UMI Ventures Enters into Memorandum of Understanding with Shinhan Securities Toward Establishing a Japan-Korea Deep Tech Fund

UMI Ventures Co., Ltd., a venture capital firm specializing in the materials and chemical industries, has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Shinhan Securities Co., Ltd., toward establishing an investment fund targeting deep tech startups in both Korea and Japan.

From left: Hosik Jang, Deputy President and Head of Corporate & Investment Banking Group, Shinhan Securities Co., Ltd.; Shosuke Kiba, Representative Director of UMI Ventures Co., Ltd.

UMI Ventures and Shinhan Securities are exploring the joint establishment of a fund that will primarily target deep tech companies in Korea and Japan.

The proposed fund’s fundamental investment policy will be to invest in later-stage deep tech companies for which clear exit strategies, such as initial public offerings (IPOs) or mergers and acquisitions (M&A), can be envisioned. It will target a broad range of sectors, including semiconductors, advanced materials, climate and energy, industrial automation, mobility, space, fintech, consumer technology, and biotechnology.

Through investment strategies that leverage the respective market characteristics of Japan and Korea, the fund will invest in pre-IPO companies in Korea and companies in the growth stage prior to IPO in Japan.
In preparation for establishing and managing the fund, UMI Ventures and Shinhan Securities will utilize their respective networks and market insights to identify, evaluate, and consider investing in promising later-stage deep tech companies in Japan and Korea.

In addition, the partnership will leverage UMI Ventures’ network to support the expansion of Korean companies in the Japanese market, as well as the Shinhan Financial Group’s financial platforms and business infrastructure to support Japanese firms entering the Korean market. Furthermore, it will promote business partnerships and proof-of-concept initiatives among companies in both nations.

Through the proposed fund, UMI Ventures and Shinhan Securities will not only create investment opportunities but also support the expansion of companies from both nations in the partner nation’s market, contributing to the development of a Japan-Korea innovation ecosystem.

Shinhan Securities Co., Ltd.
Shinhan Securities is a full-service securities firm under the umbrella of the Shinhan Financial Group, one of Korea’s largest financial groups. It offers a wide range of financial services, including investment banking and IPO underwriting, and boasts a substantial track record and network in the Korean capital market. Through corporate growth support and financing, alongside promotion of cross-border business initiatives, the firm contributes to fostering innovation in both Korea and the global marketplace.
https://open.shinhansec.com/new_eng/index.html

UMI Ventures Co., Ltd.
We undertake equity investments in the chemical and material science fields, which were considered difficult in the past due to the need for professional expertise and insights.
Yosuke Yamamoto, President & CEO; Shosuke Kiba, Representative Director
Location：1-12-22 Tsukiji, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan
Establish：January 30, 2026
https://www.umi.co.jp/umiventures/