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Banks Foundation for Young Entrepreneurs
Banks Foundation for Young Entrepreneurs was established in 2012 by the Korea Federation of Banks together with 18 other financial institutions.
Banks Foundation for Young Entrepreneurs
Banks Foundation for Young Entrepreneurs was established in 2012 by the Korea Federation of Banks together with 18 other financial institutions. Its founding mandate centers on job creation for youth through entrepreneurship support. The foundation allocates 100 percent of its capital to private equity and venture investments. It runs direct minority stakes in Korean startups and maintains two dedicated funds: the Banking Startup Companion Fund and the Fintech Innovation Fund. Confirmed holdings include Viva Republica (Toss), Dunamu (Upbit), Korea Credit Data, Moin, Gopizza, ModuSign, Finda and Fitpet. All activity remains inside South Korea. The foundation operates D.CAMP Gangnam, a 30,000 sqft co-working and event space, and Front1 Mapo, a 36,259 square meter incubation facility housing over 100 startups. It employs no disclosed investment professionals and maintains no additional offices. In November 2023 it sponsored the All-Star League annual startup competition in Seoul. The foundation's structure is defined by its origin as a collective vehicle of 19 banks rather than a single-family or multi-family office. Governance and capital allocation decisions remain tied to the founding banking consortium.
General information
Firm type
Endowment / Foundation
Year founded
2012
Location
Region
Asia
Country
South Korea
City
Seoul
Corporate office
Saerom Building, 2F-6F 551, Seolleung-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Banks Foundation for Young Entrepreneurs?
No named investment professionals or CIO appear in public records. Decisions are executed through the foundation's relationship with CJ Investment and 500 Global.
Does Banks Foundation for Young Entrepreneurs participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
The foundation makes direct minority investments and also operates two internal funds: the Banking Startup Companion Fund and the Fintech Innovation Fund.
What investment stages does Banks Foundation for Young Entrepreneurs typically target?
The foundation targets early-stage seed and startup rounds as well as growth and expansion rounds.
Where does the underlying wealth come from?
The foundation received an initial donation of approximately $744 million from 19 major Korean banks led by the Korea Federation of Banks.
How is Banks Foundation for Young Entrepreneurs related to its founding banks?
The Korea Federation of Banks established the foundation. Korea Development Bank, Industrial Bank of Korea, KB Financial Group, Shinhan Financial Group, Hana Financial Group and Woori Financial Group are among the 19 founding institutions.
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