SBVA Secures Top Honors at Korea Venture Capital Awards 2024

SBVA proudly announced on December 5th that it had been awarded the 'Minister of SMEs and Startups Award' in the large-scale VC category at the 15th Korea Venture Capital Awards, held in Seoul on December 4th. This marks SBVA's second accolade at the event, following its recognition as Best Asset Management Firm in 2019.

The Korea Venture Capital Awards, often referred to as the 'Midas List' of the Korean venture market, is an annual event hosted by Korea Venture Investment Corporation (KVIC) to honor institutions and individuals who have made significant contributions to advancing the venture ecosystem. The 'VC of the Year' award evaluates key performance metrics, including funds raised, investments executed, and realized returns over the past year.

SBVA distinguished itself this year by raising a total of 410 billion won ($310 million) through three flagship funds: the 2023 Alpha Korea Fund (200 billion won), Alpha Intelligence Fund (180 billion won), and Alpha AI Healthcare Fund (30 billion won). Throughout the year, the firm invested 120 billion won in 18 startups targeting global markets and achieved 200 billion won in returns, further solidifying its position as a leader in the venture capital landscape.

With assets under management of approximately 2.5 trillion won ($1.9 billion), SBVA has invested in over 300 startups worldwide, including Lunit, Karrot, and Hyperconnect. Over the past five years, the firm has deployed approximately 792 billion won into 110 companies across diverse industries, including AI, energy, healthcare, fintech, and edtech, through 12 funds totaling 1 trillion won.

In addition to its investment success, SBVA has played a key role in connecting Korea's IT and startup ecosystem with global markets. Earlier this year, the company co-hosted a high-profile event featuring OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in collaboration with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. Furthermore, SBVA held the 2024 SBVA Tokyo Forum in October, where it facilitated the market entry of eight portfolio companies into Japan.

"Amid challenging times for venture investments, SBVA has remained steadfast in creating funds with valuable partners and continuously invested in innovative companies," said JP Lee, CEO of SBVA. "This award is a testament to our unwavering efforts, and we are honored by this recognition and we will stay committed to driving sustained growth."

Founded in 2000 as a venture capital subsidiary of the SoftBank Group, SBVA became an independent firm in 2023 following its acquisition by The EdgeOf, a Singapore-based investment firm co-founded by Taizo Son, JP Lee, and Atsushi Taira.