Woori Financial Expands Venture Capital Support from Startup to IPO

Startups backed by Woori Financial Group gathered to share their growth stories, highlighting the role of productive finance in nurturing innovative companies. The event took place on July 7 at Woori Bank's headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, under the auspices of the Woori Financial Management Research Institute.

The conference featured discussions on Woori Financial's venture capital supply system and vision, growth cases from five startups originating from Dino Lab, and a panel discussion with investment experts from the group.

Park Jeong-hoon, head of the Woori Financial Management Research Institute, stated, "This conference is an attempt to conduct research that is not just theoretical but also practically beneficial for group management by understanding the field. We aim to be a financial entity that not only provides funds but also discovers potential and grows together with innovative startups, youth enterprises, and promising local businesses."

Representatives from five startups that emerged from Dino Lab shared how Woori Financial's initial investments and support became pivotal in their growth. Kang Jeong-seok, CEO of Aigen Global, remarked, "In the early, daunting stages of our business, Woori Financial provided venture capital, allowing us to start operating our company in earnest. They played a vital role, supplying funds at critical moments in the growth process, much like blood to a startup." Aigen Global is an AI mobility company nurtured by Dino Lab.

On the same day, Woori Financial unveiled a roadmap for a 'continuous venture capital supply system' that spans from startup discovery to follow-up investments, scaling up, and initial public offerings (IPOs).

Woori Financial is pursuing a total of 90 trillion won in productive and inclusive finance over the next five years, as part of its Future Co-Growth Project announced last year, with plans to allocate 7 trillion won for productive investments.

Chairman Im Jong-ryong emphasized, "Finance must evolve beyond mere capital supply to become 'investment-oriented productive finance' that invests in future possibilities, with venture capital at its core."