The Korea Society is excited to announce the return of Startup Scene’s keystone annual forum for 2025: “Startups in Focus: Driving US-Korea Economic Synergy”, supported exclusively by Hanwha Life.
“Startups in Focus: Driving US-Korea Economic Synergy” aims to highlight the role of startups as the nexus of economic innovation and cooperation between the U.S. and South Korea. This year’s forum will celebrate pioneering entrepreneurs who energize the business landscape with their innovative approaches, alongside accelerators and investors who empower their progress.
The forum will be held on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at Citi Headquarters NYC.
Registration Details:
- Students: Free Admission
- Early Bird Registration: $30 until April 4, 2025
- General Registration: $60 from April 4 onwards
All registrations include full-day access to the forum, networking opportunities, breakfast, lunch, and apero-mixer
This program is supported by Hanwha Life
Startup Scene: Entrepreneurs of Tomorrow
2025 Annual Forum
“Startups in Focus: Driving US-Korea Economic Synergy”
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
IN-PERSON
Citi Headquarters
388 Greenwich St
New York, NY 10013
Speakers/Schedule
Keynote Fireside Chat with Songyee Yoon, Founder and Managing Partner, Principal Venture Partners
Featured Founders
Holly Diamond, Co-founder and CEO of WorkOnward
David Joo, Co-founder of neuroaide and former Co-CEO and Co-founder of Knowre
Jinha Lee, Co-founder and CEO of Spatial
Jae-Pil Park, Founder and CEO of Nara Space
Keith Ryu, Chair, Co-founder and former CEO of Fountain
Accelerators/VCs/Investors
Murat Aktihanoglu, Managing Partner, ERA
Richard Diamond, Managing Director, Global Head of FinTech and Information Services, Citi Bank
MyeongSeon Kim, Korea Venture Investment Corp. New York office Representative
Corporate-Startup Specialists
Ran Wei Baker, Sr. Director, Global Head of Marketing, Microsoft
Kaila Lim, Head of Community and Founder Experience, Antler
| 11:30 AM | REGISTRATION/ LUNCH | |
| 12:30 PM | OPENING SESSION | |
| 12:50 PM | A FIRESIDE KEYNOTE | |
| 1:20 PM | SESSION 1 Synergy in Innovation: Corporates and Startup in Collaboration |
|
| 2:00 PM | NETWORKING BREAK | |
| 2:15 PM | STARTUPS IN FOCUS-MEET THE FOUNDER | |
| 2:35 PM | SESSION 2 Korean Startups on the Global Stage: Insights from the Investors |
|
| 3:15 PM | NETWORKING BREAK | |
| 3:35 PM | STARTUPS IN FOCUS-MEET THE FOUNDER | |
| 3:55 PM | SESSION 3 Navigating NYC’s Thriving Startup Ecosystem |
|
| 4:25 PM | NETWORKING BREAK | |
| 4:35 PM | STARTUPS IN FOCUS-MEET THE FOUNDER | |
| 4:55 PM | CLOSING/ SPECIAL SESSION (Student Ideation Competition Winning Team) |
|
| 5:10 PM | APERITIF AND HOR D'OEUF | |
