Connecting Korean Innovation with Boston’s Global Startup & Investment Ecosystem
Join leading investors, founders, biotech experts, and innovators from Korea and Boston for an evening of cross-border collaboration, startup networking, and global innovation exchange. Hosted as part of Venture Café Cambridge Thursday Gathering, this special program is designed to connect promising Korean deep tech and biotech startups with Boston’s world-class startup, investment, and research ecosystem.
The event will feature VC-led panel discussions on biotech exits, cross-border investment strategies, founder experiences, AI innovation showcases, startup networking, and interactive Skillthon presentations. Participants will have opportunities to engage directly with venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, biotech leaders, and innovation ecosystem experts from both Korea and the Greater Boston area.
Co-organized by: Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Boston, Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), Korea Technology and Information Promotion Agency for SMEs (TIPA), Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT), and Seoul National University Hospital.
Featured Korean Startups & Companies
Portrai: Portrai is an AI-powered spatial biology company developing next-generation drug discovery platforms through spatial transcriptomics and advanced data analytics. The company integrates AI with spatial biology to uncover new therapeutic insights and accelerate precision medicine innovation.
Space LiinTech: Space LiinTech is a pioneering space biopharma company building microgravity-based drug research platforms for in-orbit pharmaceutical R&D. By combining biotechnology and space infrastructure, the company is expanding new frontiers for drug discovery and space medicine innovation.
PROTEINA: PROTEINA is a leading biotech company specializing in single-molecule protein interaction analysis for precision therapeutics and AI-driven drug discovery. Its proprietary SPID platform enables ultra-high-resolution protein-protein interaction analysis to support next-generation antibody and biomarker development.
Txinno Bioscience: Txinno Bioscience is a biotech company developing small molecule and TPD to treat cancers. Txinno’s flagship pipeline, TXN10128 (ENPP1 inhibitor, Ph1), has demonstrated clinical PoC as the combo partner for chemo/ADC as the essential immune remodeler that improves DoR. Txinno has also advanced its preclinical pipeline, TXN12923, the first ULK1 PROTAC that suppresses autophagy-mediated
resistance to RAS-targeted treatments.
MedimabBio: MedimabBio is a biotech startup developing innovative antibody-based therapeutics and precision medicine solutions targeting unmet medical needs. The company focuses on advancing novel biologics and translational research to improve patient outcomes in complex diseases.
Elisigen: Elisigen is a biotechnology company developing next-generation gene and cell therapy platforms for precision healthcare innovation. The company is focused on translating cutting-edge biomedical research into scalable therapeutic solutions for global healthcare markets.
The backbone of Venture Café – come meet the community and make connections with all different kinds of innovators. How will you make your serendipitous moment come true?
This panel explores how biotech startups can successfully prepare for acquisitions, IPOs, and strategic partnerships in today’s rapidly evolving life sciences market. Investors and biotech operators will share practical insights on fundraising, business development, scaling biotech companies, and building long-term exit strategies.
- Moderator: Seo Lee | SV Investment, US
- Arjun Goyal – Boston-based investor with experience related to the Centessa–Eli Lilly transaction; Harvard Business School alumnus.
This session will explore how cross-border venture capital partnerships can accelerate biotech innovation, commercialization, and global market expansion. Through real portfolio case studies and investment experiences from Europe and Canada, panelists will discuss how international VC networks can provide strategic value beyond capital — including business development, clinical partnerships, operational guidance, talent networks, and access to global healthcare ecosystems.
The discussion will also highlight how cross-border investors can leverage Boston’s globally recognized research and innovation ecosystem — including Harvard University, MIT, Mass General Brigham, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and the Broad Institute — to support biotech startup growth and translational innovation. Panelists will share insights on how international collaboration and venture partnerships can help bridge scientific discovery with commercialization opportunities in the global biotech market
- Moderator: Debra Peattie | SV Investment, US
- Olivier Belenger | Seido Capital – Venture capital leader with 30+ years of investment experience.
- Ser-Chen Fu, MD | Pacific 8 Ventures – Healthcare and biotech investor specializing in US–Asia cross-border innovation.
An open conversation with Korean founders and entrepreneurs building startups in the Boston innovation ecosystem. Speakers will share personal startup journeys, challenges entering the U.S. market, fundraising experiences, and lessons learned while building global companies.
