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SM Culture Partners is a unique platform that brings together the vibrant worlds of K-Pop music and Filipino culture. It's a hub where fans can explore and experience the best of both worlds.
SM Entertainment, a leading K-Pop entertainment company, partnered with SM Lifestyle to create this cultural exchange. This collaboration has led to exciting projects that showcase the rich heritage of the Philippines.
From music collaborations to fashion and lifestyle projects, SM Culture Partners is a one-stop destination for fans of K-Pop and Filipino culture. It's a space where creativity and innovation thrive.
By bridging the gap between two cultures, SM Culture Partners aims to promote mutual understanding and appreciation.
Investments and Programs
SM Culture Partners has been actively investing in various start-ups to expand the reach of SM's artists and fans. In March 2022, they invested in Koy Labs, a Korean language education start-up, to provide "easy and fun" language education.
They also invested in Photo Widget, an iOS-only service that provides themes and widget functions, attracting a series A investment of 3.5 billion won from SM Entertainment Group. This investment has enabled Photo Widget to expand various collaborations using SM's IP.
In addition to investments, SM Culture Partners has been supporting culture-tech startups through the Culturetech Challenge program. This program aims to discover and support startups that combine culture and technology to produce new value.
Investments
SM Entertainment Group has been actively investing in various start-ups to expand its influence and reach new markets. One notable example is Koy Labs, a Korean language education start-up, which received an investment from MBC and SM Culture Partners in March 2022.
The investment was made with the goal of spreading the Korean language globally and expanding the fandom of SM's artists. MBC and SM plan to collaborate and grow Koy Labs into a global service.
In June 2022, SM Culture Partners and Aventures invested in Photo Widget, an iOS-only service that provides themes and widget functions. The service received a significant investment of 4.5 billion won.
Photo Widget plans to expand its collaborations using SM's intellectual property. This investment is a testament to SM's commitment to exploring new technologies and platforms.
SM Culture Partners also participated in the seed investment of MineIs, a start-up that operates the used fashion shopping service Charan, in February 2023. The investment amount was 4.15 billion won.
In November 2023, SM Culture Partners invested $8,000,000 into Modhaus, a South Korean record label, entertainment agency, and platform company. Modhaus is home to the girl groups tripleS and ARTMS.
Programs
The Culturetech Challenge program is a great opportunity for culture-tech startups to grow and succeed. It was announced by SM Culture Partners and CNT Tech on May 15, 2023.
The program aims to discover and support culture-tech startups that can create new value by combining culture and technology. This includes metahuman solutions, new content technology, and metaverse interaction.
Startups selected through the screening process are provided with close accelerating programs, such as market verification and mentoring. They also get to participate in proof of concept (PoC) with SMCP and SM Entertainment, and demo days for five months.
These programs are designed to help startups increase and grow the value of the local cultural industry. This aligns with SMCP's direction to increase and grow the value of the local cultural industry with startups.
Startups selected for the program can also draw investments of over 100 million won.
Similar Investor
As we explore the world of investments and programs, it's worth noting that similar investors often have similar investment strategies.
SM Culture Partners, a Korean corporate venture capital, has invested in 4 Series A and 3 Seed rounds, with a focus on e-commerce and VR/AR technologies.
The average investment execution of SM Culture Partners is 11 billion 9897 million won, ranging from 1 billion 4285 million won to 20 billion won.
E&S Partners, a Korean corporate venture capital, has invested in 11 Series A and 5 Series B rounds, with a focus on e-commerce and big data/analysis.
The average investment execution of E&S Partners is 14 billion 6941 million won, ranging from 3 billion won to 50 billion won.
WG Investment, a Korean corporate venture capital, has invested in 8 Series A and 7 Series B rounds, with a focus on game development and e-commerce.
The average investment execution of WG Investment is 40 billion 5372 million won, ranging from 5 billion won to 400 billion won.
Eco Investment Partners, a Korean corporate venture capital, has invested in 2 Series A and 1 Pre-IPO round, with a focus on crowdfunding and e-commerce.
Here's a brief overview of the similar investors we've discussed:
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SM_Culture_Partners
- https://www.kedglobal.com/newsSearch
- https://thevc.kr/smculturepartners
- https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/sm-entertainment-ar-chris-lee-talks-cultural-technology-creating-k-pop-hits-8526179/
- https://mega-onemega.com/intertwining-fashion-with-purpose-sm-retail-supports-diplomats-for-a-cause/
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