16 investors back Seoul deep tech in 2026. Korea treats chips and space as national goals. State funds and chaebols lead, with VCs backing earlier rounds.
Seoul builds deep tech at national scale. Chips and space lead the push.
The state and chaebols write the big cheques. Korea calls its chip plan K-Nvidia.
Independent VCs back earlier rounds. They seed chips, robots, and space.
Cheques run US$100K to US$250M. Chip rounds run the largest.
Foreign deep-tech funds now reach in too. They co-invest with the chaebols.
Deep-tech rounds run on hard proof. Ellty keeps your files in one tracked room.
| Type | Check size | Sector focus | Website | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mirae Asset Venture | VC | US$2M-$30M+ | AI chips, semis, AI infra | miraeassetventures.com |
| Korelya Capital | VC (Naver-backed) | US$10M-$50M | AI chips, semis, deep tech | korelyacapital.com |
| Samsung Catalyst Fund | Corporate VC (Samsung) | US$5M-$50M | AI chips, silicon, robotics | samsungcatalyst.com |
| SBVA | VC | US$2M-$20M | AI, robotics, semiconductors | sbvacorp.com |
| DSC Investment | VC | US$1M-$15M | Semiconductors, deep tech | dscinvestment.com |
| Atinum Investment | VC | US$2M-$15M | Semiconductors, autonomy, space | atinuminvest.co.kr |
| Bluepoint Partners | Early deep-tech VC | US$0.1M-$3M | Robotics, drones, semis, displays | bluepoint.ac |
| FuturePlay | Deep-tech accelerator / VC | US$0.1M-$2M | Robotics, autonomy, AI hardware | futureplay.co |
| Kakao Ventures | Corporate VC (seed) | US$0.5M-$5M | Chips, robotics, SMR, space | kakao.vc |
| LG Technology Ventures | Corporate VC (LG) | US$5M-$30M | Batteries, materials, robotics | lgtechventures.com |
| Korea Development Bank | Government-linked fund | US$80M-$250M+ | AI chips, space, defense | kdb.co.kr |
| Hanwha | Corporate strategic | US$300M+ | Space, satellites, defense tech | hanwhaaerospace.com |
| Smilegate Investment | VC / PE | US$2M-$20M | Robotics, materials, hardware | smilegateinvestment.com |
| IMM Investment | VC / growth equity | US$10M-$50M+ | Semiconductors, deep tech, infra | imm.co.kr |
| Korea Investment Partners | VC | US$2M-$25M | Semis, space, deep tech | kipvc.com |
| Premier Partners | VC / growth capital | US$5M-$30M | Advanced materials, hardware | premierpartners.co.kr |
Keep your deep tech data room ready for every fund
Deep tech funds run long diligence on patents, specs, and cost. Ellty logs every view so you know who is serious before the call.
Start free 14-day trialWhat a deep tech investor backs
A deep tech investor backs hard science. They want proof the tech works.
They check your patents and your team. Most run a real venture capital check.
Many fund chips, robots, and AI gear. They look for a clear edge.
They check who will buy at scale. Strong tech with no buyer rarely wins.
Ellty gives each fund one tracked link to your data. You see who studied your specs first.
The center of gravity in artificial intelligence is rapidly shifting from training to inference.
16 Seoul deep tech investors
1. Mirae Asset Venture
Mirae Asset Venture is a top backer of Korean chips.
Recent Activity: Led Rebellions' US$400M pre-IPO round in 2026
Sector Focus: AI chips, semis, AI infra
Stage Focus: Early to growth
Check Size: US$2M-$30M+
Location: Seoul
Website: miraeassetventures.com
2. Korelya Capital
Korelya is a Naver-backed fund bridging Europe and Korea.
Recent Activity: Backed Rebellions' Series B and Series C rounds
Sector Focus: AI chips, semis, deep tech
Stage Focus: Growth
Check Size: US$10M-$50M
Location: Paris (backs Korea)
Website: korelyacapital.com
3. Samsung Catalyst Fund
This is Samsung Electronics' deep-tech venture arm.
Recent Activity: Led Normal Computing's US$50M round in 2026
Sector Focus: AI chips, silicon, robotics
Stage Focus: Early to growth
Check Size: US$5M-$50M
Location: Silicon Valley / Samsung
Website: samsungcatalyst.com
4. SBVA
SBVA backs AI, robotics, and semiconductors in Korea.
Recent Activity: Closed a US$150M fund covering semis and robotics
LinkedIn: SBVA LinkedIn
Sector Focus: AI, robotics, semiconductors
Stage Focus: Early to mid
Check Size: US$2M-$20M
Location: Seoul
Website: sbvacorp.com
5. DSC Investment
DSC is a listed VC active in AI chips and deep tech.
Recent Activity: An investor in AI-chip startup FuriosaAI
LinkedIn: DSC Investment LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Semiconductors, deep tech
Stage Focus: Series A focus
Check Size: US$1M-$15M
Location: Seoul
Website: dscinvestment.com
6. Atinum Investment
Atinum backs semiconductors, autonomy, and space.
Recent Activity: Backed BOS Semiconductors and space firm Contec
Sector Focus: Semiconductors, autonomy, space
Stage Focus: Series A, B
Check Size: US$2M-$15M
Location: Seoul
Website: atinuminvest.co.kr
Share one link with every deep tech fund
Ellty shows when Mirae Asset or SBVA opens your specs. Follow up with each fund at the right time.
Start free 14-day trial7. Bluepoint Partners
Bluepoint is an early deep-tech and hardware fund.
