KB Financial Holds 'KB Starters Welcome Day'... Launches Innovative Ecosystem for Startup Co-Growth

Introduction of Nurturing Programs and Agreements for 50 Newly Selected Domestic and Global Startups

"We Will Fulfill Our Role in Productive Finance by Supporting Innovative Companies to Establish a Stable Growth Trajectory"

KB Financial Group announced on May 11 that it held the 2026 "KB Starters Welcome Day" on May 8 at the KB Innovation Hub Center Gangnam HUB in Seocho-gu, Seoul, together with 50 innovative startups leading future industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), deep tech, and climate tech.

Participants are taking a commemorative photo at the 2026 "KB Starters Welcome Day" held on the 8th at the KB Innovation Hub Center Gangnam HUB in Seocho-gu, Seoul. KB Financial Group

KB Starters Welcome Day is a networking event where newly selected companies from the KB Financial startup incubation program and key representatives from major KB Financial affiliates gather to share collaboration and investment cases and discuss future opportunities for cooperation.

KB Financial conducted this event under the theme of "Connect, Build, Scale-up." The theme signifies establishing close connections (Connect) with startups, building collaborative relationships (Build), and growing together (Scale-up).

The event was attended by representatives and staff from 50 startups, as well as working-level personnel from key group collaboration departments, including KB Kookmin Bank, KB Securities, KB Insurance, KB Kookmin Card, and KB Investment.

This Welcome Day was operated as an eco-friendly event through collaboration with the newly selected companies. By utilizing eco-friendly modular event fixtures from Mannmannyeoseokdeul, which operates the eco-friendly event brand "Table Times," the event achieved a reduction in carbon emissions by approximately 351.62 kg CO₂—equivalent to preventing the logging of about 40.89 trees.

KB Financial believes that collaboration with startups is becoming a crucial foundation for discovering new growth engines in finance, especially as AI transformation (AX) and technology-driven industrial restructuring accelerate. In particular, the company is strengthening its support system for growth that extends beyond financial support to include collaboration, investment, and global expansion, ensuring that young entrepreneurs and technology-based startups are connected in a timely manner to financial institutions, investors, and global partners.

This year, KB Financial has proactively discovered early-stage startups and young entrepreneurs from the recruitment stage. The company operated the "KB Starters Roadshow," which toured major domestic universities, and newly selected 12 youth-led companies.

For companies selected as 2026 KB Starters, customized programs will be provided according to their growth stage, including: collaboration with KB Financial affiliates; management consulting from internal and external experts in areas such as tax, accounting, legal, and patents; support for fundraising; a global accelerator (AC) program; and dedicated workspaces (Seoul Gangnam, Jeonbuk, and Singapore).

A KB Financial representative stated, "We will further expand the collaborative ecosystem with KB Starters to ensure that innovative technologies and ideas from startups are implemented as real services and in industrial settings. Going forward, KB Financial will do its utmost to fulfill a productive financial role by supporting innovative companies to achieve stable growth trajectories through collaboration and investment linkage with major affiliates."

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