Twinwiz wins KOSFO's 'The PITCH in Busan' regional IR competition
What's the deal? The Korea Startup Forum (KOSFO) held "The PITCH in Busan," an investor relations programme for early-stage startups, on May 29 at Blueport 2021 in Busan's Yeongdo district. Sponsored by the Asan Nanum FoundationDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, the event gave southeastern Korea's startups a rare chance to pitch directly to regional investors.
Eight startups were selected through preliminary screening to take the main stage: C-Life Science Lab, Roen Korea, Blue Lyance, Phytoeco, LifeHi, Shutagen, TwinWiz, and GN Technologies. Each company had five minutes to present and seven minutes for Q&A with a judging panel from Qunesty, Busan Union Technology HoldingsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, and BSK InvestmentDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.
TwinWiz took the top prize. C-Life Science Lab came in second.
The winner received priority investment review from southeastern GP funds, a spot at the global startup event COMEUP 2026, and media exposure support. Around 50 attendees participated, including investors from BNK Venture InvestmentDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, ES Investor, Busan Creative Economy Innovation Centre, and Gyeongnam Venture Investment.
Why now? South Korea's startup ecosystem has long been concentrated in Seoul. KOSFO's southeastern regional council is pushing to change that by creating direct pipelines between local founders and local capital. Hwang Cha-dong, the council's chair, said the region has "startups with strong technology and growth potential" and pledged to expand programmes connecting them with investors.
What could go wrong? Regional pitch events can struggle to deliver meaningful follow-through. Without sustained investor commitment beyond a single day, priority review promises risk becoming symbolic rather than substantive. The southeastern venture capital ecosystem also remains far smaller than Seoul's, limiting the pool of available capital.
The signal: Events like The PITCH in Busan reflect a broader effort to decentralise South Korea's startup infrastructure. An "Elevator Pitch" session followed the main competition, giving 14 additional startups 10-minute one-on-one meetings with five investor booths — a format designed to maximise practical connections over pageantry. If regional forums like KOSFO can sustain these programmes, they may help shift the geography of Korean venture funding beyond the capital.
Read more: platum.kr
