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Startups·2 min read

KEPCO Opens First Startup Investment Hall at BIXPO 2026 Expo

Korea Electric Power Corporation has added a dedicated startup zone to its BIXPO power technology expo for the first time, with 100 energy and climate startups taking part.

Startup booths at an energy technology expo hall in Gwangju, with visitors meeting founders and investors.
Image: 스타트업 생태계의 모든 것 \'플래텀(Platum)\'
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Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) has created a dedicated startup space at BIXPO, its annual international power technology expo, for the first time. One hundred startups are exhibiting in the new Startup Investment Hall, where they can meet investors and large and mid-sized companies.

BIXPO 2026, also known as the Bitgaram International Electric Power Technology Expo, runs from November 4 to 6 at the Kim Dae-jung Convention Center. Power and energy companies and institutions from Korea and abroad gather there to share technology and industry trends. KEPCO says the new hall is meant to link the established power and energy industry with startup technology.

How the hall works

The Korea Startup Forum (COSPO) runs the hall. Drawing on its experience organizing the COMEUP startup festival, it handled recruitment and selection of participants, investor matching and open innovation programs. The 100 companies were chosen through an open call and a selection process.

Exhibits are split into four areas: energy and power, AI and future technology, eco-friendly materials, and smart industry. A playground zone lets visitors try startup technologies hands-on.

COSPO is also arranging one-on-one business meetings after mapping the interests and investment stages of VCs and accelerators against the technology fields and growth stages of the startups. A reverse pitching session has large and mid-sized companies present the technologies and collaboration projects they need first, and startups then propose partnerships. Business matching follows, to discuss proof-of-concept trials and joint projects. About 40 startups will also give investor relations pitches, alongside expert mentoring and networking.

Why it matters

Kim Jae-won, chair of the Korea Startup Forum, said startups with innovative technology often struggle to find business opportunities in real industrial settings. He said the forum aims to connect demand from the power and energy sector with startup technology so participants can find new customers and partners.

COSPO plans to use the collaboration to extend a network centered on the startup ecosystem into specialized industries such as power and energy.

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Tags:kepcobixpokorea startup forumenergy startupsclimate techreverse pitching

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