Busan's flagship startup festival BOUNCE 2026 marks its 10th anniversary, connecting large and mid-sized companies with investors

[Financial News] Busan Metropolitan City Government and the Busan Center for Creative Economy and Innovation (BCCEI) said on the 28th that they will hold BOUNCE 2026, Busan's flagship startup festival, on the 7th and 8th of next month at Exhibition Hall 1 of the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO).

Marking its 10th anniversary this year, the event will be held under the theme "A Brilliant 10 Years, A Bright Future." It will look back on the past decade of Busan's startup ecosystem and serve as a platform for startup exchange and networking as the city prepares for the next 10 years. For the second consecutive year, the event will be held jointly with FLY ASIA, an Asian startup expo, expanding participation by domestic and international startups, investors, and representatives of large and mid-sized companies.
This year's event is linked to major startup support programs run by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, including "Everyone's Startup" and the Tech Incubator Program for Startup Korea (TIPS). Its programs are tailored to startups' stages of growth and needs. Opportunities for overseas expansion, investment attraction, and business partnerships will also be provided in one place, supporting practical business connections beyond simple information exchange.
The event's core programs—lectures and company presentation pitches (IR)—will focus on "Global" on the first day and "Investment" on the second.
On the first day, July 7, programs including international entrepreneur pitching and international partner pitching will be held under the theme of global engagement, providing opportunities for exchange and cooperation between domestic and international startups and overseas startup ecosystems. The second day will focus on investment, with programs such as "Welcome to TIPS IR," "Reverse Pitching," "TIPS Next Demo Day," and the "BCCEI Startup BuS Picks IR Showcase" expanding investment opportunities for promising startups.
One-on-one consultations between domestic and international companies, investors, and startups will also be held over the two days to support meetings that can lead to actual collaboration and investment. In addition, 25 large and mid-sized companies, including Kakao Mobility and NAVER Cloud; 30 professional investment firms, including Hana Capital and LX Ventures; and nine overseas partner organizations from seven countries, including Garuda Spark Innovation Hub, will participate.
Advance registration for the event is available online through the official BOUNCE website until the 2nd of next month. The event is free and open not only to startups, investors, and corporate representatives but also to the general public.
A BCCEI official said, "Marking its 10th anniversary this year, BOUNCE will become more than just an event; it will serve as a platform where large and mid-sized companies, investment firms, and startups achieve substantive mutual growth." The official added, "We will actively support local startups in taking the leap onto the international stage and ensure successful business matching."
[email protected] Byun Ok-hwan Reporter