The Invention Lab

The Invention Lab, headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, has established itself as a leading early-stage venture capital firm and an open innovation advisory entity across South Korea and Southeast Asia. Founded with a dual mandate, the firm not only provides crucial seed capital but also acts as a strategic bridge, connecting innovative startups with large corporations for collaborative opportunities. This unique approach allows them to foster growth beyond mere financial injection, facilitating market entry and partnership development for their portfolio companies.

The firm primarily targets seed-stage startups, often serving as the very first institutional investor. Their investment thesis spans a broad range of high-growth sectors, including artificial intelligence, IoT, biotech, and other deep technology verticals. The Invention Lab's strategic focus extends to supporting companies through their initial growth phases and assisting them in securing subsequent funding rounds, demonstrating a long-term commitment to their portfolio's success. Their geographic footprint is strong in their home market of South Korea and expanding rapidly into key Southeast Asian hubs like Singapore and Vietnam.

As of early 2024, The Invention Lab boasts an impressive portfolio of over 200 startups, underscoring their prolific activity in the regional startup ecosystem. Their typical initial cheque sizes for seed investments range from approximately $36,500 to $365,000, although they are known to deploy up to $730,000 for particularly promising ventures or slightly later seed rounds. This flexibility allows them to accommodate diverse funding needs at the earliest stages. Their commitment to open innovation and robust network make them a significant player for founders seeking not just capital, but also strategic guidance and corporate partnership opportunities in Asia.