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!

Hello from 123 Factory! 💡

As the hot summer comes to an end, Europe’s startup and innovation ecosystem is picking up momentum for the second half of the year. In September, tech and startup events will take place across major European cities, from Berlin and Cologne to Munich and London, bringing together companies, investors, and innovators to explore new partnerships and business opportunities. 🚀

At 123 Factory, we are also preparing a range of programs and projects this fall to connect Korea’s innovation ecosystem with partners across Europe.

As new partnership and market entry opportunities begin to take shape, we invite you to explore the latest developments across Europe and stay connected with the global startup ecosystem through this month’s newsletter.

123 Factory News

🇰🇷🇩🇪 Korea Innovation Night | During Bits & Pretzels 2026

As part of Bits & Pretzels 2026, Korea Innovation Night will connect Korean deep-tech startups with Germany’s innovation ecosystem, creating opportunities for business partnerships and cross-border collaboration.

📍 Event Overview

• Date: September 29, 2026 | 17:00–20:00

• Venue: Baker Tilly Munich Office, Nymphenburger Str. 3b, Munich

• Hosted by: Baker Tilly

• Co-hosted by: 123 Factory, SparkLabs & KOVA

💡 Featured Startups

• NEAR Brain — AI-powered MRI analysis

• Reemarc — Digital orthodontics & dental care SaaS

• OceanWick / DIVEROID — AI-powered underwater technology

• Joodra — ESG industrial digital twin platform integrating energy, battery, and recycling data

• The Baton — AI collaborative music platform

The event will feature startup showcases, insights into the German innovation ecosystem, and an investor & networking reception, offering a platform to discover emerging Korean technologies and build Korea–Germany connections during Bits & Pretzels 2026.

🔗 Registration: [Link]

🌄 Startup City Project: Hidden but Strong Innovation Cities of Korea

In early September, 123 Factory successfully completed the Korea Startup City Global Promotion Project, travelling with an international delegation across Daejeon, Gwangju, Ulsan and Daegu.

The initiative, launched by Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups, aims to strengthen regional startup ecosystems and raise the global visibility of Korea’s leading innovation cities. Together with international investors, media, data organisations and ecosystem experts, we explored each city’s distinctive strengths — from deep tech and AI to mobility, energy, advanced manufacturing, shipbuilding, biotech and medtech.  Most importantly, the journey created direct conversations between local founders, research institutions, investors, corporates and global ecosystem leaders.

Across the four cities, one message became increasingly clear: a globally competitive startup ecosystem is built not by startups alone, but through the connection of research, commercialization, capital, industry, infrastructure and international networks. From Daejeon’s science and technology base and Gwangju’s AI infrastructure, to Ulsan’s world-class industrial ecosystem and Daegu’s integrated medtech, biotech and scale-up environment, each city demonstrated a different pathway toward global relevance.

 For 123 Factory, this project was not simply about promoting four cities for one week, but about helping their companies and ecosystems become more visible, better understood and more deeply connected internationally!

🌐 Korean Deep-Tech Startups Connect with Germany at Future Tech Fest Düsseldorf

A delegation of eight Korean deep-tech startups — Stephow, Nanobridge, Textway, Sig Corporation, Twell, Bookend, Navoros, and Syntherix — visited Düsseldorf to take part in Future Tech Fest 2026, one of Germany’s major startup and innovation events. The festival brought together startups, investors, corporates, and innovation leaders from Germany and beyond, providing a platform for technology showcases, business networking, and new partnership opportunities.

Alongside the festival, the delegation participated in a series of corporate and ecosystem programs across Düsseldorf, including visits to ERGO and TechHub.K67, as well as a seminar and exchange with the Korea Desk at the City of Düsseldorf. These programs provided opportunities to learn more about the local business and innovation ecosystem, introduce Korean technologies, and explore potential connections with German companies and institutions.

The Düsseldorf program successfully concluded with meaningful exchanges across the Korean and German startup ecosystems, laying the groundwork for future collaboration and market opportunities.

Looking ahead, 123 Factory will continue to serve as a bridge between Korea and Germany, connecting innovative Korean startups with European companies, investors, and ecosystem partners and supporting their journey into the European market.

⚖️ 123 Factory and Baker Tilly Strengthen Support for Korean Startups in Europe

123 Factory has signed a MoU with Baker Tilly to support Korean startups and technology companies entering Germany and Europe. The collaboration connects startups with expertise in tax, accounting, corporate structuring, compliance, and cross-border business advisory, complementing 123 Factory’s support in market validation, business development, partnerships, and ecosystem access.

