The Ministry of SMEs and Startups of Korea (MSS) hosted the “Korea-Japan Venture & Startup Investment Summit 2025” on the 21st at The Royal Park Hotel in Tokyo, Japan. The event, led by Minister Oh Young-ju, featured a roundtable discussion with Korean startups operating in Japan, a signing ceremony for a Korea-Japan joint global fund, and an investment pitch session for Korean startups. Approximately 90 participants attended, including Minister Oh, representatives from the Korean Embassy in Japan, venture capitalists, startups from both countries, and other key stakeholders.

Minister Oh stated, “Korea-Japan relations have been strengthening across various sectors, including tourism, culture, and industry. With Korea’s growing presence in Japan, now is the ideal time for our startups to enter the Japanese market. MSS will actively support their expansion into Japan and other global markets through our local support hubs.”

A key highlight of the event was the signing ceremony for a Korea-Japan joint global fund.

Held in the presence of Minister Oh, the ceremony brought together representatives from three key institutions: Park Sun-bae, CEO of Shinhan Venture Investment; Yasuhiko Yurimoto, CEO of Global Brain; and Shin Sang-han, Vice President of Korea Venture Investment (operator of Korea’s Fund of Funds). The three organizations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the fund.

The Korea-Japan joint global fund is expected to be valued at approximately $217 million (KRW 290 billion), with contributions from investors in both countries, including Korea’s Fund of Funds. This initiative is part of MSS’s broader strategy to swiftly establish over $750 million (KRW 1 trillion) in global funds annually, a goal first announced earlier this year. Beyond investing in startups, the fund is expected to foster stronger ties and collaboration between the venture ecosystems of Korea and Japan.

During the roundtable discussion, nine Korean startups currently operating in Japan shared their experiences, discussing challenges they face and policy directions with government officials.

Chansun Park, CEO of Txinno Bioscience, noted, “Japan offers strong geographical accessibility, a solid domestic market, and global recognition. Succeeding in Japan creates a favorable environment for global expansion. In particular, for biotech startups, collaborations with major global pharmaceutical companies could present a significant opportunity.”

Txinno Bioscience specializes in developing cancer treatments. In January 2025, its proprietary immuno-oncology drug candidate, TXN10128, received Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), further solidifying its technological credibility on the global stage.

At the Korean startup investment pitch session, ten startups from sectors including AI, IT, biotech, and cosmetics showcased their technologies to investors from Korea and Japan.

Among them, EverEx, led by orthopedic specialist Dr. Yoon Chan, presented “MORA Care,” a musculoskeletal self-care solution for office workers that won an Innovation Award at CES 2024. The company has secured investments from LG Electronics and Samsung NEXT and is now looking to expand into the Japanese market.

Alicorn, a startup developing an AI and IoT-based all-in-one unmanned business operation system, has entered Japan through a business partnership with Rakuten, offering localized services.

Purplus is also making strides in Japan with its kids’ cosmetics brand, Cocoheali, which emphasizes safety and design innovation. The ten startups that participated in the investment pitch session are expected to use this opportunity as a springboard for their expansion into Japan.

Minister Oh concluded, “The global business landscape is shifting from being dominated by big tech companies reliant on large-scale infrastructure investments to one where startups with cutting-edge technology take center stage. Korea’s technological prowess and creativity have been globally recognized, with 152 Korean companies winning 210 innovation awards at CES 2025.”

She added, “MSS will continue to establish over $750 million (KRW 1 trillion) in global funds annually to support Korean startups in attracting global investments, helping to realize the vision of Startup Korea.”