SBVA (CEO Lee Jun-pyo) , an AI and deep tech investment firm, announced on the 22nd that it has completed investments totaling 126.7 billion won in 17 companies through 2025. Six of these companies are overseas, accounting for approximately 35% of the total investment, demonstrating an expansion of investments targeting the global market.
Investment areas include AI, robotics, content, commerce, and healthcare. The portfolio is structured with a particular focus on deep-tech areas such as satellite image AI, drone AI, quadrupedal robots, and vanadium-ion batteries. The investment mix by sector is as follows: AI (44%), robotics (27%), commerce (11%), content (10%), and healthcare (4%). Regionally, Korea accounts for 54% of the investment, followed by the US (39%) and Japan (6%).
Key investment companies include Telefix and Eridu Corporation in the AI sector, Lion Robotics and Tacta Systems in the robotics sector, and Carrot Market and Mineice in the commerce sector. Lion Robotics and Tacta Systems, with SBVA as the lead investor, have expanded their strategic investments in the robotics industry.
SBVA established the "Alpha Korea Sovereign AI Fund" in December of last year, with a total asset under management of 150 billion won (approximately $1.6 billion USD), and plans to continue focusing on investments in AI and deep tech startups. The fund aims to revitalize the domestic AI ecosystem by implementing a three-stage strategy encompassing initial, growth, and follow-on investments, while also supporting global market integration.
Lee Jun-pyo, CEO of SBVA, stated, "2025 will be a year when both investment and recovery results in the AI and deep tech sectors will be visible simultaneously. Building on our global investment experience, we will focus on discovering and nurturing startups that will lead the era of sovereign AI." SBVA, a former SoftBank Ventures executive, has early-stage investments in domestic and international startups, including Lunit, Carrot, and SemiFive.
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