8 July 2026, Seoul – ‘Global ImpactPreneur’, the Asia-Pacific impact start-up accelerator programme co-hosted by the UNDP Seoul Policy Centre (Director Anne Juepner) and Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation (Chairman Chung Moosung) and implemented by Impact Square (CEO Doh Hyun-myung), concluded its three-month journey with a networking event and Demo Day held on 6 and 7 July at ONDREAM SOCIETY in Myeong-dong, Seoul.

Since its launch in March, the programme received applications from 126 start-ups across 23 countries from the Asia-Pacific region. Following a rigorous review, 20 teams were selected in April to participate in a three-month online acceleration programme. Through an online pitch evaluation in June, 10 companies from five countries were selected for a final pitch on stage in Seoul.

The 10 teams included Arummi Foods (Indonesia), DEAFNURI Inc. (Republic of Korea), Elevarm (Indonesia), Global Cerah (Malaysia), iGENETECH Inc. (Republic of Korea), Nicha Carbon Capture Co., Ltd. (Thailand), NUSEUM Inc. (Republic of Korea), Seoul Labs Co., Ltd. (Republic of Korea), Stratetics Experts Sdn Bhd (Malaysia), and SUDrain Co., Ltd. (Cambodia). The companies presented solutions directly linked to the SDGs, including climate action, the circular economy, healthcare, and digital inclusion.

The Demo Day opened with reflections on the growth achieved by entrepreneurs across the Asia-Pacific region over the past three months. Anne Juepner, Director of the UNDP Seoul Policy Centre, and Choi Jae-ho, Secretary General of the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation, delivered messages of support to the 10 companies working to address social challenges across borders. The companies took the stage one by one to present and validate their solutions before investors and partner organizations, followed by booth exhibitions that enabled more in-depth discussions.

Prior to the Demo Day, a networking event brought together around 50 participants, including the 10 finalist companies, Korean entrepreneurs from the UNDP-Impact Square organized ‘SDG Sprint’, alumni entrepreneurs from the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation’s ‘CMK Impact Runner’ programme, and representatives from venture capital firms and accelerators. Designed as a peer mentoring session, the event brought together emerging impact start-ups from the Asia-Pacific region and experienced Korean social innovators to exchange candid insights on their entrepreneurial journeys and current challenges. Participants shared practical concerns and solutions across countries and sectors.

The final evaluation was conducted by six experts in impact investment and development cooperation: Anne Juepner, Director of the UNDP Seoul Policy Centre; Choi Jae-ho, Secretary General of the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation; Doh Hyun-myung, CEO of Impact Square; Kim Chul-hwan, Representative of CVC Capital Partners; Na Young-joo, Director of Korelya Capital; and Lee Jun-hee, Center Head at Barun Law LLC . The awards consisted of the Grand Award, presented by the UNDP Seoul Policy Centre; the Excellence Award, presented by the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation; and the CVC Innovation Award, presented by CVC Capital Partners.

The Grand Award went to ▲ SUDrain, a company that addresses water pollution and public health challenges through decentralized wastewater treatment using coconut fiber-based biofilm filtration technology. The Excellence Award was presented to ▲ Arummi Foods, expanding food access for lactose-intolerant consumers and supports smallholder income through a cashew-based plant milk brand. The CVC Innovation Award was awarded to ▲ DEAFNURI, a company that aims to enhance travel independence for deaf and hard-of-hearing people and creates economic opportunities through a sign language-based accessible tourism platform, and ▲ Seoul Labs, a company working to expand access to formal finance and public services for underserved groups through SuperWallet, an AI and blockchain-based digital identity platform.

One of the participating startup representatives stated, “The advice we received from senior entrepreneurs during the networking event was a great source of strength for our pitch on stage today. It was meaningful to stand on the same stage with peers from different countries who have been addressing similar social challenges, and to directly validate our solution before investors and partner organizations.”

“Impact start-ups are important innovation actors in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals,” said Anne Juepner, Director of the UNDP Seoul Policy Centre. “This programme provided an opportunity for entrepreneurs across the Asia-Pacific region to share their challenges and solutions, and to build a foundation for collaboration to scale social impact.” She added, “UNDP will continue to support the wider dissemination of innovative solutions to more communities through partnerships with the private sector.”

John Choi, Secretary General of the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation, said, “The Foundation will continue to build a solid platform for future generations and innovators to grow on a broader stage, rooted in Honorary Chairman Chung Mong-Koo’s spirit of challenge and entrepreneurship.”

‘Global ImpactPreneur’ is a programme co-hosted by the UNDP Seoul Policy Centre and the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation and implemented by Impact Square, contributing to the growth of the impact start-up ecosystem in the Asia-Pacific region. The organizers will continue to work with international partners to support young people in leading social change.

About UNDP Seoul Policy Centre (https://www.undp.org/policy-centre/seoul)

UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and planet. UNDP Seoul Policy Centre (USPC) is a facilitator of innovative development cooperation to catalyse the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

About Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation (https://www.hyundai-cmkfoundation.org/)

The Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation is a social innovation foundation that contributes to nurturing creative future talent and building a sustainable social innovation ecosystem, grounded in the entrepreneurship and philanthropic philosophy of its founder and Honorary Chairman, Chung Mong-Koo. Since its establishment in 2007, the Foundation has worked to address social challenges through innovation and bold initiatives in the fields of culture, welfare, healthcare, and education, and continues to implement diverse programmes to enhance the sustainability and advancement of the broader ecosystem.

About Impact Square (www.impactsquare.com)

Impact Square (CEO Doh Hyun-myung) is an impact business-focused accelerator and impact investment firm established in 2010. Guided by its mission to “enable more people to engage with impact businesses,” the company supports a virtuous cycle between social value and business competitiveness through impact acceleration, corporate ESG consulting, and impact investment.