Venture Ecosystem Evolves into a Global Platform "This is an era where startups targeting the global market need broader opportunities than ever before." This was emphasized by Lee Dae-hee, CEO of Korea Venture Investment Corporation (KVIC), at a press conference held on the 28th to mark his first anniversary in office. KVIC, which has served as a central funding source for the domestic venture industry based on 20 years of Mother Fund achievements, has now announced its transition from a mere fund provider to an 'investment platform.' What results will this strategy bring, enabling startups to freely advance onto the global stage and driving region-based growth? The venture ecosystem is evolving day by day. Despite domestic startups possessing excellent technology and ideas, challenges such as funding shortages and market entry barriers remain critical. Particularly, in the current trend of globalization, companies that fail to build global networks are highly likely to be left behind in the competition. KVIC's announced 'Beyond' and 'Bridge' strategies are drawing attention as solutions to these very problems. On the 28th, CEO Lee Dae-hee presented two pillars aimed at connecting domestic and international markets and expanding the investment ecosystem. 'Beyond' is a strategy to strengthen global expansion, supporting domestic startups to grow beyond borders. CEO Lee explained that the core of this strategy is "moving from investment to performance, from domestic to global, from the Seoul metropolitan area to regional areas, and from a finance-centric approach to expanding private participation." Through this, the goal is to expand the funding base via institutional investor platforms and connect global networks with regional investment foundations to generate tangible results. Indeed, visible results are emerging. As of February 2026, the number of global funds has expanded to 84, and last February, the Silicon Valley Startup Venture Campus (SVC) was opened, establishing a bridgehead for Korean startups to directly enter the world's largest venture ecosystem. Securing these overseas bases is expected to contribute to increasing the success rate of Korean startups' international expansion by providing networking opportunities with global investors, mentors, and partners, beyond just physical space. Meanwhile, 'Bridge' aims to serve as a bridge connecting the Seoul metropolitan area and non-metropolitan regions, and further, private and public finance. KVIC, which is accelerating the expansion of regional investment infrastructure, established four regional Mother Funds totaling 400 billion won in 2025 and is pursuing the creation of five additional regional growth funds worth 450 billion won this year. Notably, the establishment of the Jeju Startup Fund is a customized investment model that considers the unique characteristics of the island region, expected to contribute to fostering startups in Jeju's specialized industries such as tourism, IT, and clean energy. Like building robust bridges, these strategies demonstrate an innovative approach in connecting various funds, institutions, and markets. Last year, KVIC invested 2.2195 trillion won, forming venture funds totaling 4.4751 trillion won, of which 3.0995 trillion won was actually disbursed as investments. This reflects not just a commitment to investment, but also a determination to strengthen the connection between investors and companies. Notably, KVIC is systematically building a performance-generating structure by enhancing support for corporate growth and investor-company linkages even after initial investment. Full-Scale Focus on Deep Tech and Regional Investment Investment directions are also being reorganized to meet the demands of the times. Investments centered on Deep Tech and national strategic industries occupy a core position within this framework. Concentrated investment in areas directly linked to national competitiveness, such as AI, bio-health, semiconductors, and secondary batteries, aims to secure long-term technological competitiveness rather than short-term profits. This is an essential strategy for Korean startups to gain a technological edge in the global market and achieve sustainable growth. One notable aspect is the strong commitment to fostering regional startups. Amid criticism that most startup and investment activities are concentrated in the Seoul metropolitan area, KVIC established four regional Mother Funds by 2025, and its plan to further promote balanced regional development is highly encouraging. The establishment of institutional mechanisms for easy networking between regions also stands out as a unique effort. This region-centric investment expansion strategy is highly significant as it can contribute to bridging the economic gap between the Seoul metropolitan area and non-metropolitan regions. If startup ecosystems linked to region-specific industries are formed around major metropolitan cities like Busan, Dae
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