Changwon Special City Holds 'Technology Startup Forum' ... Promoting Investment Activation

Activation of Changwon Investment Ecosystem

Preparation for Development as a Special Startup City

On the 16th at 2 p.m., Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam held the "2nd Changwon Special City Technology Startup Forum" at the Changwon Convention Center under the theme "Development Plans for Establishing an Innovation Technology Startup Hub and a Special Startup City."

About 100 participants, including startup companies, startup support organizations, investors, and related institutions, attended the event. The program included a congratulatory ceremony for reaching 100 billion KRW for Changwon Special City's representative fund, the "C-Bluewing Fund," an investment cooperation agreement among 11 organizations and groups such as investment firms (VCs) including Inlight Ventures and Gyeongnam Venture Investment, Changwon Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Korea Accelerator Association to strengthen the competitiveness of Changwon companies, presentations and talk concerts to revitalize the Changwon investment ecosystem, and participant networking.

Changwon Special City in Gyeongnam held the "2nd Changwon Special City Technology Startup Forum" at the Changwon Convention Center.

The "C-Bluewing Fund," established and operated by Changwon Special City to discover promising local companies and support investments, has quickly reached a scale of 100 billion KRW by raising the C-Bluewing Fund No. 1 Next Unicorn Venture Fund (22 billion KRW), No. 2 Next Generation Regional New Deal & Bio Fund (20 billion KRW), and No. 3 Research and Development Special Zone Regional Innovation Fund (60.6 billion KRW). The congratulatory ceremony celebrated this achievement and promised successful technology startup investments.

Following this, an investment cooperation agreement ceremony was held to strengthen the competitiveness of innovative venture and startup companies in Changwon Special City.

Through the agreement, the city will provide tailored support for each growth stage of technology startups and establish annual funds. Investment firms including Inlight Ventures, Gyeongnam Venture Investment, Series Ventures, Hyundai Technology Investment, and BNK Investment & Securities pledged to discover and support investments in venture and startup companies based on excellent technology in the Changwon area.

Startup support organizations and groups such as the Changwon Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Korea Accelerator Association, Changwon Industry Promotion Agency, Gyeongnam Creative Economy Innovation Center, and Gyeongnam Youth Startup Association held a meaningful gathering to pledge mutual cooperation for revitalizing the local startup ecosystem, including youth startup support and network strengthening.

Additionally, the forum presentations aimed at revitalizing the local investment ecosystem were delivered under the themes "Changwon Special City Venture Investment Fund Attraction and Activation Plan" by Park Junsang, CEO of Series Ventures, an accelerator based in Changwon, and "Changwon Special City Startup Investment Activation Plan" by Roti CEO Lim Woobin.

Following the presentations, a talk concert was held chaired by Hong Junghyo, Director of Planning and Coordination at Gyeongnam National University, featuring six panelists from various fields who engaged in broad diagnosis and discussion. The passionate debate among panelists including Oh Kwangmoon, President of the Gyeongnam Youth Startup Association; Jeon Junghyun, President of the Gyeongnam Venture Startup Association; Yoo Donggi, CEO of Inlight Ventures; Jeon Hyunwook, Team Leader of Hyundai Technology Investment Venture Investment Headquarters; Kim Wooyoung, Team Leader of Corporate Finance at BNK Investment & Securities; and senior startup entrepreneur Yoon Suhan, CEO of Eflow, received great acclaim from young entrepreneurs and startups preparing to launch their businesses.

Hong Nampyo, Mayor of Changwon Special City, said, "One of the biggest challenges for venture and startup companies is securing funding, but through this forum, when investors and experts from various fields come together, good ideas and plans will emerge." He added, "Changwon Special City will continue to establish funds so that venture and startup companies leading Changwon's future can grow with wings through the C-Bluewing Fund, and we plan to continue bold investments to help local startups scale up."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.