[Suwan News = Reporter Yoon Si-young]

Breaking away from the traditional pattern where most major startup conferences are concentrated in Seoul and the greater Seoul area, the first-ever startup conference for teenagers and young adults was held in Daejeon to provide young people in regional areas with tangible startup opportunities and a platform for networking.

On August 17, 2026, Baekam Hall—the auditorium at Daejeon Daesin High School—was ablaze with the passion of young entrepreneurs, making it feel much hotter than the sweltering heat outside. The “2026 Bonrip Dosung BIZCOOL Conference,” hosted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea Startup Promotion Agency, and co-organized by the Korea Foundation for Technology Entrepreneurship (KFTE), Daejeon Daesin High School, Cheonan Jeil High School, and Tetrapod, was held to great success. This event held particular significance as it expanded opportunities for startup events—which had previously been concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area—to Daejeon, thereby fostering a culture of entrepreneurship among local teenagers and young adults.

"The Path Lies in Thinking Outside the Box" — Words of Encouragement from Cho Woong-rae, Chairman of Shenyang Soju

Held under the slogan “When the Foundation Is Established, the Path Emerges,” this conference kicked off with a keynote speech by Cho Woong-rae, Chairman of Seonyang Soju Co., Ltd. Chairman Cho candidly shared his personal journey of consecutive failures and successes—from music services during the pager era to early voice and music-related businesses for mobile phones—and offered vivid, relatable advice tailored to the perspective of teenagers and young adults.

Chairman Cho also said, “When running a business, the surrounding environment and technology are constantly changing, and businesses sometimes fail. However, rather than standing still because of failure, if you take it in stride, get back up, rethink your approach, and constantly come up with new ideas, you will eventually build up your own assets and capabilities.” With this message—“Don’t be afraid of failure; keep challenging yourself with unconventional thinking”—he deeply inspired and encouraged the teenagers and young adults in attendance.

Next, representatives from innovative companies and startups—including Lee Seung-woo, CEO of 119REO, and Kang Hyo-heon, CEO of Create Crew—took the stage as special speakers. They kept the event’s energy high by sharing insights on their experiences in the startup world, creating social value, and life lessons.

Sparkling Presentations by 8 High School Teams

The highlight of the day’s event was the final round of presentations by the eight high school teams that had advanced through the preliminaries. The participating teams showcased their own unique business models on a variety of topics, including environmental issues, everyday inconveniences, and AI-based services. The excitement at the presentation venue rivaled that of a competition for established entrepreneurs, and the judges and audience responded to the students’ innovative ideas with generous applause and incisive Q&A sessions.

After a fierce competition decided by a combination of 60% judge evaluations and 40% audience votes, the Grand Prize was awarded to the “Catch Wasp Team” from Gongju Hanil High School for their project titled “for bee / Intelligent Wasp Trap for Selective Wasp Control (An Eco-Friendly Revenue Model for Beekeepers That Fills Gaps in Pest Control)’—presented by the “Catch Wasp Team” from Gongju Hanil High School—was awarded the Grand Prize. By proposing an efficient and eco-friendly wasp control solution utilizing an intelligent trap, the team received high marks from both the judges and the audience for both technical excellence and market potential.

A Strong Support System for Youth Tech Startups: The Korea Foundation for Technology Entrepreneurship (KFTE)

The Korea Foundation for Technology Entrepreneurship (KFTE), which co-hosted this event, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to intensively nurturing early-stage and young entrepreneurs with technical expertise. At the conference, the foundation introduced its comprehensive support system and track record of success, which includes technical mentoring, prototype development assistance, and investment matching, to help teenage and young startup teams refine their ideas and turn them into actual businesses. Chairman Yoon Seong-yong expressed his strong commitment to support at the event, stating, “We will continue to host events like the Bonrip Dosung Conference and do our utmost to discover and nurture young entrepreneurs with dreams.”

Transcending Regional Boundaries, Dreaming of a "Korean Version of Slush"

Breaking away from the traditional event format centered on the Seoul metropolitan area, the “2026 Bonrip Dosang BIZCOOL Conference”—which made its debut in Daejeon—served as a dynamic networking venue where high school and college students, aspiring entrepreneurs, and representatives from various organizations came together to exchange ideas.

This was reminiscent of “Slush,” a global startup event that Finnish college students helped grow into a major global event. Just as Finland’s Slush—a massive festival led by college student volunteers that connects startups with investors—has established itself, we hope that the “Bonrip Dosung Conference,” which began in Daejeon, will also transcend regional boundaries and evolve into a unique Korean startup ecosystem platform led by teenagers and young adults.