# Tim Draper’s Global Startup Audition Debuts in South Korea The Meet The Drapers 2027 competition launches its first Korean preliminary round in Daejeon. - **Source:** [Dong-A Ilbo](https://www.donga.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-10 - **Topic:** [Finance](https://brifing.si/c/finance) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/a1ec28be-052f-4a4a-b274-453780e5c117 ## Global Pitching Event Arrival The renowned global startup audition Meet The Drapers 2027 is officially entering the South Korean market. Led by Silicon Valley venture capitalist Tim Draper, known for early investments in Tesla and SpaceX, the event aims to scout innovative startups. This marks the first time the competition holds a preliminary round within Korea. ## Deep Tech Focus The inaugural Korean stage specifically targets deep-tech startups originating from universities and government-funded research institutes. These ventures represent the core of Korea's technological innovation ecosystem. By focusing on research-based startups, the event seeks to bridge the gap between academic laboratory breakthroughs and successful commercialization in the highly competitive global venture capital market. ## Event Logistics and Timing Draper Korea, led by CEO Lee Se-yong, scheduled the first preliminary round for November 13 at the Daejeon Convention Center. This event will take place as a special NEST preliminary session during the 2026 Korea Deep Tech Commercialization Festival. The integration allows startups to showcase their potential before both local and international investors. ## Unique Audition Format Since its inception in 2017, Meet The Drapers has utilized a distinct TV audition format. This model combines professional investor scrutiny with real-time viewer voting to determine the winners. The process has successfully engaged audiences while providing startups with significant visibility, having featured over 320 companies across 66 different cities worldwide. ## Substantial Prize Incentives The competition offers significant financial rewards to the top-performing startups each season. The first-place winner receives a prize of 1 million dollars, which is approximately 1.33 billion Korean won. Second and third-place winners also receive recognition, providing essential capital and global networking opportunities for early-stage companies aiming to scale their operations internationally. ## Investor Background Influence Tim Draper’s involvement brings significant prestige to the Korean startup scene. As a veteran investor in companies like Coinbase, his participation signals a strong interest in the region's technological capabilities. His track record of identifying disruptive companies provides a unique validation platform for Korean entrepreneurs looking to attract global venture capital interest. ## Strategic Regional Importance Holding the event in Daejeon is strategic, as the city serves as a primary hub for Korea's research and development activities. By hosting the audition alongside the Deep Tech Commercialization Festival, the organizers are maximizing exposure for local firms. This alignment strengthens the connection between regional research hubs and global investment networks. ## Future Market Impact The expansion of Meet The Drapers into Korea highlights the growing global appetite for Korean deep-tech innovation. By providing a structured path for funding and international exposure, the initiative could accelerate the growth of domestic startups. Observers will monitor how these companies perform against international peers in the upcoming global rounds. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.donga.com/news/It/article/all/20261110/135002487/1 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._