🏙️ Korean Startups Continue Building Pathways into European Markets

European startup ecosystems are increasingly creating dedicated channels for Korean companies seeking international expansion. Programs such as German Accelerator’s South Korea Market Discovery connect European startups with the Korean market, while Korea–Germany initiatives are creating opportunities for Korean startups to meet European corporates and investors. These programs reflect a shift from one-off delegations toward structured market validation and long-term cross-border partnerships.

Investment

🧑‍🚀 Korean Space Industry Investment Grows Fivefold in 2026

Investment in South Korea’s domestic space industry has reached KRW 156.2 billion (approximately $113 million) so far this year, more than five times the total recorded in 2025. Funding is expanding beyond launch vehicles and satellites into space-based solar power, AI, optical communications, in-orbit servicing, and space robotics, signaling a broader shift toward a commercially driven Korean space ecosystem.

🚀 Why it matters for Europe: Korea’s rapidly expanding private space sector could create new opportunities for European aerospace companies, investors, and research institutions looking for technology partnerships and access to Asia’s growing space market.

🪙 Intellicia Raises $2.5M to Build AI-Powered “Synthetic Consumers”

South Korean AI startup Intellicia has raised KRW 3.4 billion ($2.5 million) in a pre-Series A round led by Kakao Ventures. Its platform, TheSurvey.ai, creates AI-generated “synthetic consumers” trained on real-world consumer data, allowing companies to simulate surveys and interviews and generate market insights much faster than traditional research methods.

📈 Why it matters for Europe: The company illustrates how Korean startups are applying AI beyond general-purpose models, developing specialized tools for business decision-making and consumer research that could scale into international markets.

🌱 Seoul Startup Ecosystem: Foreign Founders Gain Ground in Korea

In August, Korea’s startup ecosystem continued to strengthen its support for international founders. Research released at the end of the month surveyed 40 prospective and early-stage foreign founders in Korea, examining their industries, target markets, startup experience, and access to local support. The findings offer a snapshot of how Korea is positioning itself as a base for international entrepreneurs entering the Asian market.

Why it matters for Europe: Korea’s efforts to attract and support foreign founders could create a two-way bridge between European entrepreneurs and Korea’s technology and investment ecosystem.

🚀 Discover 123 Factory’s Portfolio Startups

We are also excited to introduce our new portfolio startup page, designed to make it easier for European companies, investors, and ecosystem partners to discover innovative Korean startups.

The page is still in its early stage, and more than 100 additional startups will be added over time. We invite you to check back regularly and explore new opportunities for collaboration with Korea’s most promising founders.

Explore our portfolio here: portfolio.123factory.de/ 

Upcoming Events

• Korea–Germany Bio & Healthcare Online Seminar
  22 Sep | Online | Bio & Healthcare, MedTech, Digital Health
  Online seminar for Korean bio and healthcare companies preparing for the German and European markets, covering European partnerships and market access, DiGA, and European Medical Device MDR & CE certification.

• DMEXCO 2026
   23-24 Sep | Cologne, Germany | Digital, AI, Marketing, Tech

  Europe’s leading digital and technology event, bringing together startups, technology companies, investors, and industry leaders around digital business, AI, marketing technologies, and emerging digital solutions.

• Bits & Pretzels 2026
  28-30 Sep | Munich, Germany | Startups, VC, Innovation, Technology
  One of Europe’s leading startup and founder events, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, corporates, and innovation leaders for networking, keynote sessions, and business opportunities.

• TiECon Germany 2026
   28 Sep | Berlin, Germany | Entrepreneurship, Startups, Investment
  The inaugural German edition of TiE’s flagship entrepreneurship conference, bringing together founders, investors, and industry leaders at Betahaus Berlin to exchange ideas, build connections, and explore new business opportunities.

• GMEP Company Mission to Germany and Berlin
  2 Oct | Berlin, Germany | Korean Startups, Market Entry, Business Matching
  A company mission bringing around 20 South Korean startups and export-oriented companies to Germany to explore business cooperation, technology partnerships, and market opportunities across AI, cleantech, energy, hydrogen, smart grids, and photovoltaics.

• deGUT 2026
   8 Oct | Berlin, Germany | Startups, Entrepreneurship, Business
  One of Germany’s major entrepreneurship events, bringing together founders, startups, young companies, and established businesses for practical knowledge, expert advice, networking, and business development. The 2026 edition will take place as a one-day event at ARENA Berlin.

Thank you for reading Factory’s Post!
We’re always open to exciting news, promotions, and proposals to share with the 123 community. Feel free to contact [email protected], we’d love to hear from you! 😀