Seoul CCEI and CJ Group Launch 'O!VentUs Fund 1' to Build Sustainable Startup Ecosystem

The Seoul Creative Economy and Innovation Center (Seoul CCEI) and CJ Group have officially launched the 'Seoul CCEI O!VentUs Private Investment Fund 1,' marking a significant step in building a sustainable startup ecosystem. Approved by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, this fund uniquely converts corporate donations into venture capital for equity investments.

This initiative expands upon the existing 'O!VentUs' open innovation program, which has supported promising startups. Previously, support was limited to one-time business funding. Now, by directly acquiring stakes in promising companies, Seoul CCEI and CJ Group aim to foster long-term, mutual growth.

A key feature of the fund is its commitment to reinvesting all returns and profits back into startups. This structure ensures that investment gains continuously flow back into the entrepreneurial ecosystem, creating a virtuous cycle of support. The fund will focus on seed investments, acting as a catalyst to help startups attract subsequent funding rounds.

The operational management of the fund will be handled by Seoul CCEI, a public accelerator, which will maintain an independent review process. Private specialized investors will participate as limited partners, establishing a collaborative framework involving large corporations, public entities, and private capital. Industry observers view this model of transforming corporate donations into a sustainable, self-perpetuating fund positively, while noting that successful business integration with CJ Group affiliates and achieving exit outcomes will be crucial for its long-term success.

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This is significant in that we have transformed the existing startup support method into a sustainable investment model. We will responsibly manage this fund so that it can become a strong investment platform for discovering and nurturing promising innovative companies.