Startup Pitching Competition

2025 Startup & VC Forum Program
with 1:1 investment meeting

The purpose of the event is to support the successful entry of Korean startups and small-medium enterprises (SMEs) into the U.S. market.
To achieve this, the Korean American Chambers of Commerce USA (KACC USA) is collaborating with the Overseas Koreans Agency under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to host the 23rd World Korean Business Convention in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
The event aims to showcase Korea’s advanced technologies through local networks, providing investment and marketing opportunities in the U.S.

Specifically, the objectives are:
1. Supporting the U.S. market entry and marketing for Korean startups and SME21
2. Promoting Korea's excellent technologies through U.S. networks, offering investment and marketing opportunities.
Through this event, Korean businesses will have the opportunity to expand in the global market, and the economic ties between Korea and the U.S. will be further strengthened.

When

2025.4.18 :

VC investment Forum Startup Pitching Competition

Startup Pitching Competition (Morning)

VC Forum (Afternoon)

2025.4.19 :
1:1 Private Investment Meeting with VC

Where

Gas South Convention Center

Startup Pitching
Competition
Schedule

Online Startup Pitching : Group1

Eligible: Any Korean startup companies in Korea, USA, and other countries.

1 1/24/25 ~ 2/28/25 :
Start to apply at wkbc.kglobal500.com
2/5/25 ~ 2/28/25 :
release to WKBC.COM
2 3/1/25~3/07/25 :
Quarter Final by judging Group
3 3/10/25 ~ 3/14/25 :
Semi Final (10 min online pitch) and select 8 companies for Final by Judging group
4 4/18/25 :
Judging by 8 VC’s (Final)

Offline Startup Pitching : Group2

Eligible: Companies participating in the EXPO in Atlanta and Korean startup companies in Korea, USA, and other countries.

1 2/05/25~3/20/25 :
Start to apply at wkbc.kglobal500.com
2 3/21/25~3/28/25 :
Quarter Final by judging Group
3 4/1/25~ 4/4/25 :
Semi Final (10 min online pitch) and select 8 companies for Final by Judging group
4 4/18/25 :
Judging by 8 VC’s

2025.04.18 Friday Start Up Pitching Competition

10:00am ~ 10:30am :
Opening Ceremony / Introduce VIP and Judge’s VC
10:30am ~ 12:00pm :
Startup Pitching (8 companies), online Competition.
7min Pitch + 3min Q&A.

11:30PM to 01:00AM. Separate information will be provided when ‘Summer Time’ is applied

12:00pm ~ 1:00pm :
Lunch & Networking
1:00pm ~ 2:30pm :
Startup Pitching (8 companies), offline Competition.
7min Pitch + 3min Q&A.

2025.04.18 Friday VC Forum & Award Ceremony

2:30pm ~ 2:40pm :
Break
2:40pm ~ 4:40pm :
Venture Capital forum (8 Vc’s, 12min/each + 3min Q&A)
4:40pm ~ 5:00pm :
Release competition result Group 1 & 2
Formal Award ceremony: 4/20/25
1’st($5,000) 2’nd($3,000) 3’rd($2,000) & Certificates, Innovation award
5:00pm ~ 6:00pm :
Networking and Closing

2025.04.19 Saturday 1:1 Investment Meeting

9:00am ~ 12:00pm :
1:1 Investment meeting 15min (12min pitch + 3min Q&A)
12:00pm ~ 01:00pm :
Lunch Provided.
1:00pm ~ 4:00pm :
1:1 Investment meeting
15min (12min pitch + 3min Q&A)
4:00pm :
Closing
  • One company apply max. 4 times of 1:1 investment meeting.
  • Meeting application fee: $500
  • Apply at wkbc.us website and reserved appointment. https://www.wkbc.us/

Investment status summary since 2023
Startup Pitch & VC Forum + 1:1 Investment meeting
@ 21’st 2023 WKBC

The Startup Pitching Competition and Venture Capital Investment Forum + 1:1 Investment Meeting, organized by the Korean American Chambers of Commerce USA (KACC USA), was held for the first time at the 21st World Korean Business Convention in Year2023.

Since then, many investment firms from both Korea and the U.S. have supported the participating companies, resulting in over 22 billion KRW in investment for these companies.

As of 2025, these companies continue to grow steadily due to the investments they received.
At the upcoming 23rd World Korean Business Convention in Atlanta, we expect investment opportunities and growth for the participating companies, as they will benefit from both investment support and access to the vast U.S. network

Organizing Team
  • Host: Henry Bang

    Committee Chairman of
    Startup Pitch & VC Forum
    CEO, G6 Global @ Silicon Valley

  • Cohost: Keum Ryong Lee

    Startup Pitch Chairman @ Challenge & Share
    CEO @ Kglobal networks, dona.kr, Kglobal500.com

  • Cohost: Kyeong Ho Yang

    Program Manager @WKBC
    President KITTEE @ New Jersey

  • Vice Chair, Sun Park

    Startup Pitch & VC Forum committee
    Startup Pitching competition
    Prior President of Atlanta Korean Chamber

  • Vice Chair, Leo Lee

    Startup Pitch & VC Forum committee
    FORBIZ KOREA COO, CO FOUNDER Kglobal500.com

  • Vice Chair, Yong Park

    Startup Pitch & VC Forum committee
    1:1 VC Investment Meeting
    Prior President of Washington State Korean Chamber

  • Committee operating team

    Taesik Kang & Jamie Lee
    Engineering support (Startup pitch
    process, scoring ) , Email Q & A
    managing, Banner, Pamphlet and more

  • Advisor Group: more than 30 people

    Startup Pitch & VC Forum committee
    Judge group & Support
    10min Pitching with scoring
    Consulting for Technology & Marketing, Investment

  • General Team Leader, Gitae Kim

    @ Challenge & Sharing, Kglobal500.com,
    Startup Pitch & VC Forum committeeest

Judge Online & Advisory Group
  • Bum kyoo Kim

  • Megan Ko

  • Stanley Suh

  • Hyun Kim

  • Hoseok Chung

  • Taisik Kang

  • Stella Park

  • Joobae Lee

  • Joohyung Lee

  • Kyeong Ho Yang

  • Sukoh Kim

  • Young Gil Chung

  • Yeon Hee Doh

  • Joseph Oh

  • Jeff Chang

  • Taemok Lee

  • Joseph Choi

  • Kay Ha

  • Brandon Choi

  • Hyea won Lee

  • Sun Park

  • Yong Park

  • Rara Jeon

  • Eric Inbeum Song

  • Sarah Han

  • BEACK SEUNGROCK

  • Jeannie Kim

  • Yong B Kim

  • Jongkyu Chai

  • Susan Koga

  • Kevin Kim

  • Moderator
  • Supported by
    • Peter Bae
      Cohost

      CEO/Executive Director
      Korea Innovation Center @
      Silicon Valley

    • TBD

      Sponsor

    • TBD

      Sponsor

Venue : Magnolia Room, 2’nd floor
@ Gas Convention

2023 WKBC@anaheimCA :
Startup Pitch Competition

2023 WKBC@anaheimCA Startup
2023 WKBC@anaheimCA Startup Pitch Competition image

2023 WKBC@anaheimCA :
VC Forum

2023 WKBC@anaheimCA VC Forum

2023 WKBC@anaheimCA :
1:1 Investment Meeting with VC

2023 WKBC@anaheimCA 1:1 Investment Meeting with VC
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