South Korea’s NAVER Corporation, led by CEO Choi Soo-yeon, has announced plans to establish a new venture investment arm, NAVER Ventures, in Silicon Valley. This move marks a strategic effort to broaden NAVER’s global reach and stimulate innovation by investing in promising North American startups.
Building on its experience with the NAVER D2SF programme, which has supported numerous early-stage technology startups and helped them expand internationally, NAVER Ventures will focus on backing category-leading companies, particularly in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. This initiative follows NAVER’s 2023 acquisition of Poshmark, a prominent U.S.-based social commerce platform.
As part of this expansion, NAVER’s Founder and Chairman Lee Hae-jin, CEO Choi Soo-yeon, and President of Investments Kim Namsun recently visited Silicon Valley. They engaged directly with entrepreneurs, engineers, and investors, culminating in a networking event titled “Venturing NAVER’s Next Chapter” held on June 5 at the Four Seasons Hotel. The event served as a platform to share NAVER’s vision for supporting startups and advancing technological innovation.
NAVER Ventures has already made its first investment in TwelveLabs, a video AI startup noted for its innovative technology. This investment aligns with NAVER’s focus on enhancing its AI capabilities and collaborating with global startups to drive future growth.
The establishment of NAVER Ventures, to be overseen by Kim Namsun, is expected to be completed later this month. The new venture will provide both capital and expertise to help leading companies accelerate their business growth on a global scale.
About NAVER
Founded in 1999, NAVER is South Korea’s largest Internet company and one of the world’s leading technology companies. NAVER has grown into a global ICT company that leads in cutting-edge technologies and operates a diverse portfolio of businesses, including commerce, fintech, content, cloud services, AI, and robotics, as well as other global online services such as LINE mobile messenger, Webtoon and Webnovel publishing, SNOW video camera app and ZEPETO metaverse platform.
NAVER is expanding its global footprint through strategic partnerships with industry leaders such as SoftBank, Poshmark, and Wattpad. Currently, TEAM NAVER strengthens business portfolios and expands its service regions, including Japan, North America, and Europe.
In 2024, NAVER reported sales of KRW 10.74 trillion (approximately USD 7.5 billion) and NAVER is ranked as the 12th largest company in terms of market capitalization in Korea.
