This Year, It's 'Maritime and AI': Asian Startup Expo FLY ASIA 2026

[Financial News] Now in its fifth year, the Asian startup expo FLY ASIA has completely revamped its event content as Busan enters its ninth locally elected administration, placing a focus on the strategic industries of 'maritime' and 'artificial intelligence (AI).'
According to the Busan Metropolitan City Government on the 29th, FLY ASIA 2026 will be held over two days, from the 7th to the 8th of next month, at BEXCO Exhibition Hall 1.
This year's event will be held on a scale 1.5 times larger than last year's. It will also be the largest event in the expo's history, with 49 organizations from 18 countries participating in the Global Pavilion and Maritime Special Pavilion.
The opening ceremony will take place on the main stage on the morning of the 7th of next month. Major domestic and international figures, along with members of the startup ecosystem, will attend the event, which will feature a theme video, a performance, congratulatory remarks and a keynote address. Mark Hwang, a maritime specialist investor, will deliver the keynote address. Said Almadani, a commercial attaché at the Embassy of Saudi Arabia, will also give a presentation on the outlook for the maritime industry and international startup and investment sectors.
In the maritime sector, the Maritime Special Pavilion will be operated for the first time in partnership with Korea Maritime & Ocean University (KMOU). Maritime-related organizations, major corporations, startups and international institutions will gather in one place to showcase technologies and products. They will also seek opportunities for technological and business cooperation through hands-on programs and open innovation consultations.
The event will also feature Maritime OI Reverse Pitching, where large and mid-sized maritime companies present their technology and business needs and connect with relevant startups, as well as the National Maritime Startup Contest to discover maritime startups.
In addition, investment and consultation programs will be upgraded to facilitate substantive exchanges and matchmaking between domestic and international startups and investors. In particular, the event will introduce Korea's first dedicated meeting-matching mobile app. The app will support customized partner searches, advance matchmaking and consultations between investors and startups based on fields, types and investment stages.
The event will also introduce LED digital exhibitions for the first time, allowing companies to promote themselves and their products without physical booths. Information on companies selected in advance will be displayed on four LED electronic signs at the exhibition venue, while QR codes will provide direct links to company websites and contact persons, supporting open networking with investors and buyers.
[email protected] Byun Ok-hwan Reporter