Korea's Fund of Funds Fuels Deep-tech Unicorns
The Korean government’s Fund of Funds has emerged as a key driver in nurturing domestic unicorn companies and promising deep-tech startups. The fund has provided early-stage growth capital to companies ranging from recent unicorns like Rebellions and FuriosaAI to global...
KRW 2.4 Trillion Global Fund Injects Capital into Korean Startups
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups is set to launch its largest-ever Global Fund, a massive KRW 2.4 trillion initiative designed to attract foreign investment into Korean startups. This year, the ministry will partner with 13 overseas venture capital firms...
South Korea's Sovereign AI Project Selects 5 Teams
South Korea has officially launched its mission to build a homegrown, globally competitive artificial intelligence ecosystem. The Ministry of Science and ICT has selected five elite teams for its Korean Sovereign AI Foundation Model project, a significant step toward securing...
K-Beauty Marketing Platform Egongegong Secures $37 Billion KRW in Funding
Egongegong, a marketing platform for K-beauty brands, has raised KRW 37 billion in a new funding round. Korea Investment Partners led the investment with KRW 13 billion. The funding will support Egongegong’s growth as a platform for K-beauty brands expanding...
KOSDAQ Needs Flexible Entry, Strict Exit Policy for Startup Market Revitalization
South Korea’s venture business sector is calling for fundamental reforms to the KOSDAQ market, advocating for a “flexible entry, strict exit” approach to revitalize the country’s tech-heavy stock exchange. Song Byung-jun, chairman of the Korea Venture Business Association, emphasized during...
Former Naver CEO, Appointed Minister of SMEs and Startups
Han Sung-sook, the former CEO of Naver, has been appointed as South Korea’s new Minister of SMEs and Startups. She is the first person from the private tech sector to hold this position, bringing extensive experience from her time leading...
Kong Studios Secures KRW 50 Billion Series C Funding
Kong Studios, the mobile game startup behind the global hit Guardian Tales, has closed a Series C investment round totaling KRW 50 billion. This significant capital injection stands out in the venture capital landscape, as major VC firms typically show...
AI Chip Startup FuriosaAI Becomes South Korea’s Latest AI Unicorn
FuriosaAI, a leading South Korean startup developing AI accelerator chips for data centers, has officially achieved unicorn status, with its valuation surpassing KRW 1 trillion. The milestone comes after the company closed a KRW 170 billion Series C bridge funding...
Korean Venture Landscape Shifts From Manufacturing to Service-Driven Innovation
A new report from the Korea Venture Business Association (KOVA) reveals a significant transformation in South Korea’s venture industry structure over the past decade (2014-2024). The comprehensive analysis highlights a decisive pivot from a manufacturing-centric economy to one increasingly dominated...
Tax Startup Solomon Labs Secures $6.8 Million in Seed Funding
Solomon Labs, a tax AI solution startup has secured an impressive $6.8 million in seed funding from leading U.S. venture capital firm, Bessemer Venture Partners. This latest investment brings Solomon Labs’ total funding to approximately $10 million, including a previous...
Antler Korea, Showcases 8 Startup at 5th Investor Day
Antler Korea, a global venture capital firm, hosted its 5th Investor Day on July 18th at Tipstown, Seoul. The event served as a crucial platform for Antler Korea’s fifth cohort of startups to pitch for seed investment, while also celebrating...
Korea's Largest Food Tech Startup Conference, 'AFPRO 2025,' Concludes In Seoul
The third annual Agri & Food Tech Start-up Rising Expo (AFPRO 2025) has successfully concluded, cementing its role as a vital hub for hundreds of innovators, investors, and industry leaders in South Korea’s burgeoning agricultural and food technology sectors. Beyond...
LegalTech Startup Law&Company Closes KRW 50 Billion in Series C-2 Round
Korean legaltech startup Law&Company has completed a KRW 50 billion Series C-2 funding round, marking the largest single investment recorded within the nation’s legaltech industry. The financing round drew capital from a mix of new and existing investors. IMM Investment,...
Humanoid Robotics Startup AeiROBOT Secures 10 Billion KRW in Series A
South Korean humanoid robotics startup AeiROBOT has announced the successful completion of a KRW 10 billion Series A funding round on July 11. The round was led by BonAngels Venture Partners, with participation from new investors including Korea Development Bank,...
Beyond Honeycomb Secures KRW 10B to Scale AI Cooking Robot GRILL X
Korean AI cooking robotics startup Beyond Honeycomb has raised KRW 10 billion in a Series A bridge round, bringing its total funding to KRW 19.6 billion. The round was led by existing backer LB Investment, with new and follow-up participation...
K-beauty company MBX Secures $6.5M to Fuel Global Expansion
K-beauty company MBX (Memebox) has raised an additional $6.5 million in funding through a convertible note structure led by existing investors. Participants in this round include Goodwater Capital, Altos Ventures, Pear VC, Cota Capital, and 8VC—the latter co-founded by one...