Naver D2SF to Focus Investment on Metaverse, Commerce, and AI Sectors This Year

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] Naver's startup nurturing organization D2SF announced on the 30th that it focused its investments this year on startups in the metaverse, commerce, and artificial intelligence (AI) sectors. Including both new and follow-up investments, the proportions for each sector are 24% for metaverse, 21% for commerce, and 17% for AI, totaling approximately 62%.

First, investments in content technology startups suitable for metaverse platforms such as 3D, virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) stood out. Audio tech startup ‘Gaudiolab,’ newly invested in last October, jointly developed immersive audio technology (audio technology that allows users to feel vivid presence and immersion online) with Naver’s video platform and implemented it as a service.

Virtualflow and Flask each developed solutions that enable easy production of high-quality 3D content, and Pixelity Games possesses technology that allows multiple users to communicate in real-time within a VR environment.

In the commerce sector, investments were made mainly in technology startups that can realize new online shopping experiences. ‘Recon Labs,’ newly invested in last June, developed a webAR commerce solution that automatically generates 3D models when products are photographed with a smartphone. G-Motion attracted D2SF’s investment with a 3D simulation engine specialized in fashion that realistically implements fabric textures and pattern changes.

Follow-up investments in existing portfolio teams were also actively continued. AI semiconductor startup ‘FuriosaAI’ received its third investment following those in 2017 and 2019, and follow-up investments were also made in logistics IT startup ‘Techtaka’ and others.

D2SF plans to continue aggressively discovering early-stage technology startups and making strategic investments. Yang Sanghwan, leader of Naver D2SF, said, "This year, we focused investments on technology startups that can implement new user experiences on next-generation platforms and actively pursued follow-up investments to lay the groundwork for mid- to long-term collaboration. In 2022, we will aggressively invest in early-stage technology startups, including student-founded teams, and systematically support growth according to the startup’s development stage."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.