On June 12, the Urban Innovation Challenge: Citypreneurs 2024 Ulsan' Demo Day was successfully held. To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and solve urban issues in Ulsan, impact start-ups from five countries, including Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines, Pakistan, and Vietnam, gathered at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST).
The highlight of the morning was the Policy Dialogue, moderated by Prof. Franklin Bien from UNIST. Our distinguished panel included Prof. Hankwon Lim (UNIST), Mr. Benjamin McCarthy (UN ESCAP Sustainable Business Network), Dr. Fernando ORTIZ-MOYA (IGES), Mr. Jinsol Hwang (The Bridge), Ms. Esther An (CDL, Singapore), and Mr. Benjamin Soh (Hashstacs Pte Ltd, STACs, Singapore), joining both online and offline.
It was a meaningful time sharing Ulsan's policies, administrative directions, and successful cases related to the revitalization of Ulsan's key industries and the conference theme.
After lunch, the opening speech was delivered by Director Kwon Soon-Yong of the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology Industry-University Cooperation Foundation. This was followed by congratulatory addresses from Choi Young-Hee, Head of the Ulsan Metropolitan City Business Support Division; Kim Jong-Hoon, Vice Chairman of the Industrial Construction Committee of the Ulsan Metropolitan City Council; Anne Juepner, Head of the UNDP Seoul Policy Centre; An Jae-Woo, Executive Director of CVC Capital Partners Korea; and Ganbold Baasanjav, Head of the Northeast Asia Office of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. 🎤
Finally, our World Federation of United Nations Associations President, Shawn Chen, delivered an inspiring keynote speech. ✨🇺🇳
In the afternoon, we held IR pitching and Q&A sessions. 💡 It was a great opportunity to discover innovative products from impressive impact startups in the Asia-Pacific region!
As the judges watched, listened, and asked questions during the pitches, the atmosphere became increasingly passionate and energetic. 📝
After intense IR pitching sessions from 24 start-ups and thorough evaluations, the Grand Prize went to Haltenergy, which developed technology to recycle plastic waste into hydrogen, protecting the environment and creating a new energy industry. Haltenergy received the Ulsan Metropolitan Mayor's Award and priority investment review opportunities, along with future domestic and international venture investment connections and opportunities.
The Excellence Prizes were awarded to LabSD, which provides the 'EYELIKE' platform to connect communities and patients to prevent blindness, and SCHAFFENGOTT CO., LTD., which offers disaster safety products and services through the AI-linked smart fire extinguisher 'Tritona'. SCHAFFENGOTT, which received the WFUNA Secretary-General Award, also earned the opportunity to participate in the WFUNA Impact & Start-up Ecosystem (WISE) Conference in Geneva this November.
The CVC Awards went to LabSD and Oysterable Co., Ltd., which provides a data-tracking circular economy platform service to solve waste issues.
The Impact Awards, each including a $5,000 prize, were given to Kepul, an Indonesian company that buys and transforms all domestic waste into reusable products, holding the largest waste purchasing volume and app user base in Indonesia, and CAS Energy, a Vietnamese company which provides climate-smart solutions through climate-smart agriculture and carbon farming.
ⓒ 2024 WFUNA Seoul Secertariat
On June 12, the Urban Innovation Challenge: Citypreneurs 2024 Ulsan' Demo Day was successfully held. To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and solve urban issues in Ulsan, impact start-ups from five countries, including Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines, Pakistan, and Vietnam, gathered at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST).
The highlight of the morning was the Policy Dialogue, moderated by Prof. Franklin Bien from UNIST. Our distinguished panel included Prof. Hankwon Lim (UNIST), Mr. Benjamin McCarthy (UN ESCAP Sustainable Business Network), Dr. Fernando ORTIZ-MOYA (IGES), Mr. Jinsol Hwang (The Bridge), Ms. Esther An (CDL, Singapore), and Mr. Benjamin Soh (Hashstacs Pte Ltd, STACs, Singapore), joining both online and offline.
It was a meaningful time sharing Ulsan's policies, administrative directions, and successful cases related to the revitalization of Ulsan's key industries and the conference theme.
After lunch, the opening speech was delivered by Director Kwon Soon-Yong of the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology Industry-University Cooperation Foundation. This was followed by congratulatory addresses from Choi Young-Hee, Head of the Ulsan Metropolitan City Business Support Division; Kim Jong-Hoon, Vice Chairman of the Industrial Construction Committee of the Ulsan Metropolitan City Council; Anne Juepner, Head of the UNDP Seoul Policy Centre; An Jae-Woo, Executive Director of CVC Capital Partners Korea; and Ganbold Baasanjav, Head of the Northeast Asia Office of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. 🎤
Finally, our World Federation of United Nations Associations President, Shawn Chen, delivered an inspiring keynote speech. ✨🇺🇳
In the afternoon, we held IR pitching and Q&A sessions. 💡 It was a great opportunity to discover innovative products from impressive impact startups in the Asia-Pacific region!
As the judges watched, listened, and asked questions during the pitches, the atmosphere became increasingly passionate and energetic. 📝
After intense IR pitching sessions from 24 start-ups and thorough evaluations, the Grand Prize went to Haltenergy, which developed technology to recycle plastic waste into hydrogen, protecting the environment and creating a new energy industry. Haltenergy received the Ulsan Metropolitan Mayor's Award and priority investment review opportunities, along with future domestic and international venture investment connections and opportunities.
The Excellence Prizes were awarded to LabSD, which provides the 'EYELIKE' platform to connect communities and patients to prevent blindness, and SCHAFFENGOTT CO., LTD., which offers disaster safety products and services through the AI-linked smart fire extinguisher 'Tritona'. SCHAFFENGOTT, which received the WFUNA Secretary-General Award, also earned the opportunity to participate in the WFUNA Impact & Start-up Ecosystem (WISE) Conference in Geneva this November.
The CVC Awards went to LabSD and Oysterable Co., Ltd., which provides a data-tracking circular economy platform service to solve waste issues.
The Impact Awards, each including a $5,000 prize, were given to Kepul, an Indonesian company that buys and transforms all domestic waste into reusable products, holding the largest waste purchasing volume and app user base in Indonesia, and CAS Energy, a Vietnamese company which provides climate-smart solutions through climate-smart agriculture and carbon farming.
ⓒ 2024 WFUNA Seoul Secertariat