Establishing a full-cycle support system that connects Free Tips – Tips – Scale-up Tips
If it is a startup team with execution capabilities, we actively invest regardless of the field.
Discovering ultra-early stage companies and leading them to IPOs… Crowdworks, Qualitas Semiconductor
Expanding support for global expansion, focusing on APAC
There is a corporate accelerator in the Korean startup ecosystem that is famous as the “TIPS Factory.” iAccel, the investment division of Infobank, is the operator of the private-sector-led technology startup support project “TIPS,” and is achieving the highest level of performance. It produced the most TIPS companies among all TIPS operators for two years from 2022 to 2023, and was also selected as a scale-up TIPS operator in 2024, receiving a commendation from the Minister of SMEs and Startups.
iExcel is an independent division of Infobank, a first-generation venture company in Korea, and is a corporate accelerator that has been discovering, nurturing, and investing in early-stage startups since 2016. Based on Infobank’s extensive experience in new businesses and IPOs, it discovers and supports innovative startups.
Responsible for the entire life cycle of a technology startup with strong TIPS operational capabilities
iExcel is participating as an operator in all stage-based support projects that discover technology startups, from Pre-TIPS to TIPS and Scale-up TIPS. It has a solid support system that supports the entire startup cycle from the pre-foundation stage to the growth stage.
Among the portfolio companies of iExcel, a total of 223 companies have been selected for TIPS, and more than 70% of them achieved growth of more than three times within 1-2 years. Regarding the secret to fostering successful companies, CEO Hong Jong-cheol emphasized, “First, it is important to find a good deal.” “With the know-how acquired through 10 years of investment, we select teams with potential to be selected for TIPS in the future. We look at execution power, technology, and team capabilities differently depending on the industry.”
'The deeper the valley, the higher the peak' Active investment even in the coldest season
iExcel’s philosophy that it is important to actively discover good startup teams has shone through during the investment slump. Last year, it invested a total of 20.9 billion won in 83 companies. CEO Hong said, “There are more opportunities to invest in promising teams that are relatively undervalued. We are in the valley now, so now all that is left is to climb to the peak,” and he saw this as an opportunity for the investment company.
iExcel is characterized by investing in all sectors, not just specific ones. The total number of companies invested in this way is 320, and major portfolio companies include Crowdworks, Qualitas Semiconductor, Vincen, and Weissen. Among them, Crowdworks and Qualitas Semiconductor succeeded in IPO listing last year.
Differentiated nurturing strategy that grows startups by more than 5 times
As startups in various fields are discovered, the concerns and difficulties of each company are also diverse. iExcel is building a complex post-management system to respond quickly without missing any of these concerns. A dedicated reviewer is assigned to closely manage them, and issues are shared and support measures are discussed at regular meetings where all reviewers gather every week.
CEO Hong Jong-cheol says, “I want to build a comfortable relationship with startups so that they can talk about their concerns without hesitation, like talking to their siblings.” The goal is to immediately identify and provide assistance when any financial or business-related issues arise.
We also provide various support programs tailored to the growth stage of startups, such as patent application consulting, support for recruiting excellent talent, capacity building education for early/potential founders, demo days, and dedicated mentoring. Thanks to this strategy, iExcel’s portfolio companies have grown by an average of more than five times, recording a cumulative follow-up investment of more than KRW 300 billion.
Strategically executing from discovering local startups to supporting global expansion
iExcel recently established a regional fund to revitalize the local economy. The purpose is to discover local startups that are performing well in promising industries such as the environment. CEO Hong Jong-cheol said, “There are many companies in the local area that have the same level of technology as the metropolitan area, but there are relatively few investment opportunities,” and emphasized, “If local companies perform well, we can create a virtuous cycle that revitalizes the entire local economy.”
We are also expanding our global acceleration, focusing on APAC (Asia Pacific). We are currently operating the 'K-Global InnoVista' acceleration program in cooperation with Plug and Play in 2024, and have signed MOUs with local investors in Japan, Thailand, and Singapore. Regarding this move, CEO Hong said, "We judged that APAC is a market where we can quickly enter and grow. For example, Thailand has a revitalized tourism infrastructure and a high demand for technological innovation, so there is a lot of room for Korean technology startups to enter."
iExcel is not just an investment company, but a partner that accompanies the entire growth process of startups. CEO Hong Jong-cheol emphasized “execution ability” as a practical strategy for startups to overcome the investment slump, saying, “Opportunities come to those who persevere. You have to try many support projects, enter the market quickly, and persevere while achieving even small results.” Attention is being paid to the positive impact that iExcel, which demonstrates its rapid execution ability, will have on the Korean startup ecosystem.
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