S. Korean Proptech Unicorn Zigbang Secures KRW 60 Billion
South Korean proptech unicorn Zigbang has raised a significant new investment of KRW 60 billion through a bond with warrants (BW) agreement with VIG Alternative Credit (VAC), the credit investment arm of VIG Partners. This latest funding injection underscores the...
South Korea Backs Future Unicorns with 2025 Startup Guarantee Program
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) has opened applications for the 2025 Soonicorn Special Guarantee program. This initiative aims to support high-potential startups nearing unicorn status—commonly referred to as soonicorns. Selected companies may receive special guarantees of up to...
Seoul AI Hub Launches Global Internship Program for Foreign Students
The Seoul AI Hub has launched its Global Hiring Program 2025 to help Korean AI startups find talented international students for internship positions. This program is designed for foreign students currently living in Korea who are interested in working with...
KODIT Selects Innovation Icon Startups with Unicorn Potential
The Korea Credit Guarantee Fund (KODIT) has announced the selection of five innovative startups for the 13th round of its flagship Innovation Icon scale-up program. Designed to identify and support high-growth companies with the potential to become unicorns, the program...
April Startup Funding Slumps to 2025 Low in South Korea
April marked a significant slowdown in South Korea’s startup investment scene, with total capital inflow dropping to KRW 255 billion—the lowest monthly figure of 2025 so far. This dip brings the total below the KRW 300 billion mark for the...
14 Korean Robotics Startups Meets Media Press
Startup Alliance held a press day event on 24th to foster connections between the media and burgeoning robotics startups. The event, centered around the theme of robotics startups, commenced at 7 PM with light finger foods, followed by one-minute company...
KVIC, Establishes $200M K-VCC Fund in Singapore
The Korea Venture Investment Corporation (KVIC), under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, has established a subsidiary in Singapore to launch a Variable Capital Company (VCC) fund, marking a significant step in Korea’s efforts to globalize its venture capital ecosystem....
S.Korea Opens Applications for the 'K-Startup Grand Challenge 2025'
Applications are now open for the 2025 K-Startup Grand Challenge, an inbound startup support program hosted by the South Korean government. Since its inception in 2016, the K-Startup Grand Challenge has been dedicated to attracting promising international startups and facilitating...
Korea Startup Fund 2025 Launches to Inject Billions into Startups with Private Sector Drive
The launch ceremony for the Startup Korea Fund 2025 was held in Seoul on Wednesday, April 24, with the participation of key investors and stakeholders. The Startup Korea Fund is a new initiative established through collaboration among large corporations, financial...
Jump-Up Program 2025 Kicks Off
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) held the launch ceremony for the 2025 Jump-Up Program on April 23 at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, marking the official start of an ambitious initiative to nurture promising small and medium enterprises...
S. Korea Backs 34 Venture Funds to Boost H2 Investment
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups has announced the selection of 34 venture funds totaling KRW 753.8 billion under its 2025 Fund of Funds program. Out of this total, the ministry has committed KRW 374.7 billion in capital, with most...
Seoul Beauty Hub Opens to Propel K-Beauty onto the Global Stage
The Seoul Metropolitan Government has officially opened the Seoul Beauty Hub, a comprehensive support platform designed to propel promising K-beauty companies onto the global stage. Located on the third floor of the DDP Fashion Mall in central Seoul, the Hub began pilot operations in late February...
S. Korea Launches $200M Global Fund with U.S. VCs
South Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) has announced the establishment of a $200 million (KRW 292.6 billion) global fund in partnership with three U.S.-based venture capital firms—Third Prime Capital, Patron Management, and ACVC Partners. As part of the...
S. Korea Launches KRW 40 Billion K-Beauty Fund to Boost Global Expansion
South Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS) has officially launched the K-Beauty Fund, a public-private initiative aimed at accelerating the global expansion of Korean beauty brands and tech startups. The launch event, held at the Westin Chosun Hotel in...
S.Korea Backs Chip Industry to Strengthen Global Edge
The South Korean government has announced a significant increase in fiscal investment to support domestic companies facing challenges in the global semiconductor race. The government will expand its investment in the semiconductor industry from 26 trillion won to 33 trillion...
RLWRLD raises KRW 21 B to build a robotics foundation models
RLWRLD, a robotics AI software startup, has secured KRW 21 billion ($14.8 million) in seed funding, marking one of the largest seed investments for a South Korean startup. The investment round was led by prominent venture capital firms with participation...