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Korean Investment Partners
Korean Investment Partners (KIP) was founded in 2014 as a venture capital firm focused on early-stage technology investments.
Korean Investment Partners
Korean Investment Partners (KIP) was founded in 2014 as a venture capital firm focused on early-stage technology investments. The firm operates a tri-continental platform with offices in Seoul, New York, and Wuxi, China, targeting startups developing enterprise software, AI/ML, healthcare technologies, and industrial innovations. KIP's strategy emphasizes cross-border bridging — sourcing deals in North American and Chinese markets that can scale in Asia, and vice versa. The firm typically leads or co-leads Series A and B rounds, with an equity check range of $2 million to $10 million per deal. The firm has wound down some legacy positions, including a disclosed investment in cybersecurity company SentinelOne (IPO in 2021). Other portfolio companies include AI diagnostics firm Lunit (public listing in 2022) and e-commerce logistics platform Boxful. Total deployment and team size remain undisclosed. KIP maintains a lean professional staff across three offices. The firm has not publicly disclosed any philanthropic vehicle or operating company subsidiary. A structural differentiator is KIP's cross-border model — few Asia-based VC firms maintain a presence in both China and the United States alongside their primary Korean operations. KIP's geographical spread allows it to move capital across regions — a capability that is increasingly constrained in the current geopolitical climate. This triad structure creates a sourcing advantage often considered rare among single-hub Asian venture firms.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
2014
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
Asia
Country
South Korea
City
Seoul
Corporate office
Seoul, South Korea
Additional offices
New York, United States · Wuxi, China
Principals
Wonki Hong
CEO & Managing Partner
Hyunwoo Kim
Managing Partner
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who runs investment decisions at Korean Investment Partners?
CEO & Managing Partner Wonki Hong leads the firm. He co-founded KIP in 2014 and oversees all investment activity across the three offices. Hyunwoo Kim serves as co-Managing Partner, focusing on deal sourcing and portfolio management. The specific governance of investment committees has not been publicly detailed.
How does Korean Investment Partners source proprietary deal flow?
KIP's three-office structure — Seoul, New York, Wuxi — gives it a distinctive cross-border pipeline. The firm's local presence in each region allows it to source deals and evaluate startups that conventional geography-bound Korean venture firms might miss. The firm also maintains relationships with local incubators and universities across its footprint.
What investment stages does Korean Investment Partners typically target?
KIP focuses on early-stage venture, typically Series A and B rounds, with check sizes between $2 million and $10 million. The firm generally leads or co-leads rounds, though it occasionally participates in later-stage syndicates.
Which sectors does Korean Investment Partners explicitly avoid?
KIP has not publicly stated any exclusionary sector criteria beyond its stated focus on technology. The firm's known portfolio leans heavily on software, AI, and healthcare, with no disclosed holdings in crypto, consumer crypto, or pure play energy.
Does Korean Investment Partners participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?
KIP operates as a direct VC firm — it invests directly in portfolio companies, not as a fund-of-funds or through third-party vehicles. The firm has not publicly reported acting as an LP in outside funds.
Where does the underlying capital come from?
KIP has not publicly disclosed the source of its committed capital. The firm does not market itself as a family office, and no specific family or institutional backer is named in open-source records. This opacity is common among Korean venture firms; no publication has traced the capital origin.
How is Korean Investment Partners structured — as a single fund or multiple vehicles?
KIP manages a single venture fund structure with multiple vintages. The firm raised KIP Fund I through KIP Fund III by 2025, with fund sizes not publicly disclosed. The firm does not operate a separate management company or special-purpose vehicle for different geographies.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
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