South Korea has taken significant steps to strengthen the global presence of its startup ecosystem, with a series of strategic initiatives unveiled this week in Silicon Valley.

Oh Youngju, South Korea’s Minister of SMEs and Startups, presided over three key events at the Korean Consulate in San Francisco on Tuesday: the establishment of a $200 million Global Fund, the signing of a partnership agreement between Korean-American entrepreneurs and Korea’s venture investment agency, and a council meeting focused on supporting Korean businesses entering the American market.

“Korean companies are globally recognized for their technological prowess and creativity,” Ms. Oh said during the ceremonies. She noted that at the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this year, 151 Korean companies received a total of 208 innovation awards.

The newly established Global Fund, valued at $200 million (approximately 292.6 billion Korean won), commits to investing at least $30 million in Korean companies. Three U.S.-based venture capital firms — Patron Management, Third Prime Capital, and ACVC Partners — will manage the fund, focusing on emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence and robotics.

“Korean startups have exceptional technology and global competitiveness in advanced industries, making them highly attractive for investment,” said Brian Cho, CEO of Patron Management, following the ceremony.

This fund is part of a broader initiative by the Korean government, which has established 73 similar funds globally as of February 2025. Collectively, these funds have raised over 12 trillion won and invested more than 1.3 trillion won in 642 Korean companies.

The event also featured the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the United Korean Founders (UKF) and Korea Venture Investment Corp. (KVIC), aimed at supporting Korean startups entering the U.S. market.

UKF, founded in August 2024, comprises approximately 1,500 Korean-American investors and startup founders. The organization hosts biannual summit events in Silicon Valley and New York, connecting Korean companies with local Korean-American investors and entrepreneurs.

The partnership is expected to provide Korean startups with support in attracting investment, collaborating on technology with U.S. companies, and expanding locally through the Korean-American network in the United States.

The third component of Tuesday’s events was a meeting of the Northern California Korean SMEs and Startups Support Council, established in April 2024 following an agreement between South Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups and its Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The council, one of 25 such bodies operating through Korean diplomatic missions worldwide, has addressed 14 challenges faced by Korean companies and provided 49 pieces of key information to assist Korean businesses entering the Northern California region since its inception.

These initiatives reflect South Korea’s broader strategy to position its startups on the global stage, particularly in technology hubs like Silicon Valley. The Korean government has committed to raising over 1 trillion won annually for its Global Fund and continues to foster international connections through networks like UKF.

“San Francisco, as the global center of startups, is an ideal location for Korean companies to expand,” Minister Oh said, emphasizing the government’s commitment to supporting Korean entrepreneurs as they navigate international markets.

The events in San Francisco follow similar Global Fund establishment ceremonies recently held in Singapore and Japan, underscoring South Korea’s strategic focus on expanding its startup ecosystem across multiple international markets.