The 'C Forum 2025', where investors and entrepreneurs gather to share insights during the recovery phase of startup investment, opened on the 3rd.
The C Forum is an event hosted by ChosunBiz in collaboration with CNT Tech, a leading domestic accelerator (AC), to help startups and various ecosystem stakeholders connect and create new values. This marks the third iteration of the event this year, following last year's.
The C Forum 2025, held from 1 p.m. at the CG Art Hall on the second floor of the Construction Hall in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, will continue for about five hours, attracting around 700 participants, including investors, startup CEOs, and experts.
This year, KAIST will participate and present insights on the theme 'The market is moving again; how will we validate and grow?'
The opening session will feature Lee Kwang-hyung, president of KAIST, known as the 'godfather of venture startups' who has produced numerous first-generation domestic venture entrepreneurs. He will engage in a keynote panel discussion with Jeon Hwa-sung, CEO of CNT Tech and president of the Korea Startup Accelerators and Early Stage Investors Association (K-AIA), on 'The intersection of technology and entrepreneurial spirit; how far do AC's responsibilities extend?'
Following that, four thematic sessions will take place. In the 'Entrepreneurial Attitude' session, KAIST Professor Kim Moon-kyu, InfoBank iExcel CEO Hong Jong-cheol, Woowa Brothers CCO Han Myung-soo, and SY Solutions CEO Park Seo-young will discuss 'What entrepreneurs should prepare for during the recovery period.'
In the 'Investor's Strategy' session, KAIST Professor Kim Moon-kyu, Primer Acting Partner Noh Tae-jun, The Wells Investment Chairman Jung Jin-ho, and New Paradigm Investment CEO Bae Sang-seung will share investment strategies.
In the 'KAIST Impact MBA alumni companies' session, KAIST Professor Cho Sung-joo, UD Impact CEO Kim Jeong-heon, DFRN CEO Kim Han-guk, Piero Company CEO Park Min-jin, and Delivery Lab CEO Lee Won-seok will discuss 'Scaling based on social impact.'
In the final 'CNT Tech Portfolio Session,' Roh Hyun-jung, CEO of Roche Korea, Kwon Jae-ui, CEO of LunarArt, Lee Soo-hyun, CEO of Romanceve, and Kwon Mi-jin, CEO of AGU will discuss technology-based startups and investment attraction, focusing on AI and food tech.