22 Korean Content Startups Secure 10 MOUs and 515 Consultations at US Expansion Events

South Korean content startups are accelerating their push into the North American market, securing hundreds of business consultations and multiple partnership agreements during recent visits to major technology and entertainment hubs in the United States. According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Creative Content Agency (KOCCA), 22 domestic content startups participated in high-profile events across Las Vegas and Los Angeles earlier this month to connect with international buyers and investors.

The delegation’s outreach spanned from the “Ai4” artificial intelligence conference in Nevada to dedicated acceleration programs in Hollywood. Officials reported that the participating firms engaged in a combined 515 business consultations and successfully finalized 10 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) during the overseas mission.

Artificial Intelligence Innovation Takes Center Stage in Las Vegas

From March 4 to 6, a contingent of 10 South Korean startups exhibited their capabilities at the Ai4 conference in Las Vegas, a major North American artificial intelligence gathering that drew more than 470 exhibiting companies from 100 countries and over 12,000 attendees. Operating under a dedicated South Korean pavilion managed by KOCCA, the participating firms—including New Branch Contentory, Ludens, Lima Entertainment, Beam Studio, Sweet & Data, Skywalk, Aipen, Elva, Even ENT, and Find—showcased their technologies across 379 individual business meetings.

Several firms converted these interactions into formal commercial agreements. New Branch Contentory signed artificial intelligence video production and collaboration MOUs with partners such as Micro Stock Solution, AI x Venus, and Pocket FM. Simultaneously, Lima Entertainment forged global market expansion agreements with international entities including Consultier and 411 Music Group.

Hollywood Accelerator Connects Studios With South Korean Founders

Following the Las Vegas exhibition, attention shifted to Los Angeles from March 5 to 7, where 12 additional startups took part in the “2026 U.S. Launchpad” acceleration program. Designed to facilitate localized investment and networking through live demonstrations, the initiative paired companies such as Retitu, Minimap, Versewalk, Studio Metak, Something Special, E오콘텐츠그룹 (EO Content Group), Junkycream, Kokoji, Crosshub, Tago, Tinker, and High Stranger with local investment firms and production houses for 136 one-on-one consultations.

As part of the program’s industry immersion schedule, the visiting founders toured major entertainment infrastructure, including Netflix facilities and prominent visual effects (VFX) studio The Third Floor, to explore cross-border technical and creative collaborations.

Evaluating Global Business Viability

Koo Kyung-bon, head of the Content Infrastructure Division at KOCCA, emphasized the critical importance of face-to-face validation in overseas territories. “As the convergence of artificial intelligence technology and content rapidly expands, it is crucial for domestic content startups to directly meet local investors and buyers to verify their business viability,” Koo stated. He added that the agency plans to maintain institutional backing to ensure South Korean enterprises secure tangible commercial outcomes in the United States and other key international markets.