SuRF 2026 Incheon Connects Startups With KT, Korean Air
Start-Up Ready the Future 2026 Incheon drew 100 booths and 28 meetup tables to Songdo Convensia on October 14-15, with 25 Incheon support organizations taking part.
The startup event Start-Up Ready the Future 2026 Incheon, known as SuRF 2026, was held at Songdo Convensia in Incheon over two days, from October 14 to 15, 2026, connecting startups with large companies, investors and customers.
The event featured 100 booths and 28 meetup tables, according to venturesquare.net. Twenty-five startup-related organizations from the Incheon region took part.
The Incheon Creative Economy Innovation Center supported the participation of 25 companies: 8 selected for the early startup package and 17 participating in the youth overseas expansion base program.
Open innovation programs connected startups with technology demand from large and mid-sized companies including KT and Korean Air. The event also included one-on-one meetups with domestic and foreign investors, IR pitching and product exhibitions.
NEMOA CEO Lee Sang-guk said the exhibition let the company meet investors and potential customers it could not usually reach. Widical CEO Eom Hee-chan said the IR pitching was a chance to introduce the company to investors as it seeks funding to scale up.
Speakers included Choi Jae-bung of Sungkyunkwan University, who gave a talk on startup survival strategies and responding to AI; Choi Jae-cheon, professor emeritus at Ewha Womans University, who spoke about coexistence between AI and humans; Kim Kyung-il of Ajou University, who discussed the psychological mindset needed by founders; and Son Hae-in, vice president of Upstage, who shared his experience from Nvidia to Upstage and views on talent in the tech industry.
Incheon Creative Economy Innovation Center CEO Lee Jae-seon said the center aims to make SuRF a platform to showcase excellent Incheon startups. SuRF is an Incheon startup event now in its fourth year, connecting startups, investors and startup support organizations.
Quick answers
When and where was SuRF 2026 held?
SuRF 2026 was held at Songdo Convensia in Incheon over two days, from October 14 to 15, 2026.
How many companies did the Incheon Creative Economy Innovation Center support at SuRF 2026?
The center supported 25 companies: 8 selected for the early startup package and 17 participating in the youth overseas expansion base program.
Which companies took part in the open innovation programs?
Open innovation programs connected startups with technology demand from large and mid-sized companies including KT and Korean Air.