[Edaily Marketin, Reporter Soyoung Park ] This week (August 31–September 4), startups across various sectors—including virtual intellectual property (IP), freight transportation, social apps, and space technology—secured investments from venture capital (VC) firms and accelerators (ACs).

Many of these are early-stage startups based on artificial intelligence (AI) technology. Investors focused on the global scalability of each company. Strategic investments were also made to create synergies with existing portfolio companies.

Accord Entertainment, the agency for

the

virtual IP group '

MY:RAKL

'

Accord Entertainment, the agency for the virtual group MY:RAKL, secured a total of 2 billion won in pre-Series A funding. Smilegate, CNT Tech, and SM Culture Partners participated in this investment round. The investors focused on the growth potential of the company’s virtual artist IP. They also highly evaluated its distinctive content planning and production capabilities, as well as its potential for expansion into the global K-pop market, leading to the decision for strategic investment.

Accord Entertainment is developing its IP business centered on its proprietary virtual IP, MY:RAKL. This encompasses music, a unique universe, live content, and a fan community. The company plans to use the funds from this investment to further advance its virtual production system. At the same time, it plans to actively invest in: △ strengthening the competitiveness of its proprietary IP; △ producing new content; △ expanding its global fanbase; and △ developing next-generation virtual projects. It also plans to expand its business scope beyond music and content into various digital IP ventures. The company aims to make a full-scale leap toward becoming a global virtual entertainment company.

AI-Based Freight Transportation Platform ‘Sendi’

Sendi, an AI-based freight

transportation

platform, has successfully secured 1 billion won in a Series C funding round from Colzdynamics. Colz Dynamics invested in the company based on a strategic perspective focused on improving the logistics structures of local businesses in the △lifestyle, △food, and △manufacturing sectors. With this investment, Colz Dynamics aims to establish itself as a specialized investment firm for local companies, capable of investing freely across all stages from seed to Series C rounds. Furthermore, the firm plans to explore synergies by integrating Sendi’s logistics technology with the local growth companies it has recently invested in.

Sendi is an AI-based freight matching platform that connects shippers and truck owners. It handles transportation demand ranging from 1-metric-ton delivery vans to 25-metric-ton heavy-duty trucks. The company has secured major B2B shippers such as Coupang, A-Sung Daiso, and AJ Networks as clients. It has also continuously expanded its service reach through an AI logistics partnership with Hyundai Motor Company and its inclusion in Toss’s “App in Toss” platform.

AI Social App Operator ‘But Beautiful’

But Beautiful, the operator of the AI-native social application “truloop,” has secured a pre-Series A investment. The round was led by Laguna Investment, with participation from Krit Ventures, Kiwoom Investment, Jet Venture Capital (ZVC), and Kim Bong-jin, Chairman of Grande Clip. Laguna Investment, which led the round, assessed that the company has high potential for rapid growth in the global market. They believe that, based on its proven execution capabilities, the company can deliver a new social experience in the AI era.

But Beautiful was founded last year by CEO Park Soo-man, the founder of the microblogging service “me2day” and the person who oversaw the planning and launch of Naver’s “BAND.” The company was incorporated in the U.S. state of Delaware and launched with Los Angeles as its base. The company has been joined by talent from major domestic IT firms, including Chief Business Officer (CBO) Kim Hyung-il, who led Naver Webtoon’s entire IP OSMU business and its growth in the U.S. From the outset, the company has developed its service with the global market in mind.

ButViewReful operates “Churoop,” an AI-native social platform that integrates the entire gathering process into a single service. The AI analyzes participants’ schedules to recommend a time that works for everyone. It also assists with venue selection and restaurant reservations. Furthermore, after the gathering, it automatically collects photos taken by attendees to generate personalized stories and highlight content.

Churoop aims to create a virtuous cycle where users who experience the service within a community naturally expand its use to everyday gatherings with friends—such as dinner parties, trips, and sports activities. Based on this, the company’s strategy is to evolve into a new type of service where personal gatherings and community activities are connected within a single social graph.

Space Propulsion Solutions Company 'SpaceLab'

SpaceLab, a space propulsion solutions company, has secured seed funding from Bluepoint Partners. The exact investment amount and company valuation remain undisclosed. Bluepoint noted that propulsion systems capable of simultaneously delivering high thrust, precise control, and low toxicity represent an area that has been underserved until now. The firm explained that its decision to invest was based on the significant potential for SpaceLab’s technology to expand into orbital maneuvers and in-orbit services.

SpaceLab is a space propulsion specialist founded in 2023. It develops satellite propulsion systems using low-toxicity propellants and electrically controlled thrust technology. The company aims to provide propulsion solutions applicable to a wide range of space missions. These include attitude control and orbital maneuvers, as well as de-orbiting after mission completion, rendezvous and docking, and in-orbit refueling.

The investment funds will be focused on developing an electrically controlled thruster to be installed on the payload satellite for the sixth launch of the Nuri rocket, as well as on validating its performance in the space environment. The company plans to verify performance in an actual orbital environment to collect data on thruster ignition, operation, and close-proximity maneuvers. This data will serve as a key reference for commercializing the product to domestic and international satellite manufacturers and operators.