AI startup Manifest wins top prize at Gwanak S-Valley Bridge Demo Day

With few natural resources to draw on, South Korea's path to development has long depended on technological advancement. That challenge has grown more pressing as China closes the gap in key industries and competition with the United States intensifies in the AI era. Against that backdrop, Gwanak-gu in Seoul held an event to identify and support the next generation of innovative companies.

Gwanak-gu announced Wednesday that it had successfully wrapped up the "2026 Gwanak S-Valley Bridge Demo Day (S-Boost Track) and Investor Matching Day," an event designed to help venture and startup companies with cutting-edge technology secure their next round of funding.

The top prize went to Manifest, which showcased its "AI planning workspace" technology that automatically generates IT service planning documents.

Bizcure, which developed a functional transparent optical clear adhesive for displays using visible-light curing technology, took the excellence award, while Wepair, a provider of work management software and parts retail services for auto repair shops, claimed the merit award.

The event was co-organized with the Gwanak Small and Medium Venture Promotion Agency to give promising startups in emerging sectors — including robotics, AI, AX and deep tech — that are preparing to raise Pre-A to Series A funding a chance to secure follow-on financing.

Ten startups that had cleared a preliminary screening competed in the finals, pitching their business models and technological strengths directly to investment professionals from venture capital firms and accelerators in a competitive investor relations showcase.

After rigorous evaluation by professional investors, three companies were ultimately selected as winners for demonstrating both innovation and market viability.

The three winning companies will receive support for producing promotional videos to raise their public profiles, while all 10 finalists will be given bonus points when applying for startup space at the Gwanak Small and Medium Venture Promotion Agency in the future.

The event went beyond a simple pitching competition, offering one-on-one customized matching sessions and close mentoring between the 10 finalists and professional investors. Participating companies held individual meetings with evaluators to receive expert feedback on refining their business models and to build practical networks for future fundraising.

Now in its 22nd edition since launching in 2019, the Gwanak S-Valley Demo Day has established itself as a leading investment bridge platform that helps promising startups move past the early stage and into full-scale growth by overcoming funding shortfalls. Companies use the event to explore commercialization opportunities and follow-on investment through collaboration with professional investors, laying the groundwork for market entry.

Gwanak-gu said its focus is on building a sustained growth support system linked to private investors, rather than holding one-off pitching events. The district plans to continue expanding on-the-ground investment opportunities so that startups with proven technology and business potential can access funding going forward.

"The Gwanak S-Valley Bridge Demo Day gave us a chance to witness firsthand the remarkable technological capabilities of our companies that will lead future industries such as deep tech and AI," Gwanak-gu District Mayor Park Jun-hee said. "We will continue to expand practical investment linkages and infrastructure support so that the outstanding startups discovered at Gwanak S-Valley can rise to become global unicorn companies, not just in South Korea but on the world stage."