Lotte Ventures

Lotte Ventures is the corporate venture capital (CVC) arm of Lotte Group, one of South Korea's largest conglomerates, established in 2019. Headquartered in Seoul, its primary mission is to discover and foster innovative startups that can create strategic synergies with Lotte Group's extensive portfolio of businesses. This includes sectors such as retail, food and beverage, entertainment, chemicals, construction, and mobility. As a strategic investor, Lotte Ventures aims to not only provide financial capital but also to connect startups with the vast resources, distribution networks, and operational expertise of the Lotte ecosystem, facilitating their growth and market penetration.

The firm primarily focuses on early to growth-stage startups, encompassing seed, pre-Series A, Series A, and occasionally Series B rounds. Their investment thesis is broad, reflecting the diverse interests of the parent group, with a particular emphasis on technologies and business models that can drive innovation in traditional industries or create new market opportunities. Key areas of interest include artificial intelligence, big data, e-commerce, logistics, bio-tech, deep tech, and consumer-facing solutions. While their primary geographic focus is South Korea, Lotte Ventures also explores opportunities in promising global markets that align with Lotte Group's international expansion strategies. They also operate accelerator programs like "L-CAMP" to nurture early-stage companies.

Since its inception, Lotte Ventures has demonstrated a robust investment pace. As of late 2023, the firm had invested a total of approximately ₩100 billion (equivalent to about $75 million USD) across more than 100 startups, showcasing a commitment to a diverse portfolio of emerging companies. For 2023 alone, Lotte Ventures set an ambitious goal to deploy approximately ₩150 billion (around $112 million USD) into new ventures, underscoring its escalating role in the Korean startup ecosystem. Typical first check sizes for Lotte Ventures generally range from $200,000 for seed-stage companies up to $3,000,000 for Series A or early Series B rounds, with potential for larger follow-on investments as portfolio companies mature. This flexible approach allows them to support startups from their nascent stages through significant growth phases, leveraging the strategic backing of the Lotte Group.