Gurucompany, a Korean startup providing B2B solutions for webtoons and web novels, has secured a pre-Series A investment round led by KNET Investment Partners. This funding follows investments received four months earlier from Korea Investment Accelerator and Thnx Ventures, bringing the total pre-Series A funding to $1.48 million (KRW 2 billion).

Founded by Wonhyuk Choi, a serial entrepreneur who previously grew his adtech startup Avati to annual sales of $14.8 million (KRW 20 billion), Gurucompany was born out of his decade-long aspiration to create a webtoon platform, inspired by his experience leading platform business operations at Nexon Korea.

Gurucompany’s flagship solution, Treasure Island, allows companies to integrate webtoon and web novel services into their platforms without any upfront costs. Offered in formats such as web view, SDK, and API, it seamlessly integrates with existing apps and websites, enabling users to access and purchase content instantly, without the need for additional membership registrations or logins. By incorporating content through Treasure Island, companies can boost app visit frequency, extend user engagement time, and generate additional revenue. E-commerce apps ‘Alwayz’ and ‘ABLY’ are notable success stories, using the solution to build user loyalty and profitability.

Treasure Island has demonstrated remarkable early success. During its pilot operation with Korea’s leading financial app, it attracted 1 million users in just one month, with 300,000 daily active users consistently engaging with the content. This popularity has sparked interest from various companies, including those with membership, points, and e-commerce apps. Within two months of launch, Treasure Island secured contracts with six companies and is now exploring expansion opportunities with overseas businesses in Japan and Southeast Asia.

CEO Wonhyuk Choi emphasized that many users accessing webtoons and web novels through corporate apps are first-time readers, making exclusivity less critical. “To these users, all works feel like new releases. Treasure Island will serve as an OTT-style platform, uncovering hidden consumer bases and driving greater profits through the redistribution of quality content such as webtoons, web novels, and short dramas,” he said, expressing his ambition for the platform’s future.