomeLab is contributing to environmental and energy savings with its eco-friendly water heating technology. During the Web Summit Vancouver event, Martin Kim, CEO of AwesomeLab, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Alvaro Gil Loureiro, CFO of BC Hydro, a Canadian public energy corporation in British Columbia.
Additionally, Refundy provides AI-automated refund solutions for global sellers.
In the global technology ecosystem, Korean startups are making a strong presence on the worldwide stage through their innovative technology and market entry strategies. Companies participating in this event are accelerating their global network expansion with the attention of investors and partners from various regions, including Canada, North America, Europe, and Asia.
This Web Summit marked a pivotal moment, transitioning beyond mere technology showcases to becoming a cornerstone of the global startup ecosystem. Korean startups are gaining significant recognition on the international stage, poised for promising growth.
The stature of South Korea in the global tech ecosystem continues to grow. As such, Korean startups are equipped with technological capabilities and market penetration strategies and are making a full-scale push into the global arena. The companies participating in this event are attracting the attention of investors and partners from various regions, including Canada, North America, Europe, and Asia, thereby expanding their global networks.
We hope that this event will provide Korean startups with an opportunity to showcase their capabilities and vision on the international stage, demonstrating their potential for future growth.
You can find the Korean version of this article here.
