[StartupRecipe] How Korea’s 10 Early-Stage Investors Performed in 2025

Access to the latest Korean startup news and startup database for free

#Weekly Funding Overview

#FUNDING

#TREND ANALYSIS

How Korea’s Top 10 Early-Stage VCs Performed in 2025

South Korea’s leading early-stage investment firms and accelerators demonstrated aggressive investment strategies and bold exit execution in 2025 An analysis of the year’s performance by 10 major early-stage investors reveals that most expanded their investment activities while successfully achieving exits through IPOs and other means. According to Startup Recipe’s VC survey, a significant majority of investors plan to increase their investments in 2026, suggesting that the investment market will remain vibrant this year, particularly in AI and deep tech sectors.

CNT Tech executed 125 deals across 104 companies with a total investment of 23.4 billion KRW, recording the highest number of investments among domestic accelerators. The firm invested across deep tech, SaaS, and food tech sectors.

FuturePlay invested 51.7 billion KRW across 43 companies, a 90% increase compared to the previous year. The firm achieved exits including Neurophet’s KOSDAQ listing and LocalStitch’s M&A, and made aggressive investments in AI and robotics. building a scale-up ecosystem in the southeastern region.

Bluepoint Partners executed new investments in 22 companies and helped portfolio companies secure 221.7 billion KRW in follow-on funding. The firm achieved four KOSDAQ listings: S2W, Nota AI, Acryl, and Quadmedicine, while focusing on AI and clean energy sectors.

MYSC executed 63 deals totaling 21.7 billion KRW, recording its best performance since inception. The firm’s assets under management (AUM) surpassed 100 billion KRW. As a TIPS and LIPS operator, it selected 27 new teams.

Kakao Ventures deployed 20.7 billion KRW across 27 deals, with 29 new investments. 90% of new investments represented the first institutional funding for the respective companies. The firm achieved 130 billion KRW in exits during 2024 and closed its 11th fund at 44 billion KRW.

Korea Investment Accelerator executed 30 deals worth 12 billion KRW, a 15% increase compared to the previous year. The firm provided 4.2 billion KRW in follow-on funding to existing portfolio companies. Since 2022, it has invested 40.8 billion KRW across 120 companies, with 11 TIPS selections and 35 external funding rounds.

The Invention Lab invested 8.07 billion KRW across 53 deals, focusing on deep tech and B2B SaaS. The firm formed a 6.8 billion KRW new fund and supported portfolio companies in raising 34.2 billion KRW in follow-on investments.

Seoul National University Holdings deployed 7.4 billion KRW across 31 companies, achieving a cumulative milestone of 101 TIPS selections. The firm made follow-on investments in deep tech companies including Rebellions.

SBVA invested 126.7 billion KRW across 17 companies, with 35% of total investments directed to overseas companies. The firm formed funds including the 150 billion KRW “Alpha Korea Sovereign AI Fund,” focusing on AI and deep tech.

Series Ventures made new investments of 3.7 billion KRW across 16 companies. The firm’s portfolio companies surpassed 112 billion KRW in cumulative follow-on funding. Through LIPS, it provided matched funding to 6 companies, building a scale-up ecosystem in the southeastern region.