Seoul to host 2nd India-Korea Forum on startup collaboration on April 22

Seoul: The 2nd India-Korea Forum, themed “Advancing India-Korea Startup Collaboration for a Future-Oriented Partnership,” will be held on Wednesday, at the Global Startup Center in Gangnam, Seoul, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, business leaders and ecosystem enablers from both countries for a focused discussion on deepening startup cooperation.

The forum will seek to map the evolving startup landscapes of India and South Korea while identifying practical pathways for cross-border growth, market access and long-term strategic collaboration. The event is expected to serve as a platform for dialogue on how the two countries can strengthen innovation-led partnerships in emerging sectors and create stronger support systems for startups looking to expand internationally.

The programme will open with remarks by Rajiv Kumar, Founder and Director of the India-Korea Forum, who is expected to set the tone for the discussions by underlining the growing relevance of India-Korea engagement in the innovation and entrepreneurship space.

The first session, titled “Mapping the India-Korea Startup Ecosystems: Key Trends, Ecosystem Dynamics, and Comparative Insights,” will bring together a diverse panel of speakers from both markets. The speakers will include Janith Dissanayake, Co-Founder and CTO of Newnop; Jane Jihye Kim, Founder and CEO of Korea Cultural Consulting Group; Divya J. Singh, Co-founder and CFO/COO of Vivity AI; and Sanghwan Lee, Co-founder and CEO of Klab Company.

The session is expected to examine the broad contours of the startup ecosystems in both countries, including sectoral strengths, innovation trends, institutional support and opportunities for collaboration.

The second session, “Advancing the Presence of Indian Startups in Korea: Scaling Strategies and Expansion Opportunities,” will focus on the prospects and practical challenges facing Indian startups seeking to establish a presence in the Korean market. The speakers for this session will be Nitish Kumar, Founder and CEO of Mednaath; Gahee Seo, Co-Founder and CEO of Federation; Shivanshu Dwivedi, Founder and CEO of Predulive Labs; and Riso Dongok Ahn, CEO of The Garrison.

Their discussions are likely to revolve around market-entry strategies, localisation, business partnerships and the support structures needed for Indian ventures to scale successfully in South Korea.

Following a coffee break, the forum will resume with the third session, “Advancing the Presence of Korean Startups in India: Growth Prospects and Strategic Pathways.” This segment will shift the spotlight to Korean startups and the opportunities available to them in the Indian market. The speakers will include Hyunwoo Sun, Founder and CEO of Talk To Me In Korean; Padmanaban Mohanan, Business Development Manager (South Asia) at Sugentech; Nidhi Agrawal, Co-Founder of Kalphabets; and Nadia Seltrecht, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Smoody. The session is expected to explore India’s attractiveness as a scale-up destination, the strategic pathways for market entry and the sectors where Korean startups may find strong growth potential.

The formal discussions will conclude with a roundtable session, which is expected to offer participants an opportunity to reflect on the day’s deliberations and identify actionable ideas for future engagement. A networking and refreshments segment will follow, giving founders, professionals and ecosystem stakeholders space to connect and explore possible partnerships.

With India and South Korea increasingly looking to innovation, technology and entrepreneurship as pillars of bilateral cooperation, the forum is expected to add fresh momentum to startup-led collaboration between the two countries. By bringing together founders and experts with hands-on experience in both ecosystems, the event is likely to provide valuable insights into how a stronger India-Korea startup bridge can be built in the years ahead.