beLAUNCH 2014 is shaping up to be everything we have promised, NE Asia's foremost tech startup and entrepreneurship event. This post highlights some of the themes you can expect from the event, and don't forget to book your early bird tickets before the end of March for the best prices Click here.

Tech Trends: This year beLAUNCH will be tackling some of the hottest themes in tech. It has been seven years since the release of the first iPhone and we aim to uncover some of the global tech mega-trends of the next seven years. These include: The Internet of Things, Wearable Tech, Virtual Reality, Bitcoin and Virtual Currencies, Smart Cars & Smart Home, Robotics, 3D Printing & Crowd Sourced manufacturing

Going Global: Asian startups have struggled in the past to gain global recognition. beLAUNCH has emerged as one of the key channels between East and West that facilitates cross-border deal flow of investment as well as helping Asian startups get discovered beyond their domestic borders. We are already in discussion with seven countries around the globe (Thailand, Singapore, UK, Switzerland, Taiwan, Japan, & Israel) who aim to bring their local startups to our global forum in order to help them gain exposure and to forge business deals.

check out the teaser video from beLAUNCH2013

Connecting East & West: While Silicon Valley has built a powerful legacy that other startup hubs around the world aim to emulate, we are confident that in the next few years a number of high profile startups will emerge from the APAC region and we want them to be discovered at our event in Seoul. With this in mind we aim to foster much stronger ties between Asian startups and overseas markets, investors, and support systems, in order to accelerate this process.

Maturing Startup Ecosystem in Asia: Venture Capital in Korea / Asia is still in the process of maturing. While there is no lack of funding in most Asian countries, investors have little experience due to the new market conditions that support entrepreneurship. With closer cooperation between East and West we can create a win-win situation whereby startups are given more effective support and investors are able to achieve higher returns on investment. Many overseas VCs (Formation 8, Softbank, DEV (Digital Entertainment Ventures), Google Ventures, 500 Startups, Cyber Agent Ventures, Global Brain, Qualcomm, etc) have already seen the potential in Asia and have established local offices, but there is plenty of room for other global VCs to engage successfully .

To Book Your Early Bird Tickets Click here

M&A: While Samsung has enjoyed incredible global success, it is disengaged from the Korean startup ecosystem. Samsung has invested in Silicon Valley, but not Korean entrepreneurship. This presents overseas tech conglomerates with a window into Korea which is beginning to produce some great technology and targets for acquisition. beLAUNCH presents a platform within which global tech conglomerates can discover up and coming startups and mold them for global success, while building out their own capabilities.

The Next 7 years: It has been seven years since the release of the iPhone. This year beLAUNCH will uncover some of the key themes in technology and entrepreneurship that are making waves in the global tech community, while looking forward to suggest what will be shaping our digital future, from the perspective of entrepreneurship.

Government & Startups: Much has been made of the Korean government’s involvement with startups over the past year, since President Park was elected. Her administration aims to transform the Korean economy to embrace innovation and entrepreneurship. As a part of her plan was $3Bn worth of investment into the innovation economy, spearheaded by support for startups and new technology. While some feel that the government’s drive has had some negative impact, it has seen huge success in terms of branding Korea as a startup nation in waiting, and has served to legitimize entrepreneurship as a career choice for young Korean’s.

Key Facts:

• Dates: May 14 - 15, 2014
• Location: Dongdaemun Design Plaza, Seoul
• Attendees: 3,000+
• Top tech / Entrepreneurship Speakers: 50+ from across the world
• Startup Booths: 100+
• Corporate Booths: 15 - 20
• Startup Battle: 20 startups showcasing
• VIP Party / Corporate introductions / After Party / Much More
• Early Bird tickets: Click here
• YouTube: beLAUNCH2013, beLAUNCH_Palo_Alto_2013
• Key contact: Nathan Millard, Global Director (nathan@besuccess.com)

Abouth beLAUNCH: beLAUNCH is one of Asia's biggest annual events for the tech and entrepreneurship ecosystem, hosted by beSUCCESS, Korea's top tech startup media. In 2014, the event will be accommodated in the brand new Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, a futuristic conference venue that suitably captures the mood of excitement and growth in the domestic entrepreneurship ecosystem. We expect over 3,000 entrepreneurs, investors, media personalities and tech luminaries to join us for this momentous festival of tech and entrepreneurship, for startups, by a startup. As well as tech and startups, come and experience the vibrant city of Seoul and sample the local culture that is infiltrating the global consciousness, and share a few 'sojus' with the local startup movers and shakers.

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