Seoul Global Startup Center supports new businesses via Demo Day event

By Baek Byung-yeul

The Seoul Global Startup Center hosted its annual SGSC Demo Day event in order to help young companies meet with investors and develop human networks, the organization said Monday.

A poster for the Seoul Global Startup Center's Demo Day event

Established by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, the Seoul Global Startup Center is jointly operated by startup accelerator N15 and WeWorkLabs Korea. Based in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, the organization offers various kinds of supports for global startups ranging from office spaces and funding vouchers to mentoring services.

The organization said it hosted this year's Demo Day event Dec. 23. Due to the pandemic, and conducted it online. The details of the Demo Day event will also be aired through nextunicorn (nextunicorn.kr), an online platform that connects startups and investors, Dec. 29.

“The Seoul Global Startup Center has been hosting events where they support the startups' scale up in IR pitching skills and networking. Furthermore, from this year onwards, the Seoul Global Startup Center plans to hold events like the 2020 SGSC Demo Day where they can support startup teams by providing them an opportunity to attract investments and expand their connections with Korean and international venture capitalists,” the organization said.

The Seoul Global Startup Center said the event was only open to residents, graduates and alumni who were screened and selected by third-party judges.

The center said startups in various business categories such as platform service; business consulting; hardware and internet of things (IoT); education; food and medical; and lifestyle and beauty sectors, joined the event and pitched themselves. They were Plus Alpha, SeoulZ, Ekport Korea, GEC, oneCHARGE Solutions, Oysterable, Tooti, Apollo EduTech, DamoGO and Descry.

Seongmin Cho, right, Center Director of Seoul Global Startup Center, awards the winners TaeKwan Bae, left, CEO of Oysterable, and Steve Yang, CEO of Apollo EduTech during the Demo Day, Dec. 23. Courtesy of SGSC

DamoGO, providing a mobile app service that helps individuals to rescue the environment by consuming unsold food and creating an organic ecosystem for food industry, took the first place in the Demo Day. The second place was followed by Apollo EduTech, who provides the coding education through unplugged educational gaming. Last but not least, Oysterable who’s mission is to make the world a better place by making recycling fun and attractive for everyone with IoT Smart Bin & Reward app for boosting recycling took the third place.

Panel of judges of the Demo Day ask questions to Steve Yang, CEO of Apollo EduTech, via online.