DGIST Tech Holding Launches First Fund to Back Deep-Tech Startups
DGIST said on the 31st that DGIST Tech Holding has formed an investment partnership (fund) worth approximately 2 billion won and will begin full-scale investment, marking the first such move since the corporation was established.
The fund plans to concentrate its investment in startups founded by DGIST faculty and researchers, as well as promising early-stage deep-tech companies, in future core national strategic technology fields including artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, advanced semiconductors, and bio-healthcare.
In particular, rather than merely supplying capital, the fund will fully activate a “growth acceleration network” linked with major domestic venture capital (VC) firms, so that early investment leads smoothly to follow-on investment.
After forming an early-stage investment portfolio, the fund plans to make active use of government policy investment programs, such as the fund of funds, to expand its scale in phases.
In addition, in connection with TIPS, a private investment-led technology startup support program, the fund intends to provide full support so that companies it invests in can be selected as TIPS startup teams.
Choi Moon-jong, co-CEO of DGIST Tech Holding, said, “The core role of a tech holding company is to help superior deep-tech assets from university research labs bear fruit at industrial sites rather than remaining in the lab.” He added, “We will solidify a virtuous cycle in which DGIST’s research achievements flow back as a new growth engine for the regional economy.”
