A global accelerating program aimed at launching Busan-based startups into Silicon Valley is now in full swing.
The Busan Metropolitan City and Busan Creative Economy Innovation Center (Busan CCEI) announced Monday that they have completed the final selection of 10 startups to participate in "Plug in: SV," a program run in partnership with global accelerator Plug and Play.
Plug in: SV is built on Busan CCEI's global expansion brand "Plug in" and is designed to directly connect participants with Silicon Valley's investment and open innovation ecosystem. The program differentiates itself from conventional overseas expansion support initiatives by targeting both investment attraction and partnership development simultaneously.
The 10 selected companies are Crosshub, Elax Lab, Fabric Duct, Teracle, JYC, Seoul Labs, Coconut Silo, Zero, SkyCube and Tradeit. The cohort spans diverse sectors including blockchain, artificial intelligence, eco-friendly materials and logistics platforms, with each company demonstrating technological competitiveness and global scalability.
The program operates in phased stages covering pre-departure capability building and on-site market entry. Participating companies will first undergo four weeks of online accelerating that includes market assessment, market entry strategy development and one-on-one mentoring. They will then attend the Plug and Play Summit in Silicon Valley in May.
The summit is a major open innovation event that draws approximately 4,000 participants each year, including global corporations, venture capital firms and startups. Participating companies will pursue tangible investment and collaboration opportunities through investor pitching, corporate meetups and networking sessions on site.
The program goes beyond simple event attendance. It runs concurrent local company visit and network connection programs to ensure business outcomes. Airfare, accommodation costs and program participation fees are also covered.
Busan CCEI plans to use this initiative as a springboard to expand its global acceleration programs and upgrade its support framework for regional startups seeking overseas expansion.
"This program is structured so that collaboration with a global accelerator leads directly to investment and partnerships," a Busan CCEI official said. "We will support Busan startups so they can connect directly with the Silicon Valley ecosystem and deliver tangible results."