Invest Seoul successfully hosted the ‘Beyond Seoul: TokyoIR’ event from May 7 to 9 in Tokyo. The event brought together 46 leadingJapanese investors, including PKSHA Capital, KDDI, TV Asahi, and SalesforceJapan, for targeted IR pitches, investor meetups, and networking sessions with10 promising startups from Seoul. Over the course of three sessions held atTokyo Innovation Base, Tokyo Capital Hub, and 01Booster, a total of 43 businessmeetings took place. The estimated investment value currently under discussionamounts to approximately 9 billion KRW, providing Seoul-based companies withtangible opportunities for capital funding and strategic partnerships in Japan.
A panel discussion was also held during the event, withJapanese VC and CVC representatives actively participating. They praised Koreanstartups for their strong technological capabilities, execution power, andcommitment to global expansion. Special attention was given to startups in theAI, content, education, and healthcare sectors for their competitive edge andmarket adaptability. Key strategies for entering the Japanese B2B markethighlighted during the discussion included product localization, hiring localexperts familiar with the Japanese startup ecosystem, and building early-stagenetworks with Japanese investors. Panelists also noted that Seoul's culturaland geographic proximity to Japan makes it an ideal partner for collaborativePoCs and strategic investments. The discussion served as a meaningfulopportunity to reaffirm the potential for Korea-Japan cooperation in thestartup ecosystem.
This Tokyo IR event was especially meaningful as itsignificantly enhanced the practical prospects for Seoul startups to enter theJapanese market. Invest Seoul will continue its efforts to strengthen theconnection between the innovation ecosystems of Korea and Japan and to expandglobal cooperation in the future.
Participating Companies: Glorang, NINEAM, WDG, Carpenstreet,Kenaz, Scionic AI, Chabot Mobility, Play Legend, Clover Games, Photowidget
