Entrepreneur Networking Conference 'JOIN' to be held... Linked with APEC SME Ministerial Meeting

[Financial News] The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced on the 27th that it will hold the 'JOIN 2025' event linked with the 2025 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) SME Ministerial Meeting at Jeju Booyoung Hotel on September 1.
Jointly hosted by Jeju Center for Creative Economy and Innovation and the Council of Centers for Creative Economy and Innovation, 'JOIN 2025' marks the third Jeju regional startup conference. 'JOIN' embodies the meaning of the Journey of INnovation.
This year's event is characterized by strengthening the connection and exchange of the domestic and international startup ecosystem. Taking advantage of the SME Ministerial Meeting, it expands opportunities for exchange and cooperation with APEC member countries such as Japan, Indonesia, and Malaysia. Through this, it plans to provide local startups with networking opportunities with various entities such as global investors and support organizations.
In addition, six private associations specializing in startup nurturing and investment will sign a memorandum of understanding during this event and jointly seek ways to revitalize regional startups. The six associations, including the Venture Business Association, Korea Angel Investment Association, Early Investment Accelerator Association, Korea Venture Capital Association, Korea Startup Forum, and Council of Centers for Creative Economy and Innovation, will form a consensus that the startup and venture ecosystem should go beyond the metropolitan area and plan to jointly discover and propose tasks for regional startup revitalization. 
It also provides a venue for attracting investment opportunities for regional startups through joint investment presentations (IR) and 1:1 meetings with investors. The IR will feature 16 promising regional startups in the fields of AI, bio, and robotics discovered by centers for creative economy and innovation nationwide, and more than 30 investment companies will participate.
Additionally, an AI-specialized session will be held concurrently at the event. Kim Sung-hoon, CEO of Upstage, who recently raised over 60 billion won in investment, will give a special lecture on 'AI Trends and Global Expansion Strategies.'
Meanwhile, the SME Ministerial Meeting, held in Jeju from September 1 to 5, is set up as a venue to discuss related key tasks under the theme of 'SMEs, the Driving Force of Sustainable and Inclusive Growth.'
In particular, the 'JOIN 2025' entrepreneur networking conference, held on the first day of the ministerial meeting week, aims to strengthen cooperation through networking among domestic and international innovative startup entities. Session topics include △expanding mutual connections for inclusive growth of the startup ecosystem △strengthening open innovation and public-private partnerships. 
Han Sung-sook, Minister of SMEs and Startups, said, "The 'JOIN 2025' event is an opportunity for regional startups to meet domestic investors, large corporations, support organizations, and major overseas partners," and "The government will continue to expand capital, infrastructure, and networking environments to ensure sufficient opportunities for promising regional startups." 

stand@fnnews.com Seo Ji-yoon Reporter