Annual Tech4Good Summit and Startup Pitch Contest Awards
La French Tech Seoul, in collaboration with the French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI), successfully concluded the Tech4Good Tour 2023 in Seoul on the 10th, following a week-long exploration of the Korean market with a delegation of innovative startups and SMEs from France. The transformative journey, spanning November 6 to 10, culminated with the highly anticipated annual Tech4Good Summit 2023, marking a significant milestone in fostering collaboration between the startup ecosystems of Korea and France.
Initiated in 2019, Tech4Good is an annual program that connects two innovative ecosystems by facilitating economic exchanges between France and Korea and supporting solutions with a positive environmental and social impact. The 2023 edition of Tech4Good focused on the fascinating and trending themes of Deep Tech and Green Tech.
Tech4Good Tour 2023
The launch of the Tech4Good Tour 2023 on Monday, November 6, coincided with the 10th Anniversary of La French Tech, the government-backed parent organization of La French Tech Seoul. Following this milestone, a delegation of over ten French startups and entrepreneurs actively engaged with key stakeholders in the Korean startup ecosystem, connecting with public entities such as the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS), Invest Seoul, KISED, and KITA. Immersive visits to strategic locations included the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ), the Gyeonggi Center for Creative Economy & Innovation (GCCEI) in Pangyo, and the Seoul Startup Hub. These visits were complemented by exclusive seminars conducted by industry experts from leading companies who shared invaluable business insights. Moreover, influential organizations like the French Korean Chamber of Commerce, La French Tech Seoul, and Afterwork Seoul introduced the delegation to a supportive international business community.
Through a collaboration with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) and the French Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI), the French Tech was invited to participate in Come Up+, symbolizing the growing Franco-Korean tech partnership in the cosmetics industry, and conferences alongside industry experts Cosmetic Valley, Coupang and Emova. The French Tech’s co-presidents Nicolas Mercier and Etienne Gautheron were also invited to speak at the exclusive Global Startup Night co-hosted by MSS and FKCCI. This not only provided an opportunity to strengthen existing connections and establish new ones but also served as a moment to commemorate the 10th anniversary of French Tech Seoul and highlight its enduring impact on Franco-Korean collaboration.
Tech4Good Summit 2023
Marking the end of the Tech4Good Tour 2023, Friday’s program unfolded at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) with the annual Tech4Good Summit, presented in collaboration with the COMEUP. The long-awaited summit started with opening speeches by representatives of La French Tech Seoul, FKCCI, and the French Embassy, followed by a presentation by Viva Technology, and Business France on the appeal of France as a gateway to the European market. The Tech4Good Summit opening was succeeded by a special VIP panel featuring industry leaders Thales, Kim & Chang / KEY (Korea Europe & You), and KT Sat. Subsequent panels delved into Health Tech panels exploring the latest advancements in health technology, and Green Tech panels to discuss shaping a sustainable future through environmentally-conscious solutions for the tech industry. Preceding the day’s final program, a notable achievement was the signing of three MoUs between la French Tech Seoul and PEN Ventures, and Viva Technology and COMEUP to mark the start of their collaboration.
To conclude on a dynamic twist, the Startup Pitch Contest unfolded, featuring 10 French and Korean startups who competed for a customized international support program by pitching their exclusive business concepts. The Pitch Contest Awards, announced by honorable guests— Viva Technology’s Chief Ecosystem Officer Olivia Hervy, Sanofi’s General Manager and President of the Conseiller du Commerce Exterieur (CCE) Pascal Robin, and Mazars Korea’s Managing Partner Julien Herveau— crowned BBalance first place, earning them a grand prize valued at USD 10,000. Following closely behind were the second and third-place winners, QPerfect and LabSD, respectively.
Jean-Marc Druesne, CEO of BBalance and Chief Marketing Officer at Baracoda, expressed gratitude for the experience, stating, “Winning the startup pitch contest adds even more anticipation for the future of our company, and I am extremely grateful for the support and opportunities provided by La French Tech Seoul and FKCCI in helping our business grow.” Commenting on the Tech4Good Tour, he added, “I was immensely pleased with this accelerated immersion into the Korean market and truly impressed by the innovative technologies Korea had to offer as well as its high capacity of quickly acting on new ideas.” The feeling was shared by Georges Le Nigen from QPerfect, who stated, “The Tech4Good Tour surpassed our expectations as we had the chance to better understand the Korean ecosystem and meet with potential clients and partners. Winning a prize during the pitch contest was the icing on the cake.”
France and Korea are recognized as markets with great potential in the startup and innovation landscape, which can be testified by Korea’s impressive track record in 2022 of 30,000 startups, 22 unicorns, and 130 VC funds, and France’s 25,000 startups (among which 27 unicorns) and 423 VC investors, making these two nations the most ideal partners to pave the way for future innovation on an international scale.