on October 17, 2025
Korean Startup Founders Unite in New York for a Global Vision
More than 10,000 Korean founders, entrepreneurs, and aspiring builders gathered in New York this week for a powerful reminder:
the true engine of global success is the size of one’s dream.
The three-day KOOM Festival, held at Duggal Greenhouse in Brooklyn Navy Yard, brought together Korean startups, U.S. investors, and global audiences in a unique format that blended entrepreneurship, technology, and K-culture.
A Global Platform for Korean Founders
Organized by the Korean Founder Network in North America, the event was designed to connect Korean entrepreneurs with U.S. capital and global opportunities, while also making startup culture accessible through food, music, and storytelling.
Instead of a traditional closed-door forum, KOOM reimagined the startup conference as an open cultural festival—featuring:
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Startup pitch sessions
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Founder keynotes and fireside chats
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Korean food markets
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Live K-pop performances and cultural exhibitions
Words from Founders Who’ve Been There
Several iconic Korean business leaders shared hard-earned lessons with the next generation.
A Korean-American entrepreneur who successfully built and exited a global food business in the U.S. emphasized that imagination is the one asset no one can take away, especially when building in a foreign market.
His message was clear: recalibrate the scale of your ambition.
A former Samsung executive advised young founders to let go of excessive ambition that spreads energy too thin:
“When projects multiply, focus disappears. Make your body—and your business—lighter.”
Another tech founder echoed the importance of true differentiation, urging entrepreneurs not to simply open a business, but to build something fundamentally distinct.
Meanwhile, a well-known food-tech founder who recently stepped away from day-to-day operations challenged a long-held belief:
“You no longer need to dominate your home market first. Today, you can start by looking at a much bigger market from day one.”
Four Qualities Every Founder Should Have
One of the most resonant talks came from a global content platform founder, who outlined four essential traits for entrepreneurs:
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A clear and personal motivation
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A sharp, well-defined goal
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A sense of positive impact
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A story only you can tell
He stressed that a strong internal compass—not capital alone—is what sustains founders through uncertainty.
More Than a Conference
With an estimated 10,000 attendees over three days, the festival felt less like a business event and more like a celebration of Korean creativity on the global stage.
Visitors lined up to experience Korean consumer brands, street-market–style food stalls, and immersive cultural installations. Many non-Korean attendees shared that their interest in K-pop and Korean culture had led them to explore the country’s language, food, and now—its startup ecosystem.
Looking Beyond Borders
KOOM Festival sent a clear message:
Korean entrepreneurship is no longer confined by geography.
By combining innovation with culture, and ambition with openness, Korean founders are increasingly positioning themselves not just for entry into global markets—but for leadership within them.