SK telecom ventures is structured to maximize return on investment by focusing on those private companies where a relationship with SK telecom can be beneficial to the financial success of the start-up. We are headquartered in the United States but consider investment opportunities from around the world. The US$100m under management is softly allocated between two funds, with each targeting investments at a stage in a company's maturity where SK telecom can be a value-add investor. The SK telecom ventures Innovation Fund (or SKIF) targets seed and early stage start-ups and the SK telecom ventures Acceleration Fund (SKAF) targets mid- and growth-stage opportunities. For both funds, we will consider leading or co-leading investment rounds.

INNOVATION FUND (SKIF)

The SK telecom ventures Innovation Fund makes investments in innovative seed and early stage mobile, internet, digital media services and software companies. We will make initial investments of less than US$2m but plan to support companies with follow-on investments throughout their growth. To define “innovative” areas of focus for the Innovation Fund, we work with SK telecom business units, R&D and strategy groups to identify current and future areas of SK telecom’s growth. While companies of a seed or early–stage nature do not yet typically have mature products or business models sufficient for commercial deployment, the goal of SK telecom ventures is to work with the early–stage portfolio companies of the Innovation Fund to help them reach the critical next stage of growth. Through collaboration with SK telecom ventures, portfolio companies can gain access to product and market requirements, talent for product co–creation, possible alpha and beta lab testing, and real–world insights on go–to–market and business modeling from SK telecom.

If you have a business plan that meets the criteria of the SK telecom ventures Innovation Fund and would like us to consider it for investment please submit it to skifdeals@sktvc.com.

ACCELERATION FUND (SKAF)

The SK telecom ventures Acceleration Fund makes investments in more mature private companies that already have a commercially available product and some existing revenue traction. In addition to mobile, internet, digital media services and software, the Acceleration Fund also considers investments in hardware components and products. For the Acceleration Fund we target initial investments of US$2m to US$5m and will give greater consideration to those companies that have, or are close to having, a revenue-generating deal with SK telecom. SK telecom is recognized as an early adopter of new mobile, internet, digital media services and software companies. Companies with market–ready solutions may well find SK telecom to be an important early market maker for their product or service.

If you have a business plan that meets the criteria of the SK telecom ventures Acceleration Fund and would like us to consider it for investment please submit it to skafdeals@sktvc.com.