Korean-American Professional Association in Life Sciences

What Korean-American Professional Association in Life Sciences does

KAPAL (Korean-American Professional Association in Life Sciences, 한미 생명과학인 협회) is a US-registered 501(c) non-profit professional association founded in 2017 to support Korean biotech and pharmaceutical companies entering the US market and to serve Korean-American life sciences professionals. It operates as a community-led organization of approximately 2,000+ active members spanning multinational pharma, biotech startups, legal and financial service providers, and government researchers at the FDA and NIH, with membership distributed across the US, Canada, and Korea.

The association delivers its mission through a portfolio of event-based programming rather than a software product. Core offerings include the KAPAL Annual Conference (KAC), a two-day flagship gathering (most recently the 9th edition, October 24–25, 2025 at Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center); quarterly KAPAL Bio Forums held at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Washington DC; the KAPAL On-Air Webinar Series covering regulatory, clinical, and investment topics; and KAPAL-CA regional networking events in California (San Diego, Los Angeles). A job posting board and mentorship connections round out member services. Programming is co-hosted with institutional partners including Johns Hopkins Global Biotechnology Innovation Center (JHBIC), Korea Innovation Center DC (KIC-DC), Korean Life Scientist Association of Maryland (KLAM), NIH-Korean Scientist Association (NIH-KSA), and Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA-DC).

The business model is sponsorship- and event-driven. Annual membership dues of $50 are waived (covered by KAPAL), making membership free to individuals. Revenue is generated through conference registration fees, corporate sponsorships from pharmaceutical/biotech firms and Korean government-affiliated organizations (KHIDI, KPBMA), and in-kind support (venue, ambassador participation) from the Korean Embassy. The association is led by elected volunteer presidents — currently Dr. Jihoon Park (3rd President, elected March 2024) — with no paid executive staff disclosed. KAPAL is anchored in the DMV region (ranked the 3rd-largest US bio hub by GEN) and is expanding programming into adjacent verticals such as Korean cosmetics/beauty, as evidenced by its April 2026 K-Beauty Momentum event in Los Angeles.

Name

Korean-American Professional Association in Life Sciences

Legal name

Korean-American Professional Association in Life Sciences

Website

https://kapal.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

KAPAL is a US 501(c) non-profit professional association that connects Korean-American life sciences professionals with Korean biotech and pharmaceutical companies seeking US market entry, through annual conferences, quarterly bio forums, and regional networking events across the DMV, California, and Korea.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Los Angeles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership with one calendar year term (January 1 - December 31). The $50 membership fee is covered by KAPAL, making it free for members.
2. Conference and Event Fees: Registration fees for annual conferences and events, with discounts offered to KAPAL members.
3. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorships from pharmaceutical, biotech, and life sciences companies supporting events and programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

KAPAL is a non-profit professional association that delivers event-based networking, education, and career development services for Korean and Korean-American life sciences professionals. Its core offerings include an annual flagship conference (KAC), quarterly Bio Forums, a webinar series, regional networking events in California, and a job posting board, all designed to facilitate US-Korea collaboration in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical devices.

