KSC Deeptech 2025 Program: Fall Batch Builds Momentum in New York City

This fall, ten Korean deeptech startups arrived in New York City for a seven-week program designed to fast-track their entry into the U.S. market. This cohort spent their time building the foundations needed for expansion — refining how they sell, how they partner, and how they navigate the legal and regulatory systems that shape business in the United States.

Rather than theory, the program centered on real exposure: founders worked through investor conversations, corporate meetings, expert sessions on IP and contracts, and hands-on workshops that challenged them to adapt their products to U.S. customer expectations. Along the way, they built connections across New York’s innovation landscape — from mentors and industry leaders to fellow founders following the same global trajectory.

Program Highlights

A Start Stronger Than a Typical Orientation

The program opened with more than a welcome session — the cohort was immediately thrown into communication labs and personal clarity work.

Founders took part in a high-energy Improv & Reverse Pitch workshop by Bobby Allan, where they practiced delivering each other’s pitches — a fast way to expose unclear messaging and build confidence on stage, and throughout the week, their work on public speaking continued. Also, each team received 1:1 strategy reviews with Elpis Labs, giving them a personalized starting point for their U.S. expansion roadmap.

Mastering the Legal Infrastructure of U.S. Business

Legal work in the program wasn’t limited to one session — it unfolded gradually across weeks. Founders were introduced to the core principles behind protecting their technology, navigating U.S. agreements, and understanding the structural decisions that matter when entering the American market. Through a mix of group discussions and individual consultations, each team walked away with a clearer picture of how to operate safely, confidently, and sustainably as they expand in the U.S.

A New Lens on U.S. Visibility: PR, Marketing, and Growth Opportunities

Another important thread of the program centered on helping founders understand how visibility and credibility are built in the U.S. market. Throughout the weeks, they explored what makes brand storytelling land with American audiences, how PR and media positioning shape perception, and what it means to maintain a digital presence that signals trust to investors and partners. Sessions led by experts — including deep dives into marketing fundamentals, communication frameworks used by high-growth U.S. companies, and guidance from NYCEDC on state-backed opportunities — helped founders see how to articulate their value beyond the pitch stage, through clear messaging, strong design, and narratives that resonate across industries.

Communicating With Authority — Pitching, Presence, and Narrative

Communication became a through-line of the entire program. Week after week, founders refined how they showed up in the room — from strengthening their presence and delivery to sharpening the story behind their product. Through workshops, reviews, and repeated pitch practice, their early drafts evolved into clear, confident narratives designed for U.S. audiences. The result wasn’t just better slides — it was founders who could speak about their work with precision, credibility, and genuine impact.

Go-To-Market Strategy Built Through Real Work, Not Theory

Go-to-market planning became one of the deepest parts of the program — not a single workshop, but a recurring thread that shaped almost every week. Through a mix of collaborative sessions, strategic conversations, and individual guidance, founders refined how they position their products, approach enterprise customers, think about pricing, and adapt to U.S. buyer behavior. By the end of the program, each team had a far more grounded, U.S.-ready view of how their technology reaches the right customers — and how real partnerships can form around it.

Community and Networks That Extend Beyond the Program

Some of the most meaningful moments happened far beyond the structured sessions. Over shared meals at the founder dinner hosted by Rho, conversations with U.S. VCs in intimate fireside settings, and dozens of curated meetings throughout the seven weeks, the cohort built the relationships that truly move an expansion journey forward. Mentors, supporters, potential partners — the people who turn advice into action and introductions into opportunity — became an essential part of the founders’ network, shaping the trajectory they’ll carry into the U.S. market long after the program wraps.

Demo Days and Showcases That Felt Like a Launch Moment

The program’s showcase events brought all the founders’ work into sharp focus. After seven weeks of building, refining, and adapting to the U.S. market, the cohort stepped onto stages across New York to present technologies that were not theoretical — they were already proven across Korea, the Middle East, and Asia.

Across two major showcase days — including the flagship KSC Global Showcase at Civic Hall — startups pitched to a curated audience of investors, corporates, accelerators, and policy leaders. These weren’t passive demo rooms; they were gathering points for organizations actively searching for deployable deeptech, cross-border partners, and the next wave of market-ready innovation.

Founders delivered sharpened IR pitches, met one-on-one with potential partners, and held follow-up conversations about pilots, joint ventures, and U.S. expansion plans. For many teams, this was the moment when months of preparation turned into concrete opportunities: new deals, new introductions, and new pathways into the American market.

The atmosphere felt less like an end of program and more like a beginning — a place where proven Korean deeptech met the investors and corporate leaders ready to help them scale.

