[E-Daily Marketin, Reporter Soyoung Park ] This week (October 26–30), startups across various sectors—including equipment, medical devices, and platforms for repairing pre-owned luxury goods—secured investments from venture capital (VC) firms and accelerators (ACs). In particular, domestic and international investors this week focused their attention on companies in high-tech industries such as artificial intelligence (AI) semiconductors, space, and energy. These companies attracted large-scale investments while being valued in the trillions of won.

AI Semiconductor Company 'FuriosaAI'

AI semiconductor company FuriosaAI has successfully secured 820 billion won in Series D funding. In this round, FuriosaAI was valued at 3.8 trillion won. The company had set out to raise between 450 billion and 750 billion won in January of this year. It increased the fundraising target as investor interest grew. Participants in this round included the National Growth Fund, Infinitum, Singapore’s QUDA Capital Partners, Cisco Investments, Abu Dhabi’s Neoport Holdings, and U.S.-based Jericho Capital and Worldline Capital.

In addition, domestic investors including the Korea Development Bank, Naver, DSC Investment, KDB Capital, Nextrans, and Kakao Investment executed follow-on investments. YuAMCO, the Export-Import Bank of Korea, and Hanwha Asset Management joined as new investors.

FuriosaAI will use the investment funds to expand production and supply capabilities for its second-generation AI semiconductor, “Renegade (RNGD).” The company also plans to use the funds to expand its overseas customer base and strengthen its software ecosystem. RNGD, which entered mass production in January of this year, is currently being supplied to LG AI Research, Samsung SDS, and Upstage, among others. The company is also accelerating the development of its third-generation AI accelerator, which it is developing in collaboration with Broadcom.

U.S. Space Data Center Company ‘StarCloud’

StarCloud, a U.S. startup building low-Earth orbit space data centers, has secured a total of $250 million (approximately 331.1 billion won) in new investment. This round was led by Manhattan West Ventures. Participants included NVIDIA, Cisco Investments, Benchmark, and EQT. Dunamu & Partners was the only Korean investor to participate in this round. With this, the company’s cumulative investment has reached $450 million (approximately 600 billion won). In this round, the company was valued at $2.3 billion (approximately 3.0461 trillion won).

StarCloud is a space data center company founded in 2024 by engineers from SpaceX Starlink and Airbus. The company believes that space data centers will become the most cost-effective and scalable method of computing power delivery within the next 10 years. In space, solar power is available 24 hours a day, and waste heat can be radiated into deep space without the need for cooling water. Leveraging this environment, the company is developing data center satellites equipped with solar panels, radiation shielding, and thermal control systems designed for the space environment.

StarCloud aims to build a constellation of 88,000 satellites with an orbital computing capacity of 20 gigawatts (GW). It has applied for an operating license from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The funds secured in this round will be invested in expanding manufacturing capabilities and developing the production line for its next-generation orbital data center satellite, “StarCloud-3.”

Clean Energy Technology Company ‘Amogi’

Amogi, a clean energy technology company specializing in ammonia-based solutions, has secured a $20 million (approximately 26.8 billion won) investment from the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM). Amogi is currently raising $200 million (approximately 266.8 billion won) in a Series C funding round to accelerate the mass production and commercialization of its power generation modules. KEXIM is participating in this round as the lead investor.

Ammoji is a climate tech company founded in the U.S. in 2020 by four Korean alumni who earned their Ph.D.s from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Ammoji has developed a catalytic technology that breaks down ammonia into hydrogen. Based on this technology, the company has launched a “modular carbon-free power generation system” that generates electricity using hydrogen extracted from ammonia.

Multiscale Instruments, a company specializing in semiconductor measurement equipment

Multiscale Instruments, a startup developing next-generation semiconductor microstructure measurement equipment, has secured new investment. Participants in this investment round included Seoul National University Technology Holdings, Korea Investment Partners, ID Ventures, and the Korea Technology Finance Corporation. Seoul National University Technology Holdings focused on the fact that the company possesses a unique structure capable of overcoming the limitations of existing technology in the atomic force microscope market for semiconductors, which had been monopolized by a handful of domestic and international companies.

Founded in 2023, Multiscale Instruments is a company specializing in semiconductor measurement equipment, established by a group of master’s and doctoral-level researchers from the laboratory of Professor Je Won-ho of the Department of Physics at Seoul National University. Professor Je Won-ho, who serves as CEO, is a world-renowned physicist with technical expertise in the field of ultra-precise measurement.

Multiscale Instruments has independently developed a “QTF-method” atomic force microscope that applies the precise vibration principles of quartz crystals, which are used in components such as electronic watches. Unlike existing equipment, this method does not require lasers or complex optical components, allowing the sensor head (measurement head) to be made extremely small. Multiple sensor heads can be mounted on a single device to enable simultaneous measurements. This innovation dramatically improves measurement speed by more than tenfold while maintaining the stability and high precision required to minimize damage to components.

Medical Device Startup ‘Sonocare Lab’

Sonocare Lab, a startup developing ultrasound-based medical devices for brain disorders, has secured seed investment from Bluepoint Partners. The investment amount and company valuation remain undisclosed. Bluepoint highly valued Sonocare Lab as a team possessing differentiated technology that non-invasively regulates the brain’s waste removal mechanism, built upon the company’s long-standing expertise in developing ultrasound medical devices.

Sonocare Lab was founded by Professor Jin-hyung Park of the Department of Global Biomedical Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University. The company was established based on core ultrasound technology for brain treatment accumulated while working on a project under the Samsung Future Technology Promotion Program.

Sonocare Lab’s core technology is the “Acoustic Brain Sweeper.” It promotes circulation using proprietary sweeping technology that directs ultrasound waves in a specific direction. The principle involves applying physical stimulation to the pathways through which waste products exit the brain to activate the drainage function. The company aims to develop this technology as a companion device to be used in conjunction with antibody therapies. The idea is to enhance treatment efficacy by aiding in the elimination of waste products.

LRHR

, a Platform for

Consignment Sales

and Repairs of

Pre-Owned Luxury Goods LRHR

, a startup operating “Pappis,” a platform for

consignment sales and repairs of pre-owned luxury goods

, has secured new investment from Kim Bong-jin, Chairman of GrandeClip and founder of Baemin. The investment amount was not disclosed. Pafis had previously received investments from Smilegate Investment, Bon Angels, Base Ventures, and SparkLabs.

Pappis’ “Repair and Resell” service repairs pre-owned luxury goods—which are difficult to sell at full price due to scratches or discoloration—to increase their value before selling them on consignment. When customers upload photos to the app, they receive a repair estimate and an estimated selling price. Repair costs and service fees are deducted from the proceeds after the sale, so there are no upfront costs for the customer. The company opened its first flagship store in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, on the 28th.

It is also expanding its overseas sales channels. Pappis currently exports products to about 10 countries, including France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Japan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Australia. The company explained that South Korea is emerging as a new supply hub for the global resale market.