Crit Ventures announced on the 16th that it executed a total of 25.1 billion won in investments, including 22.5 billion won domestically and 2.6 billion won (approximately 1.8 million dollars) overseas, and made 25 investments over the past year.
In 2023, Crit Ventures invested evenly in K-content fields such as games, music, and media, as well as in new technology-based business model innovation fields such as platforms, commerce, AI, and blockchain, thereby revitalizing the frozen venture investment market. The investment amount by field was distributed as follows: media 22%, music 19%, games 18%, platforms 17%, AI 9%, blockchain 7%, commerce 4%, and bio 4%.
Major investment companies include K-pop global distributor Kai Media, game developer Everton, media and commerce convergence Brave Company, webtoon platform Guru Company, and blockchain company Kirin Labs. In particular, Crit Ventures invested 2.7 billion won in Kai Media exclusively, focusing on the global expansion of K-content. Kai Media operates the world’s largest K-pop digital channel Hello82 and is expanding its global K-pop distribution business.
Crit Ventures also invested 5 billion won in a global distribution project for ATEEZ’s albums, recording an internal rate of return (IRR) of 17%. In addition, it signed an investment contract with Everton, founded by former Nexon CEO Dae-Hwon Kim, and Everton is developing an MMORPG and a next-generation shooting game simultaneously.
As for the recovery performance, the investees, Nomus and Studio Samik, were listed on KOSDAQ and recovered a total of 8.7 billion won. In addition, K-pop production company Diodi achieved great results by securing 12.1 billion won through follow-up investment, and Galaxy Corporation is preparing for an IPO this year.
Song Jae-jun, CEO of Crit Ventures, said, “The content industry is a field where Korea’s global competitiveness stands out, and we will actively discover and support startups that combine new technologies and new business models with industrial competitiveness.”
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