Next Unicorn

Next Unicorn Inc., founded in 2016 by CEO Jaeyong Jang, operates a premier online platform in South Korea dedicated to connecting startups with professional investors. The company has established itself as a critical facilitator within the Korean startup ecosystem, streamlining the often challenging process of fundraising and investment discovery. Headquartered in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, Next Unicorn provides a space where startups and investors can autonomously find and exchange information.

The platform's core function is to bridge the gap between promising new ventures and verified venture capitalists, accelerators, and other institutional investors. Startups can register their company profiles for free, gaining visibility among a network of potential funders. Investors, in turn, can browse a curated list of startups, filtering by industry, funding stage, and business model to identify compelling opportunities. The business model incorporates a freemium structure; while basic profile registration and receiving inbound interest from investors is free for startups, proactive outreach to investors requires the purchase of 'tickets'. This paid feature, known as an "investment review request," allows startups to directly pitch their ventures to specific investors on the platform.

Next Unicorn's platform is more than a simple directory. It offers a suite of services designed to support the growth of early-stage companies, including access to business templates, information on government support programs, and market insights. The company explicitly states that it does not act as a brokerage or advisory firm, thereby placing the responsibility for due diligence and investment decisions squarely on the users. This model fosters a self-directed environment where connections are made based on mutual interest and the merit of the ventures presented. The platform has become a significant tool for discovering emerging companies in fields ranging from AI and big data to biotech and e-commerce.

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