The Tech4Good Summit takes place every year, and in 2023, it will be the 4th installment of the event. Tech4Good Summit is an event organized by the French Tech Community Seoul (FTCS and the French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI). This year’s summit is a comprehensive online and offline event focusing on innovation for a better tomorrow. Tech4Good aims to become a platform for conferences, discussions, networking, and exhibitions to boost startup ecosystems and international collaboration in social tech, Ed-tech, GreenTech, health tech, and fintech. Korea and France are moving together towards the same goal. That goal is to connect people, businesses, and partners with the same vision and belief in international cooperation.
“FKCCI wishes to put its 35 year-long experiences in international business development to offer more collaboration opportunities to startups which have a meaningful impact as France and Korea are both major world leaders for innovation, and as bilateral cooperation to build a better world and a better society is our steady commitment as well as our common horizon,” said Cédric Legrand, Managing Director of FKCCI.
Tech4Good Summit 2023
For 2023, the Tech4Good Summit offers an online/offline format to expand its reach beyond the Korea-based audience. Over three days, APAC, France, and Korea participants will participate in keynotes, roundtables, networking, business meetings, and a pitch contest. Two days of the event are dedicated to topics focused on Tech4Society and Tech4Earth. The remainder of the program offers a roundtable on the ecosystem to support Tech4Good solutions and a transversal session on public policies.
More than 300 participants, such as impact startups, incubators, accelerators, large groups, institutions, and non-profits, are expected to join the Tech4Good Summit 2023. Recent technological innovations have unprecedented opportunities to solve social, economic, and environmental challenges. In this framework, the French and South Korean governments understood the importance of these challenges.
“We are very excited to hold this second edition of Tech4Good with the FKCCI. Connecting the French and Korean startups ecosystem is the key objective of the French Tech in Korea. What better way of doing this than by joining hands to great awareness on climate and social issues and find innovative solutions to tackle these problems! We strongly believe that technology and international cooperation are key to building a better world”, said Solomon Moos, French Tech Community Seoul President; Head of Korea / Asia Investment Partners Director of Eurazeo.
Supporting Innovative Startup Ecosystems
South Korea and France want to support an innovative startup ecosystem to sustain new sustainable growth engines. The ‘France Relance’ plan dedicates 3.7 bn EUR (4.5 bn USD) to startups and technological sovereignty. Moreover, the ‘Korean New Deal’ includes support for 1000 startups in tactless services and 4000 startups in green sectors.
As of 2023, French Tech released figures of more than 20,000 registered startups and over 8 billion EUR of venture capital investment. In addition, Korea also fostered a vibrant startup scene and gathered more than 40,000 startups in 2022.
Tech4Good Startup Pitch Contest
A pitch contest will be held for promising French and Korean startups. Startups will compete for a customized international support program and a cash prize. In addition, startups will be able to connect with key players in France and Korea. The pitch contest is for French and Korean impact startups under Tech4Society or Tech4Earth. Furthermore, startups will need to create a 3-minute pitch video, and there will be 2 minutes of Q&A. The jury will comprise selected impact funds and key players in the Tech4Good ecosystem in France and Korea.
Tech4Society
- Social Mobility
- Education
- Health/Well-being
- Gender/Social Equality
- Peace/Justice
- Fight against Poverty/Hunger
Tech4Earth
- Responsible consumption/production
- Clean Air/Water
- Secured/healthy food
- Sustainable/accessible energy
- Preserved biodiversity
- Smart/Sustainable cities
- Green Mobility
Startups that apply could get pre-selected for an exclusive virtual booth during the 3-day Summit. Through the virtual booth, startups can show off their solutions and network with potential partners.
Benefits for Winning Startups
Winning startups will get exclusive market entry support through the French Tech Seoul and FKCCI’s network in France and Korea. For example, some network partners include Business France, KOTRA, Paris Région Entreprise, KITA, and more. In addition, winning startups will get the following:
- Press Releases in Korean and international specialized media (SEOULZ, Maddyness, …)
- Advertorial and web banner for one month on FKCCI website, Corée Affaires magazine, newsletter shoutout; and social media mentions
- Advertorial on the French Tech Seoul website, Podcast, newsletter shoutouts, and social media mentions
- News on partners’ communication channels: KOTRA, French Embassy in Korea, Asiance, etc.
In 2019, the first edition of the France Korea Tech4Good Summit was held at the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) and gathered 200 participants. This included the French Ambassador in Korea, H.E. Philippe Lefort, and the President of the Korea Institute of Startup Entrepreneurship Development (KISED), Gwang Hyon Kim, in the framework of the K-Startup Week ComeUp 2019. Successful French startups such as health tech AI-specialist ‘Nabla’ or inclusive social platform ‘Bayes Impact’ discovered the Korean tech ecosystem. In addition, Korean startup ‘Marine Innovation’ won the Pitch Contest with their solution to produce eco-friendly, innovative material.
About French Tech Community Seoul
French Tech Community Seoul, officially endorsed by the French Ministry for the Economy and Finance, bridges the French and Korean tech communities and helps skyrocket tech champions (Hypergrowth), a vector of positive change (Tech for Good).
About the French-Korean Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI)
Since 1986, the FKCCI has been the key player in fostering the vibrant business community between France, Korea, and beyond. Moreover, they have gathered nearly 5000 business leaders; FKCCI is a non-profit association providing various customized services: market expertise, prospection, networking, business center, HR, communication, and advocacy. More information is available through its website at https://www.fkcci.com/
Press Contact
Oriane Lemaire, FKCCI PR Communication manager o.lemaire@fkcci.com
Heesang Yoo, Prism Communications heesangyoo@prismcomms.com
