SparkLabs Accelerator

Overview

SparkLabs Accelerator was launched in 2011 by Bernard Moon, Jimmy Kim, and a group of experienced entrepreneurs and technologists in Seoul. The firm grew organically from a single seed-stage program into a multi-location accelerator that supports startups across Asia, Europe, and Australia. The firm back startups from seed stage onward, providing initial capital of roughly $100K per company in exchange for equity, with follow-on funding through an affiliated venture fund. Asset-class focus includes enterprise software, AI/ML, fintech, digital health, proptech, climate tech, cybersecurity, and mobility. The firm operates a fixed-term cohort model with mentorship, demo days, and corporate partnerships from companies such as Samsung, LG, and Hyundai. Notable alumni include Socar (mobility), Viva Republica—operator of the 'Toss' fintech super-app—and SendBird, the chat-API company acquired by Evernote. SparkLabs claims presence in Seoul, Beijing, Singapore, Taipei, Stockholm, and Sydney. The team has exceeded 400 portfolio companies and claims key exits primarily in Korea and Southeast Asia. In 2024, the firm launched its 13th cohort. The firm's managing partners are split across these offices, with Moon and Kim based in Seoul. SparkLabs Accelerator relies on its physical hub-and-spoke model and deep corporate ties in Korea as a structural differentiator. Unlike many US-model accelerators that remain Silicon Valley–centric, this firm leverages chaebol relationships and cross-border connections to help portfolio companies access manufacturing supply chains and local distribution in Asia.