(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Cha Minji – Korean and Japanese venture investment institutions are establishing a global fund worth 29 billion KRW to invest in startups from both countries.
On the 21st, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups announced that three institutions—Shinhan Venture Investment, Korea Venture Investment, and Japan’s Global Brain—signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for cooperation at the Korea-Japan Venture and Startup Investment Summit 2025 held at The Royal Park Hotel Iconic Tokyo Shiodome Hall in Japan.
The investment summit was attended by Minister Oh Young-joo, Park Seon-bae, CEO of Shinhan Venture Investment, Yasuhiko Yurimoto, CEO of Global Brain, and Shin Sang-han, Deputy CEO of Korea Venture Investment.
The Korea-Japan Cooperative Global Fund, which also includes contributions from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups’ parent fund, will be established with the participation of investors from both Korea and Japan, reaching a total of 29 billion KRW.
This initiative is part of the Ministry’s plan, announced in an early report this year, to rapidly create a ‘Global Fund of over 1 trillion KRW annually.’
The global fund will be jointly managed by ‘Shinhan Venture Investment’ from Korea and ‘Global Brain’ from Japan, both representing major venture capital firms.
The Ministry of SMEs and Startups expressed that the global fund is expected to play a significant role in investing in startups from both countries and fostering exchange and cooperation between the venture investment ecosystems of Korea and Japan.
Minister Oh stated, “The Ministry will wholeheartedly support the realization of Startup Korea by establishing a global fund of more than 1 trillion KRW annually to actively support global investment attraction for startups, helping K-startups become leaders in the global market.”
At the Korean Startup Investment Attraction Presentation, 10 Korean startups in fields such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Information Technology (IT), biotechnology, and cosmetics conducted investment attraction activities in front of Korean and Japanese investment institutions.
Prior to the event, the Ministry of SMEs and Startups selected companies for the presentation based on demand in the Japanese market and the potential for investment attraction, focusing on startups that have already entered or wish to enter Japan.
Among the participating companies, ‘EverEx’ received an Innovation Award at CES 2024 for its self-care solution for musculoskeletal disorders in office workers. ‘Alicon’ is partnering with Japan’s Rakuten in an AI and Internet of Things (IoT)-based unmanned operational system for businesses.
The 10 Korean startups that participated in the investment attraction presentation aim to advance into Japan more actively following this event.
The Ministry also held a forum attended by 9 Korean startups already established in Japan.
Minister Oh stated, “The Ministry will actively support the global expansion of domestic startups through local bases.”