SEOUL, July 08 (AJP) - Ten impact start-ups from five Asia-Pacific countries presented solutions linked to the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals at a Demo Day in Seoul this week, concluding a three-month accelerator programme co-hosted by the UNDP Seoul Policy Centre and the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation.
The programme, Global ImpactPreneur, ended with a networking event and final pitch session held on July 6 and 7 at ONDREAM SOCIETY in Myeong-dong, central Seoul. It was organized by the UNDP Seoul Policy Centre and the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation and implemented by Impact Square.
Launched in March, the accelerator drew applications from 126 start-ups in 23 Asia-Pacific countries. After a review process, 20 teams were selected in April for a three-month online acceleration programme. Ten companies from five countries were then chosen through an online pitch evaluation in June to take part in the final Demo Day in Seoul.
The finalists were Arummi Foods and Elevarm from Indonesia, DEAFNURI Inc., iGENETECH Inc., NUSEUM Inc. and Seoul Labs Co., Ltd. from South Korea, Global Cerah and Stratetics Experts Sdn Bhd from Malaysia, Nicha Carbon Capture Co., Ltd. from Thailand and SUDrain Co., Ltd. from Cambodia.
The companies presented business models addressing issues including climate action, the circular economy, healthcare, digital inclusion and access to essential services.
The Grand Award, presented by the UNDP Seoul Policy Centre, went to SUDrain, a Cambodian company developing decentralized wastewater treatment technology using coconut fiber-based biofilm filtration. The company aims to address water pollution and public health challenges through locally adaptable treatment systems.
The Excellence Award, presented by the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation, went to Arummi Foods, an Indonesian start-up producing cashew-based plant milk. The company seeks to expand food access for lactose-intolerant consumers while supporting income opportunities for smallholder farmers.
The CVC Innovation Award, presented by CVC Capital Partners, was given to two companies: DEAFNURI, a South Korean start-up developing a sign language-based accessible tourism platform for deaf and hard-of-hearing people, and Seoul Labs, which is working on SuperWallet, an AI and blockchain-based digital identity platform designed to improve access to formal finance and public services for underserved groups.
The final evaluation was conducted by six experts in impact investment and development cooperation: Anne Juepner, director of the UNDP Seoul Policy Centre; Choi Jae-ho, secretary general of the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation; Doh Hyun-myung, CEO of Impact Square; Kim Chul-hwan, representative of CVC Capital Partners; Na Young-joo, director of Korelya Capital; and Lee Jun-hee, center head at Barun Law LLC.
The Demo Day opened with remarks on the progress made by participating entrepreneurs during the acceleration period. Juepner and Choi delivered messages of support to the 10 finalists, which later pitched their solutions to investors and partner organizations. Booth exhibitions were also held to allow more detailed discussions between start-ups, investors and ecosystem partners.
A day earlier, about 50 participants attended a networking event involving the 10 finalist companies, Korean entrepreneurs from the UNDP-Impact Square SDG Sprint programme, alumni of the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation’s CMK Impact Runner programme and representatives from venture capital firms and accelerators.
The event was designed as a peer mentoring session, bringing together emerging impact start-ups from the Asia-Pacific region and experienced Korean social innovators. Participants exchanged views on fundraising, market entry, business validation and the challenges of expanding social impact across borders.
One participating start-up representative said advice from senior entrepreneurs during the networking session helped strengthen the team’s final pitch.
“It was meaningful to stand on the same stage with peers from different countries who have been addressing similar social challenges, and to directly validate our solution before investors and partner organizations,” the representative said.
Juepner said impact start-ups are important innovation actors in achieving the SDGs.
“This programme provided an opportunity for entrepreneurs across the Asia-Pacific region to share their challenges and solutions, and to build a foundation for collaboration to scale social impact,” she said.
“UNDP will continue to support the wider dissemination of innovative solutions to more communities through partnerships with the private sector.”
Choi said the foundation would continue supporting young innovators seeking to expand beyond their home markets.
“The Foundation will continue to build a solid platform for future generations and innovators to grow on a broader stage, rooted in Honorary Chairman Chung Mong-Koo’s spirit of challenge and entrepreneurship,” he said.
Global ImpactPreneur is part of a broader effort by the UNDP Seoul Policy Centre, the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation and Impact Square to strengthen the impact start-up ecosystem in the Asia-Pacific region.
The organizers said they plan to continue working with international partners to help young entrepreneurs lead social change.
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