Busan is good

2025 Busan Slush’D Successfully Concludes – Hosted for the Third Consecutive Year, Advancing as a Hub of the Global Startup Ecosystem

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon), in collaboration with the Korea Startup Forum and the Busan Startup Investment Agency, announced the successful hosting of the “2025 Busan Slush’D” aboard the PanStar Cruise on July 26–27.

“Slush’D” is the only domestic spin-off event officially licensed from “Slush,” the world’s largest startup event held annually in Helsinki, Finland.

Since 2023, when the Korea Startup Forum first hosted the event in Busan to foster local startup growth and global networking, Slush’D has now reached its third edition.

Themed “Hacking the Sea of Startups,” the event took place aboard the PanStar Cruise departing from Busan Port and brought together around 180 participants including aspiring university entrepreneurs, startups, and venture capitalists (VCs) for high-density networking opportunities.

Breaking away from conventional pitching and exhibition formats, the event transformed the cruise ship into an experimental space for entrepreneurship. It focused on offering aspiring entrepreneurs practical support through in-depth discussions with seasoned founders, real-time networking with investors, and opportunities to form bonds among fellow entrepreneurs.

Key programs included “Slush’D Talk,” “Slush’D With V:Launch (KDB Session),” “Slush’D Meet,” and “Slush’D Youth” mentoring and networking, offering a variety of tailored exchange programs.

In particular, during the “Slush’D With V:Launch” session sponsored by Korea Development Bank (KDB), companies such as “GreedaTech,” “Softsquared,” and “IPNow” conducted investment IR pitches, expanding direct interaction with investors.

Additionally, “Pharos Marine,” a marine tech startup developing hydrogen-electric eco-friendly propulsion systems and related infrastructure, was awarded the top prize among the 10 pre-selected Slush’D finalist teams. The company received high praise from judges for its technological competence and strong market execution capabilities.

The event also featured various engaging programs such as fireworks and a DJ party, which were well received by participants.

Attendees stated, “What we needed most in the early stages of our startup was practical advice from experienced founders, and this event provided exactly that,” and “It offered highly concentrated networking rarely seen in other events, leading to very high satisfaction.”

Nam Dong-woo, Director of Financial Startup Policy at Busan Metropolitan City, said, “With three consecutive successful events, Slush’D is evolving beyond a mere event into a core startup brand for Busan. Through Busan Slush’D and the upcoming FLY ASIA 2025 scheduled for September, we will continue to expand global startup networks and support innovative and competitive companies to grow locally and enter international markets,” adding, “We will push forward continuous innovation so that Busan can rise as the startup capital of Asia.”