Recent Activity: Early deep-tech fund; raised new capital in 2025
Sector Focus: Robotics, drones, semis, displays
Stage Focus: Seed, pre-Series A
Check Size: US$0.1M-$3M
Location: Daejeon / Seoul
Website: bluepoint.ac
8. FuturePlay
FuturePlay is a deep-tech accelerator and VC.
Recent Activity: Deep-tech accelerator backing robots and chips
Sector Focus: Robotics, autonomy, AI hardware
Stage Focus: Seed
Check Size: US$0.1M-$2M
Location: Seoul
Website: futureplay.co
9. Kakao Ventures
Kakao Ventures seeds chips, robots, and space.
Recent Activity: Targets chips, robots, SMRs, and space in 2026
LinkedIn: Kakao Ventures LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Chips, robotics, SMR, space
Stage Focus: Seed
Check Size: US$0.5M-$5M
Location: Seoul
Website: kakao.vc
10. LG Technology Ventures
LG Technology Ventures is LG Group's deep-tech CVC.
Recent Activity: Grew its CVC fund to about US$770M
LinkedIn: LG Technology Ventures LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Batteries, materials, robotics
Stage Focus: Early to growth
Check Size: US$5M-$30M
Location: Silicon Valley / LG
Website: lgtechventures.com
11. Korea Development Bank
KDB runs Korea's national growth and deep-tech funds.
Recent Activity: Put US$165M into Rebellions in 2026
Sector Focus: AI chips, space, defense
Stage Focus: Strategic, large
Check Size: US$80M-$250M+
Location: Seoul
Website: kdb.co.kr
12. Hanwha
Hanwha leads Korea's space and defense-tech push.
Recent Activity: Bought satellite maker Satrec; backs OneWeb
Sector Focus: Space, satellites, defense tech
Stage Focus: Strategic, M&A
Check Size: US$300M+
Location: Seoul
Website: hanwhaaerospace.com
13. Smilegate Investment
Smilegate Investment backs hardware and robotics.
Recent Activity: Backed hardware firms PranaQ and Conalog
Sector Focus: Robotics, materials, hardware
Stage Focus: Early to growth
Check Size: US$2M-$20M
Location: Seoul
Website: smilegateinvestment.com
14. IMM Investment
IMM is a large Seoul VC and growth-equity firm.
Recent Activity: Growth fund with over US$7.6B in assets
Sector Focus: Semiconductors, deep tech, infra
Stage Focus: Growth, late-stage
Check Size: US$10M-$50M+
Location: Seoul
Website: imm.co.kr
15. Korea Investment Partners
KIP backs semiconductors, space, and deep tech.
Recent Activity: Backed space-data firm Contec
LinkedIn: Korea Investment Partners LinkedIn
Sector Focus: Semis, space, deep tech
Stage Focus: Early to growth
Check Size: US$2M-$25M
Location: Seoul
Website: kipvc.com
16. Premier Partners
Premier backs advanced materials and hardware growth.
Recent Activity: Backs advanced materials and hardware growth
Sector Focus: Advanced materials, hardware
Stage Focus: Growth
Check Size: US$5M-$30M
Location: Seoul
Website: premierpartners.co.kr
AI chips and the K-Nvidia push
Korea wants home-grown AI chips. It calls the plan K-Nvidia.
Rebellions and FuriosaAI lead that race. State and chaebol money backs them.
A foundry tie-up can prove your chip works. Funds back teams with that path.
A first big order de-risks the round. One buyer can validate the chip.
Chip designs are highly sensitive files. Use granular permissions on each one.
Ellty controls who opens each design file. See our Tokyo deep tech investors guide too.
Space, quantum, and robotics
Deep tech here is more than chips. Space and robotics matter too.
Hanwha leads Korea's space push hard. Quantum is small but growing.
These fields need long, patient capital. Strong investor relations help a lot.
A government grant can de-risk a round. It often pulls private money in next.
Ellty keeps your research and data in order. You share it on one tracked link.
From lab to a funded scale-up
Deep tech often starts in a lab. The path to market is long.
Investors check patents, pilots, and cost. A demo alone rarely closes a round.
A clean patent file builds their trust. Have it ready before the term sheet.
A first pilot proves the science. Funds back the jump to scale.
Read our due diligence for investors guide. Know what each backer will ask.
Learn how to prepare for due diligence early. Ellty logs who opened each file and when.
How to pitch a Seoul deep tech investor
Lead with hard, proven science.
- 1.Lead with hard, proven science.Deep tech funds want real proof, so open with results and your IP edge.
- 2.Show your patents and a clear edge.Cost and scale matter early, so prove a path to cheaper, faster output.
- 3.Name your first pilot or foundry partner.Funds want outside proof, so show who already validates your tech.
- 4.Share one Ellty link to your whole data room.Skip scattered email attachments and track who opens which files in real time.
- 5.Follow up the same day a fund digs in.Ellty flags the moment they open your specs, so you reach out while interest is high.
How Ellty helps you land a deep tech investor in Seoul
You've shortlisted your Seoul deep tech investors already. Set up a data room before the first call.
- 1.Upload your patents, specs, and deck.Set access per fund or per partner.
- 2.Share one trackable link with each fund.Each fund gets its own tracked link.
- 3.Watch opens and follow up at the right time.Use Ellty analytics to time each nudge.
Seoul deep tech investor questions
- KIP, SBVA, and DSC back deep tech. State funds and chaebols lead big deals.
- Cheques run US$0.1M to US$250M in 2026. Chip rounds run the largest.
- No, the state and chaebols lead. VCs back earlier rounds.
- AI chips, semis, and space lead. Robotics and batteries follow.
- Hard science and strong patents. A clear path to market.
- Before your very first investor call. Track who opens your specs.
