The two major domestic platform companies, Naver and Kakao, carried out vigorous startup investment activities last year. Although both companies have reduced their investments since 2023, they recorded their highest number of investments in three years last year, resuming active investment activities.
According to venture capital investment information firm The VC and industry sources on January 5, Naver D2SF and Kakao Ventures made the most investments in startups last year since 2022.
Specifically, Naver (D2SF·Naver Ventures) recorded 9 new investments and 5 follow-on investments last year. In total, they invested in 14 startups combining new and follow-on investments.
Naver alone made 32 new investments in 2021. Subsequently, the number of investments dropped to 26 cases in 2022, 6 cases in 2023, and 7 cases in 2024. Since last year, they have expanded their new investments again by focusing on discovering AI startups. Naver has mainly made strategic investments to ensure its own competitiveness by discovering early-stage technology startups. Of the startups we invested in last year, at least 11 or more are related to AI technology.
Kakao Ventures invested in a total of 27 companies last year with 19 new investments and 8 follow-on investments. This is the highest figure in three years. Kakao Ventures has invested in startups in various fields equipped with AI technology. They participated as financial investors in early-stage startups to help their survival and supported the growth of startups through enhancement programs. Representative investment cases from last year include quantum computing startup “Oquty”, AI-based game engine developer “Apollo Studio” and medical AI startup “YeajiX”.
According to VC’s “2025 Startup Investment Trends”, although the amount of investment in the sector remained at a similar level to the previous year last year, the number of investments decreased significantly. On the other hand, Naver and Kakao Ventures saw an increase in the number of investments compared to the previous year.
Also this year, Kakao Ventures focuses on discovering nationally competitive startups. During this time, Naver will make strategic investments in the North American region centered around Naver Ventures.