Product overview

KAPAL (Korean-American Professional Association in Life Sciences) is a non-profit 501(c) professional association that provides networking, educational, and career development services for Korean and Korean-American life sciences professionals. The organization offers a portfolio of event-based services including the KAPAL Annual Conference (KAC), quarterly KAPAL Bio Forums, the KAPAL On-Air Webinar Series, and regional KAPAL-CA Networking Events. These services facilitate US-Korea collaboration in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and medical devices by connecting professionals, sharing regulatory and investment insights, and supporting career advancement through a job posting board. The organization does not operate a software product but provides in-person and virtual programming to serve its mission of advancing Korean bioscience industry access to US and global markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KAPAL Annual Conference (KAC) Annual flagship conference bringing together Korean and US life sciences professionals for networking, business collaboration, and knowledge sharing on drug development, regulatory affairs, and investment trends. Features special FDA sessions, startup pitch contests, and corporate presentations.
• KAPAL Bio Forum Quarterly forum events featuring expert speakers on topics including biotechnology market trends, regulatory updates, and US-Korea collaboration opportunities in life sciences.
• KAPAL On-Air Webinar Series Online webinar series covering topics such as US R&D tax credits, clinical development strategies, biotech investment trends, and regulatory affairs for Korean companies entering US markets.
• KAPAL-CA Networking Events Regional networking events organized by KAPAL California chapter, connecting Korean biotech professionals with US industry leaders in locations such as San Diego and Los Angeles.
• Job Posting Board Platform connecting Korean-American life science professionals with career opportunities, featuring job listings from member companies and partner organizations in biotech, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully facilitated MOU between Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association (KPBMA) and KAPAL in 2022
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Adelphi VenturescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 October 2025Co-host of the 9th KAPAL Annual Conference, providing investment expertise and venture capital connections for the startup pitch event.
• Johns Hopkins Global Biotechnology Innovation Center (JHBIC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 October 2025Co-host of the 9th KAPAL Annual Conference, contributing startup incubation expertise and academic-industry connections.
• Korea Innovation Center DC (KIC-DC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 October 2025Long-standing co-host of KAPAL Annual Conference and joint events. KIC-DC supports Korean startup showcase and pitch events.
• Korean Life Scientist Association of Maryland (KLAM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 October 2025Co-host of the 9th KAPAL Annual Conference, focusing on startup incubation programming.
• KHIDI USAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2025Sponsor of the San Diego networking event in February 2025. KHIDI (Korea Health Industry Development Institute) supports Korean biotech companies entering US market.
• IQHQminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2025Sponsor of the San Diego networking event, providing venue and real estate support for biotech companies.
• FLANN Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 February 2025Sponsor of the San Diego networking event supporting Korean life science delegation visit.
• Korea Innovation Center (KIC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 October 2024Co-organizer of the 8th KAPAL Annual Conference with focus on startup pitch contest programming.
• Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association DC (KSEA-DC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 October 2024Co-organizer of the 8th KAPAL Annual Conference, organizing drone competition and providing free membership registration at the conference.
• Korea Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association (KPBMA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 November 2022KAPAL signed an MOU with KPBMA in November 2022 to promote Korean pharmaceutical and biotech industries in the US market. This partnership facilitates information exchange, networking opportunities, and support for Korean companies seeking US market entry.
• US PhRMAflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 November 2022Korean Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association visited US PhRMA during the same trip as KAPAL events, discussing cooperation in drug development policy and information exchange.
• KASBP DC ChaptercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint networking events and collaborative programming for Korean-American pharmaceutical and biotech professionals in the DC area.
• KSEA Washington DC Metro ChaptercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint end-of-year celebration events and collaborative professional development activities.
• KWiSE NIH ChaptercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint events supporting Korean-American women in science and engineering, particularly those working at NIH.
• NIH-Korean Scientist Association (NIH-KSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organization of ABES (Annual Bioscience & Engineering Symposium) alongside KAPAL Annual Conference, providing platform for NIH researchers to present fundamental science research.
• Korean Embassy in the UScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides venue and official support for Bio Forum events. Ambassador Hyundong Cho has delivered welcome remarks at multiple KAPAL events.
• US Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerKorean Pharmaceutical and Bio-Pharma Manufacturers Association met with HDA leadership to discuss US drug distribution market entry strategies for Korean companies.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association (KSEA): Larger Korean-American professional association covering the full STEM spectrum with regional chapters and an annual conference. Directly comparable because it serves the same Korean-American scientific professional community, co-hosts KAPAL events, and competes for overlapping members and sponsors.
• Korean-American Women in Science and Engineering (KWiSE): Korean-American professional association focused on women in STEM, including the KWiSE NIH Chapter which jointly programs with KAPAL. Comparable because it addresses the same Korean-American scientific community, runs bio-focused seminars, and overlaps in member demographics.
• Korean Life Scientist Association of Maryland (KLAM): Regional Korean life scientist association in Maryland that co-hosts the KAPAL Annual Conference. Directly comparable because it targets the same Korean life scientist community in the DMV region, focusing on startup incubation and networking.
• NIH-Korean Scientist Association (NIH-KSA): Korean-American scientist association based at NIH in the DMV region; co-organizes ABES alongside KAPAL's annual conference. Comparable because it serves overlapping Korean-American life sciences members, focuses on NIH-area researchers, and partners rather than competes.
• Korean-American Society for Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals (KASBP): Direct peer association for Korean-American biotech and pharma professionals, with regional DC and other chapters. Comparable because it serves the same Korean-American life sciences audience, co-hosts events with KAPAL, and competes for sponsorships in the biotech-pharma niche.

Others

• Korea Health Industry Development Institute USA (KHIDI USA): Korean government-affiliated organization that sponsors KAPAL events and actively supports Korean biotech US market entry. Related as a key institutional partner and sponsor; not a direct competitor but operates in adjacent Korea-US healthcare trade facilitation space.

Emerging players

• Korea-US Science Cooperation Center (KUSCO): Bilateral Korea-US science cooperation hub supporting researcher exchange and collaboration. Comparable because it operates in the same Korea-US scientific bridge niche and overlaps with KAPAL's academic and industry networking programming.
• Korean Biomedical Review (Korea Biomedical Business News): Industry publication/media outlet covering Korean biotech with US-facing content and events. Comparable because it addresses the same Korean biotech US-market-entry audience and overlaps with KAPAL's informational and networking programming for sponsors and readers.

Broad incumbents

• Council of Korean Americans (CKA): Broader Korean-American advocacy and professional network organization with national reach. Comparable because it serves overlapping Korean-American professional communities and runs programming that includes industry-focused events.
• Korean-American Medical Association (KAMA): Established Korean-American medical professional association with national footprint. Comparable because it addresses a related Korean-American healthcare professional segment with similar mission, structure, and sponsorship model, though it focuses on clinicians rather than biotech industry.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kapal-ca
• Facebookfacebook.com/kapal.dc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Korean-American Professional Association in Life Sciences