
Stone Bridge Ventures
Description
Stone Bridge Ventures is a prominent venture capital firm based in Seoul, South Korea, established in 2008. The firm has built a strong reputation for identifying and nurturing innovative startups and venture companies across various sectors. Their investment strategy is comprehensive, spanning all stages from early-stage startups to pre-IPO companies, demonstrating flexibility in their approach to supporting entrepreneurial growth. Stone Bridge Ventures primarily focuses on high-growth industries such as IT, Bio/Healthcare, Content, and Advanced Manufacturing, reflecting a diverse portfolio strategy aimed at improving and expanding people's lives, industries, and markets.
The firm has a robust track record, having invested in over 200 companies since its inception. This extensive portfolio underscores their commitment to fostering innovation within the South Korean ecosystem and beyond. In 2023, Stone Bridge Ventures notably raised a new fund, the Stonebridge New Growth Investment Fund, securing 140 billion Korean Won, equivalent to approximately $110.8 million USD. This significant capital infusion further empowers the firm to continue its mission of backing promising startups and growth-stage companies.
Stone Bridge Ventures typically engages in substantial investment rounds, reflecting their capacity to provide meaningful capital. For instance, the firm invested 2 billion Korean Won (approximately $1.7 million USD at the time) in Hyperconnect in 2017, a video chat app later acquired by Match Group. Another notable investment includes 3 billion Korean Won (approximately $2.5 million USD) into Deep Bio in 2020, an AI-based cancer diagnostics company. These examples illustrate their commitment to providing significant capital to support the scaling and development of their portfolio companies. Their typical first check sizes range from approximately $1 million for early-stage opportunities to up to $8 million for leading growth-stage rounds, aligning with their multi-stage investment mandate and the substantial funds under their management.
Investor Profile
Stone Bridge Ventures has backed more than 29 startups, with 14 new investments in the last 12 months alone. The firm has led 9 rounds, about 31% of its total and boasts 2 exits across its portfolio.
Investment Focus Highlights
- Concentrates on Seed, Series A, Series B rounds (top funding stages).
- Majority of deals are located in South Korea, Japan, United States.
- Strong thematic focus on Artificial Intelligence (AI), Software, Information Technology.
- Led 6 rounds in the past year.
- Typical check size: $1M – $8M.
Stage Focus
- Seed (41%)
- Series A (21%)
- Series B (17%)
- Series C (10%)
- Undisclosed (3%)
- Series D (3%)
- Series Unknown (3%)
Country Focus
- South Korea (90%)
- Japan (7%)
- United States (3%)
Industry Focus
- Artificial Intelligence (Ai)
- Software
- Information Technology
- Machine Learning
- Enterprise Software
- Cryptocurrency
- E-commerce
- Finance
- Financial Services
- Fintech
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn who this investor regularly partners with—both firms and angels—and explore their latest activity.