TLDR:
- New CEO of Kakao Ventures, Kim Ki-jun, focuses on deep technology startups with societal impact.
- Investments in AI and robotics are seen as promising areas for breakthrough innovations.
Kim Ki-jun, the new CEO of Kakao Ventures in South Korea, has a strong focus on deep technology startups that will have a significant societal impact. He believes in supporting entrepreneurship that pursues fundamental changes in the world for the long term, rather than focusing on short-term profit models. In his role, Kim has discovered and supported promising local startups in machine learning and artificial intelligence, such as Lunit Inc. and Rebellions Inc.
Kim’s investments in Lunit and Rebellions have proven to be successful, with Lunit becoming a listed company and Rebellions being valued at over $1 billion. Under Kim’s leadership, Kakao Ventures will continue to identify and invest in early stage startups with a focus on both quantitative and qualitative methods.
Looking towards the future, Kim sees the combination of AI and robotics as a promising area for breakthrough innovations. He believes that AI-powered robots can make a significant difference in people’s daily lives. On the other hand, Kim is less enthusiastic about investing in informational technology services, believing that the era for finding a blue ocean in the market has ended. He advises startups to focus on new business opportunities that can reshape society.
Overall, Kim’s vision for Kakao Ventures is to support startups that tackle big issues and bring about meaningful change in the world through innovative technologies and societal impact.
