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• Period : 12 Jan., 2025 ~ 18 Jan., 2026

Catch up on last week’s top stories from the startup ecosystem in the Korean Startup Weekly News. 

Headline

Marketing Platform ‘BOOSTERZ’ Secures $25.4M Investment, Expands into K-Beauty and K-Healthcare
Korean startup BOOSTERZ closes $25.4M RCPS round led by SBI Investment. The K-brand platform achieved $68M revenue in 2024 and plans expansion into K-beauty and K-healthcare markets with strong parent company FSN backing.

Korean Government News

Korea and China Launch Cross-Border Venture Fund at Shanghai Summit
Korea and China launch $25M cross-border venture fund at Shanghai Summit, strengthening startup ecosystem collaboration and investment ties.

Latest Funding News

Check out the latest funding news for Korean startups 

SDT Raises $20.6M to Build AI-Quantum Hybrid Infrastructure
Korean quantum tech startup SDT secures $20.6M to build AI-quantum hybrid infrastructure. Plans 2026 IPO after delivering Korea’s first commercial quantum system. 

AiderX Secures $6.82M Pre-Series A to Build AI Infrastructure for Customer Behavior Prediction
Korean AI startup aiderx raises $6.82M pre-Series A from Smilegate Investment, Altos Ventures, and Korea Development Bank to expand its customer behavior prediction AI infrastructure that operates within enterprise data environments, addressing data security and AI internalization needs.

Coxwave Secures $4.8M to Strengthen AI Trust Technology and Agent Verification Platform
Korean AI analytics startup Coxwave raises $4.8M Pre-Series A led by L&S Venture Capital to advance AI agent verification technology and expand its AX consulting business across global markets. Total funding reaches $8.5M.

Battery Materials Startup ‘KOREALFP’ Raises $3M to Expand US Production and Global Supply Chain
Korean battery materials startup KOREALFP raises $3M from Korinvest Group at CES 2026. The company previously won CES 2025 innovation award for world’s first fire-suppressing battery management system. Plans US production expansion.

Korean Cultivated Meat Startup TissenBioFarm Selected for Global TIPS Program
Korean cultivated meat startup Tissenbiofarm joins Global TIPS program with Beyond Impact backing, eyeing international expansion.

AI Construction Startup FOBECON Raises Pre-Series A Funding
Korean AI construction startup FOBECON secures pre-Series A funding from Xplor Investment and Magellan Technology Investment. The ConTech company’s AutoQTO solution automates construction cost estimation using AI, driving digital transformation across Korea’s construction industry.

FLO-LOUNGE Raises Pre-Series A Follow-on to Scale AI-Powered Flower Delivery Network
Korean flower distribution platform FLO-LOUNGE secures pre-Series A follow-on from CNT Tech. AI-powered demand forecasting and proprietary preservation tech extend flower life 3x. Active in 50+ retail channels including E-Mart, Lotte.

Hybrid Casual Game Studio ‘Peb’ Secures $690K Seed Round
Korean hybrid casual game studio Peb raises $690K seed funding from Crit Ventures. Developing “Dig & Roll” with global launch planned for H1 2026. Founded by Treeplla veterans behind 40M+ download hit “Cat Snack Bar.”

SYU Raises $544K Seed Funding for AI-Powered Workflow Automation Platform
Korean AI startup SYU secures $544K seed funding from SUN Angel Partners and Series Ventures. The company’s platform automatically converts messages into ERP tasks, reducing manual data entry across industries while maintaining existing workflows.

SOLATOZ Raises Funding to Upcycle Solar Panel Waste into Eco-Greenhouses
Korean climate tech startup SOLATOZ secures funding from Seoul Techno Holdings to upcycle waste solar panels into eco-greenhouses. Converts panel waste into high-performance glass and restored panels for energy-self-sufficient agriculture. 

Korean Startup Interview

Meet startups that are striving for global expansion through exclusive interviews

[Korean Startup Interview] UBITAS Biotech: Pioneering Next-Generation Protein Degradation Technology to Transform Cancer Treatment
UBITAS Biotech is pioneering Protea-Tac, a first-in-class protein degradation platform that eliminates disease-causing proteins without ubiquitin, achieving proven anti-cancer results.

[Korean Startup Interview] BioArchers: Revolutionizing Oral Drug Delivery with NanoLink™ Platform Technology
BioArchers develops NanoLink™, an oral drug delivery platform using mesoporous silica nanoparticles to transform injectable peptide drugs like GLP-1 into once-weekly oral treatments with dramatically improved bioavailability.

Korean Venture Capital News

Bluepoint Partners Tops Accelerator Rankings for Second Year with 392-Company Portfolio
Bluepoint Partners expands to 392 portfolio companies with $149M in follow-on funding raised in 2025. Four IPOs achieved.