KB Financial helps Korean startups expand in Singapore

South Korea’s KB Financial Group announced on Aug. 28 that it has teamed up with a state-run Korea SMEs and Startups Agency (KOSME) to help promising startups expand their businesses and attract investment in Singapore.

The Seoul-based conglomerate noted that it jointly operated a global demo day program with the K-Startup Center (KSC) Singapore, an affiliate of KOSME, this week.

It marked the second consecutive year that KB Financial and KSC Singapore have jointly held a demo day in the Southeast Asian country.

This year, the two organizations expanded the program by adding meetups with members of Singapore’s startup ecosystem and visits to major local institutions.

A total of 12 startups supported by the two organizations took part in the program, including seven companies selected in May for KB Financial’s startup incubation program, KB Starters.

The participants visited major organizations in Singapore, including TechX Ventures, a subsidiary of the Home Team Science and Technology Agency.

They discussed potential business opportunities in Singapore with officials from the organizations and held customized one-on-one meetings with venture capital firms from Southeast Asia and other regions.

On Aug. 27, KB Financial also hosted “Global IR Day” at its Singapore hub at WeWork Singapore Collyer Quay.

Participating startups delivered investor relations presentations to prospective investors and business partners while networking with local organizations.

“We sought to create an effective growth-support program by combining the startup incubation capabilities and global networks of the private and public sectors to help K-startups make their leap onto the global stage,” a KB Financial representative said.

“KB Financial will continue to serve as a growth partner for promising Korean startups so they can demonstrate their technologies and business capabilities in global markets.”