Global Expansion through 25

While there is an abundance of information available for overseas expansion, it is difficult to easily obtain opportunities to converse directly with partners who are well-versed in local markets. As investment standards, distribution structures, and business cooperation methods vary by country, the tasks companies must prepare for differ even during brief conversations. 'BOUNCE 2026 Global Office Hours' connects domestic startups with investors and startup organizations from six countries on a one-on-one basis to help refine market entry strategies. By reviewing each company's business sector and market entry needs in advance, intensive consultations are conducted for approximately 25 minutes.

The Busan Center for Creative Economy Innovation is recruiting startups to participate in 'BOUNCE 2026 Global Office Hours' until September 4.

Global Office Hours is a consulting program that connects early-stage startups lacking overseas market information and local networks with partners in specific countries. Participating companies can meet with local investors, accelerators, and startup support organizations to discuss market entry strategies, partner identification, investment attraction, pilot testing, and potential business collaborations.

The event will be held as a detailed program of 'BOUNCE 2026,' a global startup event taking place from October 7 to 8 at Hall 2A of Exhibition Center 1, BEXCO, Busan. Marking its 10th anniversary this year, BOUNCE is a platform for exchange where domestic and international startups, investors, startup support organizations, and industry stakeholders share technology and market information.

Global Office Hours consists of private meetups where companies and partners can discuss specific business details in an independent environment, rather than through general open consultations. Consultations per company last approximately 25 minutes, and each partner company participates in up to 16 matching sessions.

This year, eight organizations from six countries in Asia and Europe, including Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Netherlands, are participating. The scale of participation by local investors and startup organizations has been increased compared to last year, enabling startups to select partners that match their target countries and business objectives.

Participating organizations include Plug and Play Japan, Taiwan's 886 Studios, Lotte Ventures Vietnam, VSV Capital, Motion Ventures, Kilsar Global, Garuda Spark Innovation Hub, and DBCK. The market potential and local business possibilities of participating startups are reviewed based on each organization's investment and cooperation fields.

Consultations are conducted by matching applicant companies after partner firms review their business sectors, target markets, and cooperation objectives in advance. The number of consultations may be limited if the partner's interests do not align with the company's business content or if there is a high volume of applications. It is important to specify in detail during the application stage the target market, the local investment, distribution, or demonstration partners being sought, and the details of the proposed cooperation.

The recruitment target is startups located nationwide with less than 7 years of experience as of the announcement date. Companies pursuing overseas market expansion, investment attraction, or business cooperation with local companies are eligible to apply, regardless of industry.

Startups wishing to participate can apply on the official BOUNCE 2026 website by September 4. Detailed schedules, including consultation times with matching partners for the finally selected companies, will be notified individually.

Kim Hyo-jin, PM at the Busan Center for Creative Economy Innovation, said, “This Global Office Hours is an opportunity for domestic startups to directly meet influential investors and institutions from around the world and establish a bridgehead for overseas expansion,” adding, “As we are operating the event on an expanded scale, we hope for active participation from competitive startups preparing for the global market.”