Seocho-gu seeks AI and ICT firms for 2026 AICT Demo Day

Seoul's Seocho-gu is accepting applications from promising AI and ICT companies nationwide for the 2026 Seocho AICT Demo Day, with the deadline set for Oct. 8. The event will be held Nov. 5 at the Seocho AICT Excellence Center.

The demo day is designed to spotlight AI and ICT companies with strong technology and growth potential, connect them with investors and related institutions, and help them secure funding and expand their businesses.

The program includes corporate IR pitching sessions, one-on-one investment meetups with venture capital firms, AI technology and product exhibitions and demonstrations, and an AI talk concert.

Eligible applicants are AI and ICT companies with outstanding AI-based technologies or services. The district will select 20 companies through a written evaluation by Oct. 19, with the top seven earning the opportunity to pitch on the day of the event.

A particular focus of this year's demo day is expanding companies' real investment opportunities. Fourteen investment firms actively seeking AI and ICT ventures will participate directly, and one-on-one meetups will be pre-matched based on each company's funding needs and each VC's investment focus and stage. The district also plans to support additional investment reviews and follow-up meetings after the event to help translate interest into actual deals.

Companies wishing to apply can find detailed schedules and application instructions on the Seocho AICT website, the Seocho-gu Office website's announcements section, or by scanning the QR code at the bottom of the recruitment poster.

Meanwhile, Seocho-gu has been working to build an AI and ICT industry ecosystem centered on "Seocho AICT," an initiative that encompasses the Yangjae AI Future Convergence Innovation Special Zone, designated in November 2024, and the Yangjae ICT Specific Development Promotion District, designated in February this year. The district plans to create a platform for companies, investors and related institutions to connect, raise the profile of Seocho's AI industry ecosystem and support corporate growth.

At the Seocho AICT IR Day held in March, investment consultations and follow-on reviews between companies and investors confirmed the potential for meaningful funding connections. With investor interest in AI companies on the rise, the district plans to build on that momentum by expanding this demo day into a broader gathering where promising AI and ICT firms from across the country can meet specialized investors and find pathways to funding and growth.

"I hope this demo day becomes a place where outstanding AI and ICT companies can showcase their technology and growth potential and meet with professional investors to create real opportunities for investment and expansion," Seocho-gu District Mayor Jeon Seong-su said. "We will continue to build a business-friendly AI and ICT ecosystem centered on Seocho AICT — one where promising companies can gather, grow and forge new opportunities."