Bluepoint announced that it made new investments totaling approximately KRW 10.6 billion in 42 startups last year. This brings the cumulative number of startups Bluepoint has invested in to 372 as of the end of last year.
Investment industries were evenly distributed, with a notable focus on the recently emerging AI sector. Bluepoint's traditional investment areas, such as materials, components, and equipment, also saw a significant investment in industrial technology. By industry, investment was concentrated in industrial technology (26.2%), data and AI (23.8%), cleantech (19.0%), digital life (9.5%), content (7.1%), bio and medical (4.8%), healthcare (4.8%), foodtech (4.8%), and others (4.8%).
Among Bluepoint's investment portfolio, startups that secured additional funding last year totaled 189.2 billion won in follow-up funding. Furthermore, 29 teams were selected through Bluepoint's recommendations for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' technology startup support program, "TIPS." Six of these teams were selected for the "Deep Tech TIPS" program.
Despite challenging market conditions, Bluepoint has successfully launched its IPO portfolio. Tomocube, in which it invested since 2015, listed on the KOSDAQ in November of last year and is currently trading at a stock price exceeding its initial public offering price. In addition, Plasmapp and Inventage Lab successfully completed their IPOs, and approximately ten other companies are currently preparing for listing.
Additionally, Bluepoint established the first "Bluepoint Tipping Point Venture Investment Fund" last year, with a capital of 15 billion won, expanding its total assets under management (AUM) to 98.2 billion won. Furthermore, Bluepoint has been actively working with large corporations to identify promising early-stage companies. These partnerships include open innovation with GS Group and Hansol Group, collaboration with SK Happy Narae, and the in-house venture program "Studio 341" with LG Electronics, which has helped identify startups with high growth potential.
In the public sector, Bluepoint also operates programs to discover and support innovative startups. The Daejeon Youth Entrepreneurship Academy selected 39 teams and directly invested in four of them, resulting in new hires and increased sales. Furthermore, the company supports innovative quantum computing companies through its "Quantum Jump" program and, in collaboration with the Korea Tourism Organization, runs the "Battery" program, which verifies win-win models for local communities and startups.
Bluepoint has renovated its startup support space, "Starting Point," and has become a hub for Daejeon's startup scene. It also operates a placement program, "Dongchang," for prospective and early-stage startups.
Bluepoint CEO Lee Yong-kwan stated, "We are constantly exploring ways to improve investment efficiency in line with market and technological changes, and this year we will continue to strive to find investment methods fit for the future."
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