THE SMC Raises $13M to Advance AI-Powered Creator Marketing Platform Ahead of IPO

THE SMC, a South Korean social media-focused brand content company, has secured approximately $13 million (KRW 20 billion) in a pre-IPO funding round. The round drew participation from LB Investment, Timefolio Asset Management, Kolon Investment, and Kolmar Korea.

The company has selected Mirae Asset Securities and Eugene Investment & Securities as lead underwriters for a planned listing on the KOSDAQ market, targeting a preliminary review filing in the second half of this year. Proceeds from the round will be directed toward enhancing its AI solutions, expanding overseas operations, and talent acquisition.

At the core of THE SMC’s AI business is its proprietary analytics platform, Lens by The SMC. The tool analyzes content trends and user engagement across social media to identify the most suitable creators and content formats for brand campaigns. Built on a database of more than 100,000 creator profiles, Lens has been deployed in global advertiser campaigns — delivering a cumulative view count exceeding 140 million and a conversion efficiency roughly 10 times higher than conventional approaches.

THE SMC has maintained profitability for 17 consecutive years, and its operating profit last year grew approximately 2.6 times year-over-year. Looking ahead, the company plans to scale a business model that bridges creator-driven sponsored content with e-commerce, while accelerating expansion into East Asian markets including Japan and Taiwan.

“This investment reflects the trust our partners have placed in the expertise, creator network, and AI capabilities we’ve built in the social media space,” said Yongtae Kim, CEO of THE SMC. “Through our listing, we plan to concentrate investment on advancing the Lens technology and broaden our reach across the creator economy.”