- Moderator: Singyoung Jung | CEO, Intek Scientific, Inc. - Entrepreneur and startup leader supporting
innovation and scientific collaboration in the Boston ecosystem. - Jingook Choi | CSO, Elisigen - A strategic R&D leader and former Scientific Director at Biogen, currently driving innovation in genetic therapies for rare diseases as the Chief Strategy Officer at Elisigen.
- Myeongchan Kim | CEO & Co-founder, MoDoc AI, Inc. - A visionary physician-entrepreneur bridging medical expertise and AI technology to redefine pediatric digital healthcare through data-driven solutions like FeverCoach and MoDoc.
- Kiyoun (Keon) Jung | Co-founder & CEO, EON.Health - Healthcare entrepreneur and innovation leader focused on AI-driven digital health and healthcare ecosystem collaboration.
A live AI innovation showcase featuring participating teams presenting AI agent-based solutions developed during the Skillthon program. Teams will pitch their ideas before judges, investors, founders, and industry experts, followed by an awards ceremony recognizing creativity, innovation, and rapid execution.
The Skillthon program will feature problem-solving and startup pitches across multiple innovation tracks, including Physical AI, Healthcare & Biotech, Deep Tech Innovation, and Open Track challenges. Participating teams will demonstrate how AI agents and emerging technologies can be applied to real-world industry problems, scientific research, and future business opportunities.
- 12 participating AI innovation teams
- AI innovation tracks: Physical AI, Healthcare & Biotech, Deep Tech Innovation, Open Track
- Live pitches, judging session, and awards ceremony
Join us back in the Venture Café space after an evening of incredible programming as we close out the night with celebration and community. We’ll kick off with a raffle giveaway featuring exciting prizes, including AirPods and other surprise items, designed to thank attendees for their participation and energy throughout the event. Immediately following the raffle, we’ll host the Skillthon Award Ceremony, recognizing the teams who have been working throughout the night and celebrating their creativity, collaboration, and accomplishments. This final gathering is a chance to come together, reflect on the work of the evening, and close out the program on a high note before the event concludes by 8:00 PM.
Connecting Korean Innovation with Boston’s Global Startup & Investment Ecosystem
Join leading investors, founders, biotech experts, and innovators from Korea and Boston for an evening of cross-border collaboration, startup networking, and global innovation exchange. Hosted as part of Venture Café Cambridge Thursday Gathering, this special program is designed to connect promising Korean deep tech and biotech startups with Boston’s world-class startup, investment, and research ecosystem.
The event will feature VC-led panel discussions on biotech exits, cross-border investment strategies, founder experiences, AI innovation showcases, startup networking, and interactive Skillthon presentations. Participants will have opportunities to engage directly with venture capitalists, entrepreneurs, biotech leaders, and innovation ecosystem experts from both Korea and the Greater Boston area.
Co-organized by: Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Boston, Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), Korea Technology and Information Promotion Agency for SMEs (TIPA), Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT), and Seoul National University Hospital.
Featured Korean Startups & Companies
Portrai: Portrai is an AI-powered spatial biology company developing next-generation drug discovery platforms through spatial transcriptomics and advanced data analytics. The company integrates AI with spatial biology to uncover new therapeutic insights and accelerate precision medicine innovation.
Space LiinTech: Space LiinTech is a pioneering space biopharma company building microgravity-based drug research platforms for in-orbit pharmaceutical R&D. By combining biotechnology and space infrastructure, the company is expanding new frontiers for drug discovery and space medicine innovation.
PROTEINA: PROTEINA is a leading biotech company specializing in single-molecule protein interaction analysis for precision therapeutics and AI-driven drug discovery. Its proprietary SPID platform enables ultra-high-resolution protein-protein interaction analysis to support next-generation antibody and biomarker development.
Txinno Bioscience: Txinno Bioscience is a biotech company developing small molecule and TPD to treat cancers. Txinno’s flagship pipeline, TXN10128 (ENPP1 inhibitor, Ph1), has demonstrated clinical PoC as the combo partner for chemo/ADC as the essential immune remodeler that improves DoR. Txinno has also advanced its preclinical pipeline, TXN12923, the first ULK1 PROTAC that suppresses autophagy-mediated
resistance to RAS-targeted treatments.
