RealDesignTech Presents Its Growth Vision at COEX Investment Demo Day
By Shaun Cheon
On April 12, RealDesignTech took the stage at COEX in Seoul to present Ultiracer and our plans for growth to an audience of venture capital and angel investors. We were one of eight startups selected for the Investment Scale-UP Program Demo Day, hosted by the Ulsan Economic Promotion Agency (UEPA) for companies supported through its 2021 Startup Leap Package program (Park, 2022).
A program built to get startups investor-ready
The Investment Scale-UP Program is open to startups that received support under the 2021 Startup Leap Package (창업도약패키지). Companies that applied went through a document review and a final review. Those selected then received a full round of preparation: a company analysis, IR mentoring, pitch coaching, an IR video and design support. Only after that preparation did they earn a place at the demo day (Park, 2022).
UEPA has run the Startup Leap Package as a lead agency since 2017 and has supported 277 companies over five years (Park, 2022). For a young hardware company, a structured program like this is a valuable chance to sharpen how we explain what we build and where we are going.
Eight startups, one sports company
The eight companies came from a wide range of fields: data, networking, artificial intelligence, bio, sports and the environment. RealDesignTech, then led by co-CEOs including Joongsik Lee, was the line-up's representative in sports (Park, 2022).
About 35 investors, including venture capital firms and angel investors, joined online and in person. They heard each company's IR pitch with a view to reviewing follow-up investment in the startups that interested them. UEPA director Kim Yeon-min said he hoped the participating companies would use the opportunity to strengthen their capabilities, maximize their value and go on to attract investment, and he pledged continued support for promising startups (Park, 2022).
What we brought to COEX
Our message was the same one that has driven us from the start: indoor cycling should feel like real cycling. Ultiracer lets riders mount an actual bicycle on a frame that keeps them from tipping over while still letting them lean and steer, so a ride indoors feels closer to the open road. We used our time on stage to show investors where that idea has come from and how we plan to grow it.
The demo day is not an award and not an investment in itself. It is an introduction: a room of investors hearing our story at the same moment. That makes it a different kind of milestone from our win at D.DAY last year, and an important next step on the road that began with a bicycle accident and the resolve to ride again.
We thank the Ulsan Economic Promotion Agency, the mentors who helped us prepare, and every investor who took the time to listen. If you would like to learn more about Ultiracer, get in touch with us.
References
- Park, J. (2022, April 13). 울산경제진흥원, '투자 Scale-UP 프로그램 데모데이' 성료 [Ulsan Economic Promotion Agency successfully holds Investment Scale-UP Program Demo Day]. Korea Economic TV. https://www.wowtv.co.kr/NewsCenter/News/Read?articleId=A202204130236