![[TechSnap] Kakao holds ‘Kakao Business Fair 2026’ to help small business owners](/api/img?u=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.yna.co.kr%2Fphoto%2Fcms%2F2023%2F12%2F21%2F23%2FPCM20231221000323017_P2.jpg&w=1200&q=72&f=webp)
[TechSnap] Kakao holds ‘Kakao Business Fair 2026’ to help small business owners
Kakao Pay Donation Marathon surpasses 30 billion steps, AI Sail 2nd round finals completed
Quick Look
- Kakao will hold the 'Kakao Business Fair 2026' for small business owners and small brands at COEX in Seoul for two days starting December 13th.
- The Kakao Pay donation marathon campaign exceeded 30 billion steps and confirmed 1 billion won in donations, and Kakao Investment completed the final round of the 'AI Sail Settlement 2nd Stage', an AI startup support project of the four major science and technology institutes.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Kakao holds an annual business fair to support the growth of small business owners and small brands, and Kakao Pay is conducting a donation marathon campaign in collaboration with singer Sean. Kakao Investment is working with the four major science and technology institutes to support AI technology commercialization startups.
Kakao [035720] announced on the 12th that it will hold 'Kakao Business Fair 2026' at COEX in Seoul for two days starting December 13th to support the growth of partners such as small business owners and small brands.
Participants can experience a variety of business services such as Canana Counseling Manager, KakaoTalk Channel, and Talk Deal, and receive consultation on opening and operating a store. In addition to invited lectures by author Song Gil-young and KAIST professor Kim Dae-sik, a track session for practitioners, and the 'Kakao Business Best Awards', an award ceremony for excellent partners, will also be held.
The donation marathon campaign '2026 LONG RUN' co-hosted by Kakao Pay [377300] with singer Sean's YouTube channel 'With Sean' surpassed 30 billion cumulative steps in just 20 days after its online launch, confirming 1 billion won in donations to support small business owners. More than 280,000 people participated, breaking the record for the largest number of participants in a single running event in Korea, and if 50 billion steps are achieved in the online competition that runs until the 18th, the total donation will increase to 1.5 billion won.
Kakao Investment held the finals and awards ceremony for the '2nd Kakao AI Sail Settlement', a start-up support project that discovers and commercializes promising AI technologies from the four major science and technology institutes (KAIST, GIST, DGIST, UNIST) at the Kakao AI Campus in Yongin on the 10th. Out of a total of 122 supporting teams, 8 teams were finally selected and received a total prize money of 75 million won. The grand prize went to 'Rocon' of Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), which developed an AI agent for business use. The winning team will be provided with opportunities for technology proof-of-concept (PoC) from Kakao affiliates and Kakao Investment investment review.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
There is a possibility that the Kakao Pay donation marathon campaign will reach 50 billion steps by December 18, increasing donations to 1.5 billion won.
Possible · Within days
Open Questions
- How to apply for participation in Kakao Business Fair 2026 and what are the schedule details?
- What is the donation distribution plan when the Kakao Pay donation marathon campaign reaches 50 billion steps?
- What are the specific commercialization plans of the eight teams finally selected for the second AI sail launch?
