Factory's Post 🇪🇺 #11

Factory's Post is back to deliver the insights you need for your business growth.💡 We've gathered the latest business trends, useful information for market entry, and hot news from the Korea-Europe ecosystem!

In November, 123 Factory delivered four major programs designed to help Korean startups successfully enter the European market. From deep engagement with Germany’s aviation and airport ecosystem, to the global stage of Web Summit in Portugal, and a large-scale conference connecting Asia and Europe in Berlin — each program showcased the innovation and competitiveness of Korean startups, drawing strong interest from Europe’s local stakeholders.

Beyond simple participation, these programs led to tangible business opportunities and meaningful partnerships, making November a particularly impactful month. Here’s a look at the highlights from each initiative.

✈️ Deep Dive into Germany 2025

123 Factory successfully completed the “Deep Dive into Germany” program in collaboration with GRAVITY VENTURES and the KAC(Korea Airports Corporation). This intensive week offered a vivid look into the potential of Korean aviation and airport technology startups within the German market.

Five leading Korean startups (Grumatic, QueryPie AI, Weraser, Hopae, IPIN LABS) presented their aviation- and airport-related solutions directly to key institutions shaping Germany’s aerospace ecosystem, including the Lufthansa Innovation Hub, BER Airport, GTAI (Germany Trade & Invest), BDLI (German Aerospace Industries Association), and de:hub.

The response was overwhelmingly positive. Immediately after the presentations, German partners engaged in follow-up discussions exploring concrete collaboration possibilities, creating new touchpoints that strengthen the bridge between the two countries’ ecosystems.

🇵🇹 Seoul Startup Hub × Web Summit Europe Expansion Program

Extending beyond its established Korea–Germany network, 123 Factory recently launched a new program supporting Korean companies entering Portugal in partnership with Seoul Startup Hub (SBA). Timed with Web Summit 2025 in Lisbon on November 10, 123 Factory worked with Meet Ventures to support booth operations, key business meetings, and global partner engagement.

The eight participating Korean startups (Gadget Korea, Codepresso, Coconut Silo, NaeilThink, OpticMix, Airet, Lyway, Clika) received strong recognition for their innovation, attracting a steady stream of visitors and partners throughout the event. This led to active meetings and networking with stakeholders from both the public and private sectors.

This initiative marked an important step in expanding 123 Factory’s network beyond Germany to the wider European market, establishing new momentum for future global collaboration.

🏙️ AsiaBerlin Summit 2025

On November 24–25, 123 Factory participated in AsiaBerlin Summit 2025, supporting Korean startups at this annual Berlin-hosted event connecting Asia-Europe founders, investors, and policymakers.

This year, 123 Factory operated an exhibition booth showcasing partner startups: Texnic, NineTwoSix, XO, and VTouch.

The booth drew continuous visits from investors, policymakers, and ecosystem stakeholders. Berlin's State Secretary for Economy, Michael Biel, visited and discussed directly with NineTwoSix, whose "Walking Master" pitched independently — creating a valuable public-sector touchpoint.

🩺 SKKU × Medica × GTAI

123 Factory’s activities continued in Düsseldorf as well. Beginning on November 17, the team supported the global expansion of eight healthtech startups (Orange Biomed, WELT, Nueyne, OneSoftDigm, Luminax, MediImage) in collaboration with Sungkyunkwan University at MEDICA, the world’s largest medical and healthcare exhibition. From pre-matching to on-site meetings and partner introductions, 123 Factory strategically supported each company to ensure their technologies and business models were effectively showcased to the European market.

In particular, three startups (Talos, Nueyne, Luminax) were directly connected in advance to participate in Start-up Ecosystem – Technology Clusters and VC Financing, an official program hosted by 123 Factory’s long-term partner, Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI). As a result, the three companies were able to pitch alongside global teams, gaining concrete feedback from local experts and investors that brought their European market expansion plans to a more realistic and actionable stage.

🔥 The Global Momentum of Korean Innovation Across Europe

All programs held throughout November demonstrated the growing global competitiveness of Korean startups on Europe’s main stages. Across each journey, we saw strong enthusiasm and positive engagement from local ecosystems, and every initiative served as a meaningful launchpad for accelerating global expansion.

