IDV

IDV, also known as ID Ventures (Korean: 아이디벤처스(주)), is a South Korean venture capital firm that describes itself as the country's first and leading IP-based venture capital. Founded in 2012, the firm focuses on discovering and nurturing companies that own "Life changing ideas" — innovative intellectual property that can drive global competitiveness. Its investment strategy spans the entire cycle from deal sourcing to exit, with a particular emphasis on managing IP-related risks and helping portfolio companies strengthen their IP competitiveness and expand globally. IDV provides not only traditional venture capital funding but also stage-specific support for IP creation, reinforcement, utilization, and protection, tailored to each company's situation — from early-stage startups to IP commercialization and business growth. The firm's vision is to grow as Asia's leading IP-specialized venture capital, activating a virtuous cycle between IP and innovation. As of the official website data, IDV has formed 16 funds with a total fund size of approximately 379.8 billion Korean won, invested about 279.7 billion won across 182 portfolio companies, and recovered approximately 260.5 billion won. Notable investments include Wadiiz (a leading Korean crowdfunding platform), Peptron (a biopharmaceutical company), Tapas Media (a North American webtoon platform), Krafton (the developer of PUBG), and IdeaHub (a Korean NPE focused on patent monetization). The firm is led by CEO Kim Eun-seop (김은섭), with group leader Heo Chang-min (허창민) and division head Shin Ga-hyeong (신가형). IDV emphasizes ESG management, pursuing long-term returns through ESG performance and investing in companies that can create social benefit. Its team comprises professionals with diverse backgrounds, including patent attorneys, accountants, and experts from finance and startup fields.

IDV (ID Ventures) was established in 2012 as South Korea's first venture capital firm dedicated exclusively to intellectual property (IP) investments. The firm was founded with the goal of discovering and nurturing companies that possess "Life changing ideas" — innovative IP that can enhance corporate and national global IP competitiveness and activate a virtuous cycle of innovation. From its inception, IDV differentiated itself by integrating IP expertise into the entire investment cycle, from deal sourcing to exit. It provides stage-specific solutions covering IP creation, reinforcement, utilization, and protection, tailored to the needs of portfolio companies at different growth stages — from early-stage startups to IP commercialization and business growth. Key milestones include early investments in notable companies. In January 2016, IDV led an investment in Wadiiz Co., Ltd., a leading Korean crowdfunding platform, which later became the first company to obtain a securities-type crowdfunding license in Korea and grew into the country's largest crowdfunding platform, preparing for an IPO. In 2014, IDV invested in Peptron Co., Ltd., a biopharmaceutical company, supporting its pre-IPO preparations and achieving a successful exit after its KOSDAQ listing. In 2017, IDV invested in Tapas Media, Inc., a North American webtoon platform developer, and supported its growth through business partnerships and content supply, eventually exiting via M&A. Also in 2017, IDV invested in Krafton, Inc., the developer of PUBG, which became the world's top paid game in 2018 and listed on the KOSPI in 2021, allowing IDV to sell its stake. Additionally, IDV made an equity investment in IdeaHub Co., Ltd., a Korean NPE (Non-Practicing Entity) focused on patent monetization, which is growing into a global patent monetization company and preparing for a listing. As of the latest available data, IDV has formed 16 funds with a total fund size of approximately 379.8 billion Korean won, invested about 279.7 billion won in 182 companies, and recovered approximately 260.5 billion won. The firm continues to pursue its vision of becoming Asia's leading IP-specialized venture capital, emphasizing ESG management and long-term sustainable returns.

• 2021

  Krafton listed on KOSPI; IDV sold its stake.

• 2018

  Krafton's PUBG became the world's top paid game.

• 2017

  Invested in Tapas Media, Inc., a North American webtoon platform; later exited via M&A.

• 2017

  Invested in Krafton, Inc., developer of PUBG.

• 2016

  Led investment in Wadiiz Co., Ltd., a leading crowdfunding platform; Wadiiz obtained Korea's first securities-type crowdfunding license.

• 2014

  Invested in Peptron Co., Ltd., a biopharmaceutical company; later achieved exit after KOSDAQ listing.

• 2012

  Founded as South Korea's first IP-specialized venture capital firm.

Asia's leading IP-specialized venture capital, focusing on companies with life-changing ideas and providing IP-centric value-up and global expansion support.

• IP-based venture capital funds

  16 funds with total fund size of approximately 379.8 billion KRW.

• Stage-specific IP solutions

  Support for IP creation, reinforcement, utilization, and protection from early stage to commercialization.

• Global expansion support

  Utilizing global network to help portfolio companies enter overseas markets.

• 2021.10.07

  Reported2021.10.07

  InvestNext closes $4.3 million seed round[4]InvestNext完成430万美元种子轮融资prnewswire.com

  InvestNext announced that it had closed a $4.3 million seed funding round led by Hyde Park Venture Partners, with Detroit Venture Partners, Whitecap Venture Partners, Grand Ventures and ID Ventures also participating.

• 2020.01.15

  Reported2020.01.15

  ID Ventures and Google Developers Launchpad partner on Michigan startup program[5]ID Ventures与Google Developers Launchpad合作推出密歇根州创业项目prnewswire.com

  ID Ventures announced that Google Developers Launchpad selected it as its first continental U.S. partner to provide scaling resources to startups in Michigan.

Read more

1. 1IDV Official Websiteid-vc.com
2. 2IDV About Pageid-vc.com
3. 3Wikidata: IDVwikidata.org
4. 4InvestNext完成430万美元种子轮融资prnewswire.com
5. 5ID Ventures与Google Developers Launchpad合作推出密歇根州创业项目prnewswire.com