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Photo = Yonhap news |
[Alpha Biz= Kim Jisun] NAVER Corporation announced plans to establish a new investment arm, NAVER Ventures, in Silicon Valley later this month, with the aim of ramping up investments in local artificial intelligence (AI) startups. Nam-Sun Kim, Head of NAVER's Strategic Investment Division, has been appointed as the founding CEO.
The announcement was made on June 5 (local time) during a networking event hosted by NAVER at the Four Seasons Hotel in Silicon Valley. The event marked the beginning of CEO Soo-Yeon Choi’s second term and underscored NAVER’s commitment to global expansion and strengthening its AI capabilities.
“NAVER Ventures will play a strategic role in discovering and investing in high-potential startups located in Silicon Valley, the global hub for innovation,” said CEO Choi. “Amid growing uncertainties in the global economy, startups are finding it harder to secure funding. NAVER aims to support their growth by serving as a reliable investor not only in Korea but also in North America.”
NAVER Chairman Hae-Jin Lee echoed this vision, emphasizing a strong commitment to building a collaborative ecosystem. “In the age of AI, diversity remains essential. We will actively invest in and support capable startups and talent to co-create a more inclusive and innovative future,” said Lee. “NAVER’s experience and networks will empower these partners as we grow together in this evolving AI era.”
NAVER Ventures plans to invest in a wide range of startups across sectors and nationalities, leveraging Silicon Valley’s global talent pool and cutting-edge technology trends. The company is expected to generate new growth momentum by fostering synergies between emerging partners and NAVER’s core businesses.
The first confirmed investment will be in Twelve Labs, a U.S.-based video AI startup. NAVER aims to finalize the launch of NAVER Ventures within June, with Nam-Sun Kim officially taking the helm.
Approximately 200 Korean entrepreneurs, engineers, and investors working in the U.S. tech industry—including John Kim (Sendbird), Ik-Jin Ahn (Moloco), Sung-Moo Kim (DataRaize), and Jin-Woo Kim (Riiid & LINER)—attended the networking event, signaling strong community interest and support for NAVER’s expansion efforts in the region.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim Jisun(stockmk2020@alphabiz.co.kr)
