Hongneung Small Giant Special Zone Expands Investment Institution Council to 47 Members

Investment Linkage According to Growth Stages of Technology Startups

The Seoul Hongneung Small Giant Special Zone is expanding its investment cooperation system to connect investment institutions tailored to the growth stages of technology startups.

On the 30th of last month, key attendees are taking a commemorative photo at the Launching Ceremony of the Hongneung Small Giant District Phase 2 Investment Institution Council held at the Seoul Bio Hub Global Center. Photo by Seoul Hongneung Small Giant District Project Group

On October 2, the Seoul Hongneung Small Giant Special Zone Project Group announced that it held the 'Hongneung Small Giant Special Zone Phase 2 Investment Institution Council Launch Ceremony' at the Seoul Bio Hub Global Center on September 30, and signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with 19 new investment institutions. As a result, the number of council participants increased from the previous 28 to a total of 47.

The Project Group operates participating institutions in four groups: discovery and nurturing, early-stage investment, growth-stage investment, and scaling up/IPO. Companies discovered through the special zone support projects will be matched with investment institutions suited to their growth stage and investment needs, from the pre-seed stage all the way to an initial public offering (IPO).

The newly joined institutions include 12 accelerators (ACs), 5 venture capital firms (VCs), 1 corporate venture capital (CVC), and 1 other. KIST Innovation, the technology commercialization arm of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), and Kyung Hee University Holdings have also joined.

The first phase of the council, which was launched in 2021, facilitated a total of 119 investments—totaling 15.88 billion won—through corporate briefings (IR), investor meetups, and investment consulting for companies in the special zone until 2025. The direct investment performance by council participants comprised 24 investments, totaling 1.29 billion won.

Hyunwoo Kim, Policy Chief of Seoul City, said, "I hope that Phase 2 will further strengthen practical investment linkages tailored to the growth stages of companies."

KIST Deputy Director Junyeon Jang stated, "KIST aims not only to be an institution that provides technology, but also to be a council member that makes early investments in these technologies and shares the associated risks."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.