Ares3, a Korean startup providing wholesale and retail flower distribution services, has raised approximately USD 730,000(KRW 1 billion) in its Series A round. The investment was led by global venture capital firm Strong Ventures, with Seoul Techno Holdings participating as a co-investor. This funding reflects recognition of Ares3’s leading performance across both B2C and B2B segments in the domestic floral market, as well as its solid revenue management capabilities.

Founded in March 2020, AresIII originated from FLRY, a nonprofit project selected as one of the Google Impact Challenge Korea Top 10 in 2017. In 2024, the company achieved annual revenue of around USD 4.4M(KRW 6 billion) through its wholesale and retail floral distribution services, operating the consumer-facing subscription service “Honest Flower” and the business-targeted application “FlowerGo.”

Ares3 began as a donation platform repurposing discarded wedding flowers for underserved communities. Today, the company pursues sustainable management by enabling efficient operations of the largest variety of fresh flowers in Korea and abroad, including farm-to-table partner farms.

The consumer subscription service “Honest Flower” has achieved an NPS(Net Promoter Score) of 76 and a repurchase rate of 60%, setting industry-leading benchmarks in customer satisfaction. It has provided high-quality floral experiences that allow consumers to enjoy flowers in daily life. Notably, Honest Flower became the first floral subscription service in Korea to collaborate with Genesis during a new car launch, maintaining the partnership for five years as a testament to its operational excellence.

The business-focused service “FlowerGo” allows floral businesses to purchase flowers easily without visiting traditional markets. Since its launch, FlowerGo has recorded 35% annual growth over two years, with 20% of domestic floral businesses now using the app. Its supply track record includes luxury hotels such as Shilla Hotel and Chosun Hotel, demonstrating proven reliability in quality.

Jinho Bang, Director at Strong Ventures, stated, “Ares3 is a proven team that has immersed itself across the floral value chain for years, with best-in-class freshness management and distribution capabilities. With achievements across both B2C and B2B, I am confident they will be a key player in realizing the vision of ‘making flowers part of everyday life.’”

Seunghwan Mok, CEO of Seoul Techno Holdings, added, “The floral industry has long faced challenges in digital transformation, with few clear success cases in Korea. By reducing waste and driving efficient digitalization, AresIII has demonstrated new possibilities.”

Ares3 CEO Dain Kim commented, “This investment is not just financial support but a validation of the operational expertise and customer-centric philosophy we have built through deep immersion in the floral market. We will continue leading the industry so that everyone can enjoy a life with flowers.”

Leveraging this investment, Ares3 plans to shift public perception of flowers as a luxury good and accelerate its vision of “everyday flowers.” Starting in Q4 2025, Honest Flower will expand consumer-facing brand communication activities, introduce diverse floral lifestyle concepts, and experiment with offline channels where consumers can directly experience “flowers in everyday life.”