Naver D2SF, the venture capital arm of South Korean tech giant Naver Corp., is expanding its investment footprint in North America, focusing on startups that can enhance its artificial intelligence and robotics capabilities.
The fund, which has invested in 110 early-stage technology companies since 2015, hosted a networking event in Silicon Valley to connect with local investors and entrepreneurs. The move follows its recent investments in US-based Claythis, a 3D content generation startup, and YesPlz, which develops AI-powered fashion search technology.
Yang Sang-hwan, who heads Naver D2SF, said the fund aims to leverage Naver’s global business network and technological expertise to help startups scale internationally. The fund has already facilitated more than 210 collaboration projects between startups and various Naver divisions.
YJ Park, who leads North American investments, indicated strong interest from local startups in accessing Asian markets. The fund has connected approximately 1,700 startups with Naver’s ecosystem and is now actively seeking new investment opportunities through its website and office hours program.
Naver D2SF emphasized it will consider startups regardless of founders’ backgrounds, provided they align with the fund’s Asian market focus or can create synergies with Naver’s operations.
