Promising startups in the Daejeon region have set out to target the Central Asian market by directly connecting with Mongolia's key distribution and investment networks. The Daejeon Center for Creative Economy Innovation announced that it held 'SIW in Mongolia' at the Central Tower in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on the 18th to support local startups in entering the global market.

This event was co-hosted by the Daejeon Innovation Center, the UNIDO ITPO (United Nations Industrial Development Organization Korea Investment Promotion Office), the Mongolian Science Park Authority, and InnoHub. Sixteen competitive startups from the Daejeon region in the fields of K-Beauty, K-Food, Healthcare, and Biotech participated to explore the possibility of entering local distribution networks.

Establishing a platform for direct transactions with key Mongolian distribution networks and investors

The event was attended by representatives from major local distribution companies and investment institutions, including Monos Group, Mongolia's largest bio and distribution company, the Mongolian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gund Investment, and Digital Concept, the operator of GS25 Mongolia. A buyer matching program involving Monos Group, hypermarkets, and convenience store buyers was held on-site. Participating companies directly introduced their products and technologies and discussed sales strategies tailored to the local distribution structure as well as the possibility of store entry.

Microbiome-based instant rice, room-temperature HMR tteokbokki, functional cosmetics, and bio-material products for gum and scalp care received significant interest from local buyers. Consultations went beyond simple introductions and proceeded with the premise of actual distribution entry, increasing the potential for commercialization.

Major Mongolian accelerators, including InnoHub, Socratus Startup Studio, and IT Park, participated in the Korea-Mongolia Startup Exchange held alongside the event to explore opportunities for technological cooperation and joint business ventures.

On the same day, the Daejeon Innovation Center also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Mongolian National Information Technology Park (IT Park) to cooperate on startup global expansion and the startup ecosystem. Both organizations plan to expand cooperation in various fields, including startup exchanges, joint program operations, investment linkages, and support for overseas market entry.

Park Dae-hee, CEO of the Daejeon Innovation Center, said, “Demand for Korean cosmetics, food, and health functional foods is rapidly increasing in the Mongolian market,” adding, “I hope this event will serve as a practical business platform that connects Daejeon startups directly with local distributors.”

Published Date:2026-06-23