MedimabBio: MedimabBio is a biotech startup developing innovative antibody-based therapeutics and precision medicine solutions targeting unmet medical needs. The company focuses on advancing novel biologics and translational research to improve patient outcomes in complex diseases.
Elisigen: Elisigen is a biotechnology company developing next-generation gene and cell therapy platforms for precision healthcare innovation. The company is focused on translating cutting-edge biomedical research into scalable therapeutic solutions for global healthcare markets.
The backbone of Venture Café – come meet the community and make connections with all different kinds of innovators. How will you make your serendipitous moment come true?
This panel explores how biotech startups can successfully prepare for acquisitions, IPOs, and strategic partnerships in today’s rapidly evolving life sciences market. Investors and biotech operators will share practical insights on fundraising, business development, scaling biotech companies, and building long-term exit strategies.
- Moderator: Seo Lee | SV Investment, US
- Arjun Goyal – Boston-based investor with experience related to the Centessa–Eli Lilly transaction; Harvard Business School alumnus.
This session will explore how cross-border venture capital partnerships can accelerate biotech innovation, commercialization, and global market expansion. Through real portfolio case studies and investment experiences from Europe and Canada, panelists will discuss how international VC networks can provide strategic value beyond capital — including business development, clinical partnerships, operational guidance, talent networks, and access to global healthcare ecosystems.
The discussion will also highlight how cross-border investors can leverage Boston’s globally recognized research and innovation ecosystem — including Harvard University, MIT, Mass General Brigham, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and the Broad Institute — to support biotech startup growth and translational innovation. Panelists will share insights on how international collaboration and venture partnerships can help bridge scientific discovery with commercialization opportunities in the global biotech market
- Moderator: Debra Peattie | SV Investment, US
- Olivier Belenger | Seido Capital – Venture capital leader with 30+ years of investment experience.
- Ser-Chen Fu, MD | Pacific 8 Ventures – Healthcare and biotech investor specializing in US–Asia cross-border innovation.
An open conversation with Korean founders and entrepreneurs building startups in the Boston innovation ecosystem. Speakers will share personal startup journeys, challenges entering the U.S. market, fundraising experiences, and lessons learned while building global companies.
- Moderator: Singyoung Jung | CEO, Intek Scientific, Inc. - Entrepreneur and startup leader supporting
innovation and scientific collaboration in the Boston ecosystem. - Jingook Choi | CSO, Elisigen - A strategic R&D leader and former Scientific Director at Biogen, currently driving innovation in genetic therapies for rare diseases as the Chief Strategy Officer at Elisigen.
- Myeongchan Kim | CEO & Co-founder, MoDoc AI, Inc. - A visionary physician-entrepreneur bridging medical expertise and AI technology to redefine pediatric digital healthcare through data-driven solutions like FeverCoach and MoDoc.
- Kiyoun (Keon) Jung | Co-founder & CEO, EON.Health - Healthcare entrepreneur and innovation leader focused on AI-driven digital health and healthcare ecosystem collaboration.
A live AI innovation showcase featuring participating teams presenting AI agent-based solutions developed during the Skillthon program. Teams will pitch their ideas before judges, investors, founders, and industry experts, followed by an awards ceremony recognizing creativity, innovation, and rapid execution.
The Skillthon program will feature problem-solving and startup pitches across multiple innovation tracks, including Physical AI, Healthcare & Biotech, Deep Tech Innovation, and Open Track challenges. Participating teams will demonstrate how AI agents and emerging technologies can be applied to real-world industry problems, scientific research, and future business opportunities.
- 12 participating AI innovation teams
- AI innovation tracks: Physical AI, Healthcare & Biotech, Deep Tech Innovation, Open Track
- Live pitches, judging session, and awards ceremony
Join us back in the Venture Café space after an evening of incredible programming as we close out the night with celebration and community. We’ll kick off with a raffle giveaway featuring exciting prizes, including AirPods and other surprise items, designed to thank attendees for their participation and energy throughout the event. Immediately following the raffle, we’ll host the Skillthon Award Ceremony, recognizing the teams who have been working throughout the night and celebrating their creativity, collaboration, and accomplishments. This final gathering is a chance to come together, reflect on the work of the evening, and close out the program on a high note before the event concludes by 8:00 PM.