Landscape Tree Distribution Startup 'Rootrix' Completes Pre-Series A Investment

Tree data collection and distribution startup ‘Rootrix’ has secured 1.2 billion KRW in a Pre-A round of investment.

Since receiving seed (early-stage) investments from FuturePlay and SoPoong Ventures in 2022, the company has now accumulated a total of 1.6 billion KRW in funding. This round included participation from Xplore Investment (GS Construction CVC), Spring Camp, and Smilegate Investment.

Rootrix was founded in November 2021 by co-founders CEO An Jung-rok and CEO Kim Yu-gyeom as a data and distribution startup. It collects fragmented tree-related data from over 600 tree farms nationwide and provides it in one place, helping customers conveniently purchase the trees they want.

CEO An Jung-rok, who graduated with a Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture from Harvard Graduate School of Design, started the company with the goal that the proper development of the landscaping industry, which plants and manages trees, is a fundamental solution to climate issues. Based on the data secured and processed since its founding, Rootrix provides customized quotes for dozens of items to customers within 24 hours and connects customers directly with farms, enabling the provision of quality trees at low fees. In the first half of this year, the total quoted amount surpassed 9.4 billion KRW, and sales recorded a fivefold growth compared to the same period last year.

Additionally, Rootrix has been highly evaluated for its growth potential by external organizations, being the first in the landscaping industry to be selected for the TIPS program and winning the grand prize at the ‘Aegis Impact Stage’ hosted by Aegis Asset Management. Since last year, it has been conducting research on the expansion of the landscaping industry in collaboration with Samsung C&T Resort Division, the largest landscaping business in Korea.

CEO An Jung-rok stated, “As the digital transformation and innovation of the landscaping and construction industry, which exceeds 8 trillion KRW, become necessary, we are actively communicating and cooperating with various stakeholders. Rootrix aims to solve information asymmetry in this field based on a deep understanding of trees, and in the long term, become a company that passes on the inspiration of beautiful nature to the next generation.”

Furthermore, the newly secured investment will be used to build an automated distribution system and to conduct research on establishing price standards through demand and production forecasting of trees, as well as on introducing carbon offset benefits for landscaping companies, contributing to the development of an environment, social, and governance (ESG)-friendly landscaping industry.

Kim Igyeom, CEO of Rootrix; Ahn Jeongrok, CEO of Rootrix

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