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More South Korean investor are put money into Southeast Korea startup , creating an “ investment corridor ” between the two regions . The up-to-the-minute one is KIPSEA . Short forKorea Investment PartnersSoutheast Asia , KIPSEA has a Singapore - based team and just announced its first fund close of $ 60 million . Limited mate come from South Korea , Hong Kong and Singapore , and let in Samsung Life Insurance , Korea Development Bank , Korea Growth Investment Corporation , Woomi Global , Mirana Ventures and Korea Investment & Securities .
KIPSEA head Synclare Kim tells TechCrunch that KIP is bullish on Southeast Asia because of how fast the market is growing . The sector - agnostic fund will focus on cum to Series B startups , especially unity that project to blow up into South Korea .
Kim says KIPSEA concentrate on early - stage startup because it can contribute value , including consultancy , on-going come after - up investments and connection to its wide investment connection in Asia . Since its launch in 1986 , KIP has enthrone in more than 900 companies and has $ 3 billion in asset under management , let in South Korean company Kakao , Naver and YG Entertainment , Vietnam ’s vitamin E - commerce platform Tiki.vn and health tech startup Halodoc from Indonesia .
The raw investment trust ’s typical check size of it will range from $ 2 million to $ 3 million . About 60 % of the stock will be allocated to first investments , while the rest will be for follow - up investments .
Kim says KIPSEA will work out closely with founders in its portfolio , like monitor their direction site and , if there is a motive , using its resources to suffer startup by providing them with strategic management and connections with partner . “ These sort of activities are all-important to make value for our portfolio company , ” he says .
KIP is a foot soldier of Korea Investment Holdings , a publicly listed financial conglomerate whose holdings admit security department , plus management , banking , deferred payment finance , private equity and literal estate . This is not the first prison term Korea Investment Holdings has launch a Southeast Asia - sharpen store . In 2018 , it plant the GEC - KIP Technology and Innovation Fund , base in Singapore , with Golden Equator Ventures . Kim says that KIP desire to find a pardner for its first raid into Southeast Asia , but over sentence it became more convinced , setting up an office in Singapore and finally deciding to set in motion its own fund .
A small lot of KIPSEA ’s store will be reserve for South Korean company that contrive to expand into Southeast Asia . One of the reasons Southeast Asia is an attractive marketplace for Korean companies is because of its large universe . When all of its state are count together , Southeast Asia is the third most populous region in the cosmos . Another ground is that the venture ecosystem there is rapidly evolve , and many orbicular investors have shown interest in the region , afford financial market place more fluidness . “ I reckon it will make it easier to neutralize and exit our investment for this ground in the future , ” Kim say .
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Kim notes that many Korean companies have also expanded into the area , and Korean speculation capital into Southeast Asia is growing . “ That means you have more chances to find a effective society in the area , ” he say . “ If an investment ship’s company is looking for a candidate who has a kinship in the Korean market place and Southeast Asian market as well , many Korean VC investing companies have much more exposure in that expanse and have apportion more imagination to that surface area , too . ”
Some examples of other Korean investors prosecute Southeast Asia include the East Ventures and Seoul - based SV Investment’sannouncement of a $ 100 million funddedicated to Southeast Asian startups . Woori Venture Partnersrecently opened an office in Singaporeand made several investments , while Shinhan Venture Investment hasearmarked 50 % of its $ 200 million flagship fundfor the region .
For Southeast Asian companies that require to expand into Korea , Kim say that is a realistic goal because the two markets have more similar cultivation than compare to the United States or Europe . Korea also has a wide diversity of industry sector , giving Southeast Asiatic startups picture to more expertise and experience that can help them flourish and appeal customer .
