[Edaily LEE SEON-WOO Reporter] One of the key drivers behind the growth of “MICE”—a high-value-added tourism and knowledge-service industry—is “corporations.” Meetings, Incentive Tours, Conventions, and Exhibitions are increasingly being utilized as business tools for corporate marketing and market expansion. This is why MICE is also referred to as “business events.” E-Daily, which delivers the latest domestic and international MICE news every Wednesday through its MICE section and online news, has launched a new column titled “Event in the Spotlight” to introduce how companies are leveraging MICE to discover new business opportunities and possibilities through corporate events featuring diverse concepts and formats. [Editor’s Note]

The “K-Startup Grand Challenge (KSGC)” orientation and workshop concluded its three-day schedule from the 8th to the 10th in Pangyo, Gyeonggi Province, and the Gangnam area of Seoul. Promising entrepreneurs, including representatives from 40 companies across 22 countries worldwide who had passed a two-stage selection process, participated in this orientation and workshop. Approximately 90 others also attended, including representatives from past graduating companies and stakeholders in the startup ecosystem, such as the Gyeonggi Creative Economy Innovation Center (hereinafter referred to as the Gyeonggi Center).
The K-Startup Grand Challenge is a global startup support program run by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups that identifies promising overseas startups, provides domestic acceleration support, and helps them establish themselves in the Korean startup ecosystem. From 2016 through last year, the program received over 18,000 applications; of these, 427 companies completed the program, and 214 established legal entities. With applications pouring in from up to 118 countries annually, the program has recorded a high average competition rate of 40 to 1, earning it the nickname “the narrow gate” among entrepreneurs.
At this event, five past graduate companies participated in a “Fireside Chat” to share practical know-how necessary for entering the Korean market. Representing the alumni companies were PIKAI (CEO Shivanshu Dwivedi) in the infrastructure safety sector; ArbaLabs (CEO Ashley Reeves) in edge AI reliability verification; Kosmetrics (CEO Miguel Suárez) in K-Beauty data analytics; AvoLabs (CEO Deniz Albayrak) in AI edutech; and KFTV (CMO Jean Dubresson), specializing in the export of Hallyu content, took the stage.

Miguel Suárez, CEO of Kosmetrics, advised, “How actively you utilize the networking and mentoring opportunities provided early on by the K-Startup Grand Challenge determines how quickly you can establish yourself in Korea.”
The Gyeonggi Center hosted a seminar featuring external experts to explain the documents and procedures required for establishing a corporation. One-on-one consultations on legal and labor matters were also provided, along with a tour of “Woowa Brothers’” Pangyo headquarters (Baemin Startup Square). A Gyeonggi Center official explained, “This orientation and workshop program focused on helping participants quickly adapt to the startup ecosystem and establish a solid business foundation.”
Following the workshops, the center plans to launch its full-scale accelerator program. Participating companies will receive close mentoring from dedicated managers, assistance with securing investments, and support for proof-of-concept (PoC) projects. They are scheduled to present their results on stage at the “2026 COME UP” Demo Day, a global startup festival taking place at the end of the year.