[VivaTech 2026] StepHow Showcases AI Agent 'Wissly' at K-Startup Night in Paris, Captivating European Investors

PARIS, France — "When I was growing up, everyone around me used to say, 'Korea is living in the future.' I am always deeply impressed by how South Korea preemptively leads various technological frontiers," said Kevin Thiamang, Head of Global Partnerships at BPIfrance, France's public investment bank. Speaking at 'K-Startup Night' in Paris on June 16, the eve of Viva Technology (VivaTech) 2026, he added, "Tonight is about more than just pitching—it's about building a bridge that connects us all."

The exclusive event, co-hosted by the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Startups and the Korea Institute of Startup and Entrepreneurship Development (KISED), was designed as a strategic prelude to VivaTech. It aimed to bridge promising South Korean startups with European venture capitalists (VCs), corporate venture capitals (CVCs), and major tech industry stakeholders. Out of 39 Korean companies participating in the collective VivaTech 'K-Startup Pavilion,' representatives from 20 firms attended, drawing a crowd of over 100 global attendees.

"VivaTech is a premier strategic platform that transforms future-defining technologies—such as AI, Deep Tech, Green Tech, and Biotech—into global business opportunities," said Yeol-soo Choi, Director General of Global Growth at KISED. "We are thrilled to introduce Korea’s most innovative startups here in Paris and catalyze fresh avenues for cross-border collaboration."

Thiamang also introduced BPIfrance’s flagship matching platform, 'EuroQuity,' which supports companies throughout their entire lifecycle, from early-stage tech commercialization to global scaling. "EuroQuity hosts over 24,000 startups and SMEs, more than 1,500 investors, and over 260 global partners," he explained. "It will serve as a massive gateway for Korean startups looking to penetrate the European ecosystem."

High-Stakes IR Pitching: '3-Minute Pitch, 2-Minute Q&A'

The crown jewel of the night was the IR pitching session, featuring 12 handpicked startups. Each company had exactly three minutes to pitch their business model, followed by a rapid-fire two-minute Q&A session with a panel of elite judges and investors.

To maintain high energy and tension, the event utilized a "rotating pick" format, where judges randomly selected the next presenter on the spot. The judging panel featured heavyweight industry veterans, including Sylvie Ouziel, Co-founder & CEO of Blue Bridge Group AI, who boasts 30 years of global operations experience at giants like Accenture, Allianz, and Publicis. She was joined by Masha Moiseeva, Managing Director at DutchBasecamp, and Shashin Mishra, Senior Vice President at AI environmental solutions provider AiDash.

The pitching lineup covered a diverse spectrum from AI and robotics to climate tech and advanced materials. In the spotlight within the AI sector was StepHow, which presented 'Wissly,' an enterprise-grade AI agent designed to aggregate and learn from fragmented internal corporate data using advanced RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) technology. Other notable AI pioneers included SconAI, debuting its 'SconChat' simultaneous interpretation tool, and StyleAI, an AI specialized in fashion design acceleration.

Deep tech, robotics, and circular economy startups also commanded the stage. Pioneers like Stigma and Power Auto Robotics showcased AI vision-guided assembly and manufacturing automation robots. In the climate and green tech sector, companies like Hion (insect-derived biodegradable cooling oils), FourNatures (microalgae-based carbon capture, and a double honoree at the CES 2026 Innovation Awards), and ABR (direct recycling technology for EV waste batteries) drew immense interest for their eco-driven business models.

"Connecting Europe, and by extension the African ecosystem, with the rest of the world is a vital mission for us," concluded Thiamang. "I hope tonight marks the beginning of powerful new partnerships and the birth of global success stories."

KISED’s Yeol-soo Choi echoed this vision, stating, "We anticipate this event to be a launchpad for robust, long-term cooperation between Korea, France, and the broader European community. KISED will continuously champion Korean startups in their global expansion, fundraising, and strategic partnership building."