🌏 The Asian Crowdfunding Alliance has begun to take action in earnest
The entrance to the joint briefing session hosted by Wadizand Makuake at the Grand Hyatt Beijing.
On June 26, Wadizvisited Beijing, China, in collaboration with Makuake, Japan’s leading crowdfunding platform.
This joint briefing session, held at the Grand Hyatt Beijing, was organized to introduce strategies for entering the South Korean and Japanese markets to Chinese manufacturers in the AI and smart hardware sectors.
About 50 Chinese companies from various fields, including AI devices and robotics, attendedthe event and showed great interest. This event marked the first time, just over a month afterdiscussions at BEYOND EXPO 2026 last May, that cooperation among Asian crowdfunding platforms had materialized in person.
🤝 Connecting the Korean and Japanese Markets in One Place
The entrance to the joint information session venue.
WadizMakuake introduced the operational structures and market characteristics of their respective platforms and shared their Go-To-Market (GTM) strategies for acquiring early customers and validating market response through crowdfunding.
This event served as an opportunity for the two platforms to jointly present a new market entry model designed to ensure that a single product does not remain confined to a single country but can naturally expand into major Asian markets, including South Korea and Japan.
🎤 “South Korea is the ideal testing ground for expanding into Asia”
Martin Mozming, Head of Wadiz China, presenting on the Korean crowdfunding market and Wadiz entry strategy.
Wadizthat day, Martin Mozming, Head of Wadiz China, gave a presentation titled “Strategies for Chinese Hardware Brands to Successfully Enter the Korean Market.”
Mr. Martin highlighted the characteristics of Korean consumers—who are attuned to the Korean Wave and new trends and quick to adopt new products—and explained that, because it allows global tech manufacturers to assess the market potential of new technologies and products in advance, Koreacan serve as a leading test bed for their expansion into Asia.
XGMI’s 4K UHD laser projector, the “Elfin Flip 4K.”
In particular, the cases of UGREEN NAS—which achieved 23,867% of its target and surpassed 1 billion won within just one hour of its launch—and XGIMI, a global smart projector brand that has garnered attention in Korea, drew significant attention at the event.
The case of Roborock—which started with approximately $214,000 in funding in 2021 and has since grown into a brand with $200 million in revenue and a market share of over 60% in South Korea by 2025—was also highlighted.
Based on these examples, Wadizproposed a four-step growth path, suggesting that crowdfunding can serve as a starting point for gauging the response of Korean consumers and subsequently exploring market growth.
Crowdfunding → Market Validation → Distribution Network Development → Accelerated Growth
🚀 Expanding into the Korean Market: Things Just as Important as Product Quality
Just because you have a good product doesn't mean you'll automatically succeed in the Korean market.
The briefing was attended not only by WadizMakuake but also by global partners and specialized organizations, and it addressed in detail the specific challenges that makers might actually face.
Around X, Wadiz global partner and funding agency, introduced its services and real-world funding success stories, while the law firm DLG provided guidance on key legal issues that foreign companies must consider when conducting business in Korea, including agency contracts, establishing a domestic legal entity, trademark rights, and consumer disputes.
The certification agency, Il-dokkaebi, was also on site to provide individual consultations to companies facing difficulties with KC certification.
Wadizintroduced a support system designed to help makers enter the Korean market, ranging from consulting with product development experts to the AI tool “WAi” and assistance with KC certification.
This point emphasizes that makers don’t have to navigate the process of entering an unfamiliar market on their own, but can prepare more easily and quickly with the help of Wadizits expert partners.
A scene from a one-on-one meeting with a Ling.ai representative to discuss strategies for entering the Korean market.
Following the briefing session, one-on-one meetings were held with makers who are actively considering entering the Korean market. During the meeting with the AI robot brand Ling.ai, discussions focused on practical issues necessary for entering the Korean market—such as product operations, pricing strategies, and KC certification—and the feasibility of a concrete project was thoroughly evaluated.
As we engaged in more detailed discussions with the makers, the common concerns they share ahead of their entry into the Korean market became increasingly clear. We took a closer look at the questions that came up repeatedly during our on-site visits.
💬 What were the makers most curious about?
The makers' questions naturally centered on the size of the Korean market, the process for entering it, and the growth potential following funding.
The topic that drew the most attention was the size of the Korean market. While interest has been growing due to the success stories of Chinese tech brands such as Yugreen and XGMI, some manufacturers still perceive Korea as a smaller market than Japan.
On the ground, we observed that Chinese manufacturers are taking a pragmatic approach, carefully evaluating the size and potential of each market individually, rather than treating South Korea as a secondary consideration alongside their expansion into Japan.
KC certification was also a major concern for manufacturers. While some perceived the process as simpler than in Japan, many manufacturers found the certification requirements and costs for each product to be a burden as they prepared to enter the Korean market. At the event, they were able to consult with certification experts to gain a detailed understanding of the specific procedures and precautions required for their products.
In the end, the makers' attention converged on a single point.
Now that crowdfunding has taken off in Korea, can its success lead to market validation and the next stage of growth?
The presentation and consultation session that day provided an opportunity to outline in more detail the growth path makers were curious about following their funding round.
🌏 Asian Crowdfunding Alliance Kicks Off in Beijing
This joint briefing was more than just an opportunity for WadizMakuake to introduce their respective platforms.
The event served as a platform to present a concrete collaborative model through which innovative products made in China could reach consumers in South Korea and Japan and, based on the response in each market, expand into the broader Asian market.
While major Asian crowdfunding platforms discussed potential collaboration in Macau last May, this briefing in Beijing took the discussions a step further by bringing them together with actual makers to share market entry strategies.
A lucky draw held during a joint product presentation featuring Wadiz Edition products.
During the event, a lucky draw featuring Wadiz Edition products—such as running airbags, OnSha shower filters, and tumblers—was held to liven up the atmosphere.
Wadizwill continue to expand collaboration among crowdfunding platforms so that global makers can test the potential of their products in Korea and expand into Asian markets, including Japan.
From Korea to Asia.
The Asia Crowdfunding Alliance’s new network has just begun.