Special Thanks to the Instructors, Mentors, and Partners Who Shaped the Journey

A significant part of the cohort’s progress came from the experts who shared their time, insight, and lived experience across the seven weeks. From legal and IP advisors to pitch coaches, sales strategists, designers, corporate leaders, and investors, the program’s depth was shaped by the people who showed up ready to teach, challenge, and support.

Your guidance helped founders sharpen their thinking, pressure-test their strategies, and understand the realities of building in the U.S. market. Many of the breakthroughs — the clarified value propositions, the elevated pitches, the sharper GTM plans — came directly from your workshops, 1:1 sessions, and honest conversations.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Benny Thomas (Meta), Paul Gonzalez (Alt-Black),  Drew Parten (Rho),  Dan Kim (Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP) John Specht (LARION),  Dmitrii Kosolapov, Ph.D. (ByteSage, In Pulse, Smartstorify), Amra Maynard (Ogilvy Health),  Jason T. (T-Mobile, PACTUM PARTNERS),  Toan Huynh (Morgan Stanley),  Ann Huynh (Getzler Henrich & Associates/ Hilco Global),  Ryan J. Piela (New Incubation Ventures), Michael Fainberg (ArentFox Schiff),  Cosimo Papandrea (J.P. Morgan),  Gene Murphy (J.P. Morgan),  Queenie Chen (J.P. Morgan),  Yoav Sisley (Balls Vodka),  Takako Hirata (TECH Tokyo),  Kenneth Watson (Arch Capital Ventures),  Aryuna Merdygeeva (Olhon Social Capital),  Jeff Stokvis (Morgan Stanley), Cortney Harding (Friends With Holograms), Kashif Siddiqui, CFA, Frank Yu (Bellator AI),  Sohail K., Andrew Ackerman (Second Century Ventures),  Benjamin Reiter (840 Venture Partners),  Hassan H. (Deloitte), Krisna Bhargava, PhD,  Ricardo Taveras (Holafly),  Jonathan Ching (Alpha Square Group),  Tiffany Loo, Digant B. Davé (Carbyne),  Brian Lew (Oceans),  Victoria Zavyalova (The Vertical). 

Meet the KSC Deeptech 2025 Fall Batch

Seoul Dynamics is transforming industrial automation with Tyranno, a modular robot that can take on multiple heavy-duty functions by swapping attachments. Already adopted by major Korean companies, the team is now targeting U.S. logistics and industrial operators.

Mofin built Quantmo.AI, an automated investment platform that analyzes markets in real time and executes trades autonomously. With partnerships across the U.S. and Asia and recognition at CES, the company is expanding both its retail and B2B offerings.

Movements Inc developed Digital Twin X, a real-time 3D digital-twin system for underground infrastructure. After deployments in Vietnam, the team is engaging with U.S. cities and utilities to support modern infrastructure planning and maintenance.

SLZ introduced ROUTi-AI, a tool that automates 3D routing inside complex factories — reducing engineering timelines from weeks to hours. Already used by Samsung, SLZ is expanding to Texas to work with U.S. manufacturers and chip fabs.

WEFLO builds AI-powered drone inspection pads that detect micro-level defects within seconds and without physical contact. The company is now scaling in the U.S. and UAE.

Morphing I created Morphing-BOT, an autonomous robot that inspects underground pipes using AI diagnostics. The company is entering North America to support utilities and smart-city developers focused on preventive maintenance.

PhyxUp Health offers an AI-enabled platform that supports physical therapy clinics through remote patient monitoring, automated insurance workflows, and predictive insights. With U.S. traction already established, the team is preparing for broader expansion.

Freshbell brings a collagen jelly stick — already sold in Costco, Amazon, and major retailers — to a wider U.S. audience. The company is strengthening its local operations to scale distribution across wellness-focused consumer segments.

Motioncare Company provides a rehabilitation system powered by motion sensors and real-time analytics to support recovery from injuries and surgeries. After adoption in Korea and Japan, the company is partnering with U.S. clinics and hospitals.

EXHealthcare Inc developed dermaFIT, a topical muscle-retention cream that supports natural miRNA activity — offering an alternative to supplement-based approaches. The company is expanding through U.S. fitness and wellness partnerships.

As this cohort moves on from New York, they carry more than new knowledge — they carry momentum. Seven weeks of conversations, feedback, and real-world exposure have sharpened their direction and strengthened their confidence in what’s possible. Their progress reflects the broader rise of Korean deeptech on the global stage, and the next steps they take — new pilots, new partnerships, new markets — will shape where these technologies go next. The road ahead is challenging, but this group has shown that with the right ecosystem behind them, expansion doesn’t just feel achievable. It feels inevitable.

Elpis Labs works with founders worldwide to navigate U.S. market entry. Preparing for your next phase?

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