[Korean Startup Weekly News #58] JLT Secures $17M Series B to Advance Robotic Automation and Expand Globally

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Catch up on last week’s top stories from the startup ecosystem in the Korean Startup Weekly News.

Headline

JLT Secures $17M Series B to Advance Robotic Automation and Expand Globally JLT secured a $17M Series B investment to enhance welding automation and develop battery recycling robotics, aiming for global expansion and increased safety and efficiency in industrial automation.

Korean Government News

MSS Launches AI Super Gap Challenge to Boost Startup Commercialization with Global Giants The AI Super Gap Challenge introduces specialized AI development programs for startups, focusing on on-device and vertical AI technologies with industry giants.

MSS Hosts Korea-Japan Investment Summit, Establishes $217M Joint Fund MSS hosted the Korea-Japan Investment Summit 2025, launching a $217M joint fund to support startups. Korean startups pitched to investors, highlighting opportunities in AI, IT, biotech, and cosmetics.

Latest Funding News

Check out the latest funding news for Korean startups

Athome Raises $13.5M in First Investment Round to Strengthen Brands and Expand South Korean company Athome secured $13.5M in Series A funding to expand its product lineup, enhance quality control, and accelerate global growth, focusing on its core brands Minix and THOME.

Glorang and i-Scream Media Partner to Target Global Edtech with AI Solutions Glorang secured a $1.5M investment from i-Scream Media to expand globally. The partnership will leverage AI diagnostic assessments and edtech solutions to enter key Asian markets.

Blackbox Lands Seed Funding and TIPS Grant to Develop AI-Driven Short Animations Korean startup Blackbox secured seed funding and a TIPS grant to enhance its AI-powered webtoon animation technology, expand globally, and launch short animation production and B2B collaborations.

Green-DA Secures Investment to Expand Bio-SAF Production and Global Reach Korean startup Green-DA secured investment to expand Bio-SAF production and global reach, leveraging its technology that upcycles food waste into eco-friendly aviation fuel feedstock.

Whatime Secures Seed Investment to Expand Trusted Pre-Owned Luxury Watch Market Whatime, a South Korean pre-owned luxury watch platform by Taming Lab, secured seed investment to enhance authentication, expand inventory, and strengthen its trust-based marketplace.

Korean F&B Brand Matari Secures Pre-Seed Investment from ZDVC Matari, a Korean F&B startup, secures pre-seed funding from ZDVC to modernize Korean culture and target the global high-end market with premium liquor.

Builduplabs Gains UNBOUNDLAB’s Backing to Scale AI-Powered Sales Optimization Builduplabs, operating AI marketing platform Catchmoments, secured investment from UNBOUNDLAB to optimize AI-driven sales conversion and AIX Rollup investments in consumer goods and beauty industries.

Korean Startup Interview

Meet startups that are striving for global expansion through exclusive interviews

[Korean Startup Interview] Ubeeslab: “Performance Analysis for Athletes with SOCCERBEE.. Rapid Growth in the Global Market” Ubeeslab develops SOCCERBEE, a GPS tracker that helps athletes analyze performance data. Players own their data, aiding recruitment. Growing rapidly, it’s expanding globally and attracting investors.

[Korean Startup Interview] BeringLab: “Expanding Globally with Specialized AI Translation for Law, Patents, and Clinical Fields” BeringLab develops AI-powered legal translation engines, combining AI with expert reviews. With extensive data since 2012, it expands globally, securing investments and targeting the legal translation market.

Others

Delivered Korea Partners with Mercari to Boost Korean Sellers in JapanDelivered Korea teams up with Mercari to help Korean sellers tap Japan’s market, leveraging logistics and operations for growth in 2024.

Forbes Names Upbit South Korea’s Top Crypto Exchange, 7th Most Trustworthy Worldwide Upbit ranked first in South Korea and seventh globally in Forbes’ 2025 crypto exchange assessment. Dunamu aims to enhance Upbit’s service quality, security, and investor protection.