[StartupRecipe] Which startups are currently generating buzz for their IPOs?

# Startup Funding Rounds

• HyperAccel secured 50 billion won in investment from Krafton, bringing its total funding to over 110 billion won. As a fabless startup developing AI semiconductors (LPUs) specialized for LLM (Large Language Model) inference, Krafton plans to evolve from a game company into an AI company with this investment.
• Innotron secured 18 billion won in investment. It is the only full-stack deep tech company in Korea that designs and produces the entire process from ceramic materials to passive/active components, subsystems, and complete systems in the RF (Radio Frequency) materials and components sector. The investment will be used to expand into new industrial areas and pursue an IPO.
• Innovaid, the operator of the digital dental prosthetics production platform DentLink, secured 12 billion won in investment. The funds will be used to aggressively expand its business in the US and Australia and to establish an automated dental prosthetics manufacturing center in Korea.
• Twelve Labs, a startup developing video understanding AI models that comprehensively understand information within videos, secured $10 million in investment.
• Download the free Weekly Startup Report for the 4th week of June 2026 here.

# Trends

No Big Deals, But Promising Startup IPOs Expected

In the first half of 2026, the domestic IPO market saw few large-cap listings on the KOSPI due to regulations on dual listings and stricter review processes. However, the KOSDAQ continued to see steady listings of startups and mid-sized tech companies. While the number of listed companies from January to May was 21, a 47% decrease compared to 40 in the first half of the previous year, the performance of successful deep tech, fintech, content, and bio companies was generally positive.

Machina AI, a manufacturing and physical AI company, closed its first day of trading at four times its IPO price, exceeding a market capitalization of 1 trillion won. K-fashion company Peace Piece Studio successfully listed on the KOSDAQ with its brand ‘Mardi Mercredi’. Hanpass, a financial and lifestyle platform for foreigners, also listed in the fintech sector, while ImbioLogics and Mezoo listed based on their antibody treatments for autoimmune diseases and remote patient monitoring solutions, respectively, adding new listed companies in the bio and digital healthcare sectors. These companies, excluding some that saw short-term surges immediately after listing, generally maintained stock price movements that reflected their performance and growth expectations rather than excessive volatility compared to their IPO prices.

News also continued to emerge about startups passing the technical evaluation for listing through the technology special listing track. Telepiks, with its satellite and AI convergence technology, passed the technical evaluation in the AI and big data sector and aims for a KOSDAQ listing in the second half of the year. Medical AI, a medical AI company, secured eligibility for special listing by receiving an A rating from both evaluation institutions in the deep tech special technology evaluation. Neo sapiens, an AI-based media and content company, also passed the technology special evaluation and is aiming for a listing with its AI voice generation model. InterX, an AI and autonomous manufacturing solutions company, has passed its technical evaluation and secured 16 billion won in pre-IPO funding, embarking on its full-scale IPO process.

In June, the pipeline for second-half listings began to grow with preliminary review approvals. SkyLabs, which develops the ring-type blood pressure monitor Cart BP, NearsLab, a company specializing in autonomous flight drones and anti-drone solutions, and Remedi, a manufacturer of portable X-ray imaging equipment, all received KOSDAQ preliminary review approvals. While the IPO market in the previous year was dominated by AI and large beauty companies, the first half of 2026 saw an increase in companies passing technical evaluations and receiving preliminary review approvals in deep tech areas such as space (Telepiks), healthcare and medical devices (Medical AI, SkyLabs, Remedi), manufacturing AI (Machina AI, InterX), and drones (NearsLab).

Larger and mid-sized startups are also preparing for IPOs in the second half of the year. AI semiconductor company Rebellions aims to file for preliminary review in the second half, and generative AI company Upstage is considering a KOSPI listing. Fashion platform Musinsa is coordinating its listing schedule with a target valuation of 6-10 trillion won, and K-beauty company Gooday Global is pursuing its mid-to-long-term listing plan. Other companies considered pre-unicorns, such as Elice Group, Travel Wallet, Liner, Bank Salad, Superb AI, and Affinitt, are simultaneously selecting underwriters and preparing for preliminary reviews of their technical evaluations, indicating a continued expansion in startup-focused IPO initiatives.

Meanwhile, despite the ongoing IPO attempts by mid-sized and startup companies, concerns are being raised about the stagnant atmosphere in the KOSDAQ market compared to the KOSPI. The venture capital industry is calling for a review of recent proposals such as the separation of the KOSDAQ’s upper and lower markets, the introduction of a promotion and relegation system, dual listing regulations, and stricter delisting requirements, arguing that these could hinder fundraising. Nevertheless, startup IPO attempts continue, with major players like Rebellions, Musinsa, and Gooday Global preparing to join in the second half of the year. The task of refining the institutional framework of the KOSDAQ to support this trend remains a challenge.

# Major Korean Startup News

• The government announced a plan to foster Korean-style Palantir, aiming to nurture five companies with a valuation of 1 trillion won and 50 innovative companies with annual sales exceeding 100 billion won in the new security sector by 2030. This initiative is part of the “Fostering Innovative Companies for Future New Security” direction.
• The Ministry of SMEs and Startups held the selection ceremony for the “Local to Global”and small business audition, finally selecting 100 promising small businesses that will lead consumer goods exports.
• The Ministry of SMEs and Startups launched seven preliminary research teams for the Ecosystem Innovation Deep Tech Challenge Project (DCP), which provides up to 20 billion won in R&D funding over four years, linked with initial investments of over 3 billion won from private VCs.
• The Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced a large-scale capital supply plan where the Mother Fund will discover and invest in early-stage innovative technology companies, followed by the Financial Services Commission’s National Growth Fund for subsequent scale-up investments. Eleven promising companies were also unveiled.
• The Ministry of SMEs and Startups held a Global Unicorn Vision Declaration Ceremony, setting a goal to foster 50 unicorn companies by 2030. It plans to provide up to 1.6 billion won to 50 selected companies under the Unicorn Bridge program.
• D.CAMP, in collaboration with the Korea Fintech Support Center, held the Startup OI #Financial Sector event at D.CAMP Mapo (5 startups that received early support from financial institutions like KB, Woori, and Kakao Bank).