NEXT LEVEL Studio, a next-generation K-content specialist, has successfully secured 3.5 billion KRW ($2.4 million USD) in Series A funding. The round was led by existing investor Timefolio Asset Management, with new participation from S2L Partners and We Ventures. The company smoothly achieved its initial target, reflecting strong investor confidence in its distinctive IP competitiveness and global expansion potential.

The webtoon industry has recently emerged as a critical hub for One Source Multi-Use (OSMU), expanding beyond platform serialization into dramas, animation, and games. As the status of premium webtoon IPs strengthens in global markets—particularly in Japan, the largest market—there has been concentrated reevaluation of content providers holding quality intellectual properties.

Lead investors noted that NEXT LEVEL Studio’s flagship IP, “The Way the Illegitimate Son of the Regression Swordsman Lives,” is rapidly realizing OSMU expansion amid fierce global competition for verified original content. They praised the company as a team combining trend-leading planning capabilities with the execution power to expand IPs across multiple formats. Another key factor in the investment decision was the company’s proprietary story IP-based workspace platform “creco,” which maximizes production efficiency while driving digital transformation in the industry.

Founded in 2021, NEXT LEVEL Studio has built a solid fanbase with multiple hit titles including “The Bastard of Swordborne,” “The Villainess’s Blind Date Is Too Perfect,” “The Great Demon God,” and “Reincarnator’s Stream.” The company has established a systematic approach that considers global expansion from the planning stage, proving a differentiated IP business model compared to traditional content providers. The creco service has already demonstrated its versatility and effectiveness among several major content providers during its closed beta period.

With this funding, NEXT LEVEL Studio plans to expand its original IP lineup, accelerate secondary commercialization into video, games, and merchandise, and intensify its entry into global markets including North America and Japan.

“This Series A raise represents a crucial milestone in our evolution from a simple production house to a global IP powerhouse,” said Sungin Park, CEO of NEXT LEVEL Studio. “We will deliver joy to readers worldwide with differentiated stories while establishing a sustainable content ecosystem by presenting global standards in webtoon production.”