Thank you to everyone who joined these milestones in 2025. Your support and partnership across the many projects connecting Korea and Europe enabled us to achieve even greater outcomes. Amid a rapidly changing global landscape, the moments of collaboration we shared have been one of the biggest driving forces of this year.

As we move into 2026, we look forward to creating broader opportunities, deeper collaboration, and stronger global impact together. Wishing you a warm year-end season, and continued growth in the new year ahead. 💗

AeroTech

🚀 Korea’s Homegrown Rocket Carries the Country’s Next Wave of Space Startups

Korea's fourth Nuri-ho (KSLV-II) launch marks a milestone for its space sector, with six of 13 satellites built by startups and SMEs. These missions validate technologies in biopharma crystallisation, debris mitigation, and Earth observation, helping companies secure crucial heritage data for global expansion.

Key participants include SpaceLynk (protein-drug crystallisation), UjuroTech (satellite self-disposal), and CosmoWorks (component validation). Hancom InSpace and Quaternion contribute to Earth-observation missions, showcasing Korea's growing NewSpace ecosystem. Nuri-ho's independence from MTCR and ITAR restrictions enables new private-sector opportunities.

This launch serves as a launchpad for Korea's commercial space sector, reducing barriers for companies facing high costs and limited access. Successful in-orbit performance could position these startups favorably with global partners and investors. Read more: here.

FinTech

🪙 Korea Pours ₩7 Trillion into AI-Driven Fintech Over Five Years

The Financial Services Commission announced a ₩7 trillion (≈US$5.2bn) five-year package to boost AI-powered fintech: a ₩5 trillion scale-up fund for growth-stage ventures and a ₩2 trillion secondary fund for VC recycling. This aims to position finance as an AI innovation engine, not just an adopter.

Regulatory support includes business development companies (BDCs) for startup bonds, security token offerings (STOs), expanded MyData access, and a stablecoin framework to broaden funding channels. Announced at Korea Fintech Week 2025, the initiative signals stronger global ambitions.

Conclusion: Combining capital with reform, Korea seeks to catalyze private investment, scale fintechs, and drive global expansion—worth watching for European players. Read more here.

AI

🤖 Lightweight AI Startups Gain Momentum, And Big Tech Is Paying Attention

AI lightweighting is emerging as a core driver of industry-wide AI adoption, with Korean startups attracting major corporate collaborations. NOTEA AI secured a deal to supply its AI model optimisation technology for Samsung's Exynos 2500 processor, alongside strategic investments from LG, Naver, and Kakao. Its 2018 pivot to model lightweighting has positioned it as a key player in on-device AI.

Clika, supported through the SBA global expansion program at Web Summit, continues gaining recognition for compressing large language models for on-device performance. After winning LG's On-Device AI Challenge, its technology will be integrated into LG's next-gen laptops. Squeezebits is partnering with Rebellions to co-develop NPU-optimised generative AI lightweighting solutions for efficient on-device deployment.

AI lightweighting is rapidly becoming a highly patent-active field, ranking among Korea's top AI technology domains. As industries seek fast, efficient AI without heavy cloud dependency, lightweighting startups are becoming the strategic enablers of next-gen AI adoption. Read more here.

Meet New Startups!

We’d like to take a moment to introduce you to some of the startups you’ll be hearing about in the coming days. Today, we introduce XOLUTION, a Munich-based company behind XO, a resealable can-end system designed to modernize the classic beverage can for “on-the-go” consumers.

🥤 Resealable Innovation for Modern Beverage Cans

XOLUTION’s XO Resealable Can System aims to keep drinks fresh, leakproof, and safely re-closable, bringing a more convenient user experience to categories where portability and resealability matter. From its integrated development and production setup to ongoing R&D for next-generation can-end solutions, XOLUTION positions XO as a practical packaging upgrade for beverage brands and fillers looking to add differentiation without abandoning the familiar can format.

We sincerely thank everyone who has been part of our journey this year. Throughout 2025, your interest, support, and partnership connecting Korea and Europe made this year truly meaningful.

Even as the startup ecosystem continues to evolve, the trust and collaboration we share remain our strongest driving force. As we look ahead, we are committed to creating broader opportunities and deeper collaboration together.

We wish you a warm and joyful holiday season, and may 2026 bring continued growth and inspiration for us all. 🎄💝