Event runs Thursday–Friday at Ulsan Exhibition and Convention Center, showcasing startup support programs and promising companies

The official poster for the 2026 Ulsan Startup Festa [Ulsan city government]
The official poster for the 2026 Ulsan Startup Festa [Ulsan city government]

Ulsan city, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea Startup Promotion Agency will co-host the 2026 Ulsan Startup Festa at the Ulsan Exhibition and Convention Center on Thursday and Friday, with 28 companies taking part, to help local startups attract investment and expand overseas.

An opening ceremony is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Thursday, with eight startup support institutions in attendance — including the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the Ulsan Regional Office of SMEs and Startups, and the Ulsan Creative Economy Innovation Center. The two-day event will offer 35 programs aimed at building cooperation with the global startup ecosystem.

Key programs include an awards ceremony for five outstanding startups (USF TOP), a startup investment forum and a global startup competition. The venue will also feature a dedicated space where companies can showcase their products and services, alongside a separate area providing information on startup support programs.

Featured lectures are scheduled across both days: Amazon Web Services Korea Principal Technology Evangelist Yoon Seok-chan will speak Thursday at 11:30 a.m. on "The Future of Entrepreneurship Transformed by AI: Technology Trends Startups Should Watch," while broadcaster and entrepreneur Hong Seok-cheon will take the stage Friday at noon with a talk titled "From Starting a Business to Building a Brand."

A newly introduced "USF Special Academic Conference" will bring together industry experts and veteran startup founders in fields tied to Ulsan's core industries — including eco-friendly energy, AI and AI transformation (AX), and battery technology — to share industry trends, on-the-ground experience and entrepreneurial insights.

Side events will be held at the Jongha Innovation Center in Nam-gu, Ulsan, featuring an HD Hyundai Heavy Industries open innovation networking session and a networking event for key players in Ulsan's startup ecosystem. Residents interested in attending can register on the official website at www.startupfesta.or.kr.


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