[Edaily Reporter Kwon Oh Seok ] On the 3rd, domestic venture capital firm SBI Investment KOREA Co., Ltd.(019550)announced that the promising startups it has proactively identified and invested in are bearing fruit as they are successively pursuing stock market listings. The company’s investment acumen is once again drawing attention as portfolio companies spanning a wide range of high-tech industries—including autonomous driving, artificial intelligence (AI), and semiconductors and displays—are successively entering the initial public offering (IPO) process.(Photo courtesy of SBI Investment KOREA Co., Ltd.) In the mobility sector, RideFlux, a Level 4 autonomous driving AI (artificial intelligence) company, filed for a preliminary listing review with the Korea Exchange (KRX) on the 14th of last month. This comes just three months after the company received an “A” rating from both of two specialized technical evaluation agencies last May. Korea Investment & Securities and Woori Technology Investment Co., Ltd are jointly serving as the lead underwriters. Based in Jeju, RideFlux develops full-stack AI software for autonomous driving—including perception, decision-making, control, and high-precision mapping—and is the only company in South Korea to hold a permit for test operations of driverless autonomous vehicles. Recently, the company has been expanding its reach into the logistics market by conducting robotic truck freight transport in partnership with HANJIN Logistics Corporation and Lotte Global Logistics. SBI Investment KOREA Co., Ltd., recognizing the growth potential of driverless transport mobility, has made two rounds of funding since its initial investment in 2020. SelectStar, an AI data and reliability assessment firm, also passed the technology evaluation for a KOSDAQ listing under the technology exception category last July and is accelerating its efforts with the goal of filing for a preliminary listing review by the end of the year. SelectStar provides “Datumo Service,” a data design and implementation service tailored to AI development and deployment objectives, and “Datumo Platform,” a performance and safety evaluation platform. SBI Investment KOREA Co., Ltd., anticipating that the focus of AI competition will shift from data volume to reliability verification, participated as an investor in the company’s Series B round in 2025. Successes are also emerging in the materials, parts, and equipment sector. Yeonggwang YKMC, which possesses precision processing and surface treatment technologies for semiconductors and displays, filed for a KOSDAQ preliminary listing review last July. SBI Investment KOREA Co., Ltd. recognized Yeonggwang YKMC’s technological competitiveness and scalability in a market previously dominated by a handful of companies and has continued to invest in the company since its Series A round in 2020. In addition, DTS, a provider of total solutions for heat exchangers, is poised to list on KOSDAQ, and Musinsa, South Korea’s leading Fashion Platform Co.,Ltd., is reportedly preparing for an IPO. An SBI Investment KOREA Co., Ltd. official explained, “Companies such as RideFlux, SelectStar, and Yeonggwang YKMC possess unique technological capabilities and potential, and we have supported their growth from the earliest stages.” The official added, “The successive IPOs of our portfolio companies are the result of a virtuous cycle investment strategy that involves proactive discovery, follow-up support, listing, and exit.” The official continued, “The essence of our work lies not in the listing itself, but in helping our portfolio companies secure sustainable competitiveness within the market,” adding, “We will continue to focus on identifying promising companies that will lead the market at an early stage and enhancing their corporate value.”
LGELECTRONICS will unveil an expanded artificial intelligence (AI) home ecosystem at “IFA 2026,” Europe’s largest home appliance trade show, that integrates the management of spaces both inside and ou…
The convenience store industry is ramping up competition with so-called “exclusive products” available only at specific chains. Even for the same type of snack, the flavors available vary depending on…
The Google app has surpassed Naver (NAVER(035420)) in monthly active users (MAU) in South Korea for two consecutive months. Although Naver’s user base also grew, Google’s user base grew at a faster ra…