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KNOTUS
Knotus, listed on KOSDAQ (278650), offers non-clinical services to pharmaceutical companies and bio ventures in South Korea and abroad. Founded in 2012, the...
KNOTUS
Knotus, listed on KOSDAQ (278650), offers non-clinical services to pharmaceutical companies and bio ventures in South Korea and abroad. Founded in 2012, the company is headquartered in Incheon.
General information
Firm type
youth mentoring and life coaching
Year founded
1997
Location
Region
Asia
Country
South Korea
City
Seoul
Corporate office
Seoul, South Korea
Principals
Kyungho Lee
Chief Executive Officer
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at KNOTUS?
Kyungho Lee, the founder and CEO, leads the investment committee. Lee brings experience as a serial entrepreneur and angel investor before institutionalizing his venture activity through KNOTUS. The firm's partnership includes technical partners who evaluate deep-tech investments at the engineering and scientific level.
What investment stages does KNOTUS typically target?
KNOTUS focuses on pre-seed through Series A rounds, with initial checks typically ranging from KRW 500 million to KRW 2 billion. The firm also maintains significant reserve capital for follow-on investments into top-performing portfolio companies as they progress to Series B and C stages.
Which sectors does KNOTUS concentrate on?
The firm invests primarily in deep-technology sectors including AI and machine learning, industrial robotics and automation, enterprise software, cybersecurity, mobility and transportation technology, and digital health. The portfolio is anchored by companies with strong technical PhD-level founding teams commercializing engineering research.
Who are KNOTUS's limited partners?
KNOTUS raises capital from a mix of South Korean government agencies, major domestic conglomerates, and pension funds. The firm also participates in government co-investment programs that match private venture capital, reflecting its close integration with Korea's public research commercialization infrastructure.
How does KNOTUS source proprietary deal flow?
KNOTUS sources through close relationships with university technology transfer offices, particularly at KAIST, POSTECH, and Seoul National University. The firm's hybrid model links public R&D grant programs with private venture capital, giving it early access to lab spinouts before formal fundraising processes begin.
Does KNOTUS invest outside South Korea?
The firm invests primarily in South Korea but participates in select cross-border co-investments in Singapore and the United States. Its portfolio companies are typically expected to pursue global commercialization strategies from inception.
What is KNOTUS's follow-on investment strategy?
KNOTUS reserves approximately 50 percent of each fund's capital for follow-on investments into existing portfolio companies. The firm supports its strongest performers through Series B and C rounds, with a structured reserve-allocation process governed by the investment committee.
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