What New Paradigm Investment does

New Paradigm Investment Co., Ltd. (뉴패러다임인베스트먼트 주식회사) is a South Korea-based startup accelerator and venture capital firm founded in October 2016 and headquartered in Gangnam, Seoul. The firm operates as a scale-up specialist focused on Pre-A stage startups in ICT, AI, deep tech, and healthcare sectors, deploying initial investments of KRW 300-500 million per company and scaling support up to KRW 5 billion per team through its Baby Unicorn Growth Program. Its core business combines direct investment, government program operation (TIPS operator since 2021, WINGS operator since 2020), and ecosystem intermediary services including policy financing linkage (KOTEC, KODIT, IBK), follow-on investment coordination, and IPO/M&A preparation support.

The company is a subsidiary of TS Investment, operating within a network that manages approximately KRW 1.3 trillion in AUM. The firm runs multiple fund series including Baby Unicorn Growth Funds (now in 7th series) and Innovation Growth Funds, with the most recent Fund 7 sized at KRW 64 billion (August 2025). Technologically, New Paradigm leverages AI-based investment screening and market analysis tools to support its due diligence process, plus offers "Multi AI Agent" scale-up advisory to portfolio companies. Since 2016, the firm has accelerated 80+ companies, achieved 42-46 TIPS selections at a 97-98% selection rate, supported KRW 703 billion+ in cumulative follow-on investments for portfolio companies, and produced 1 KOSDAQ IPO exit (Blue M Tec in 2023). It is led by co-CEOs Bae Sang-seung and Park Jae-hyun, who together claim KRW 1.6 trillion+ in direct investment experience and 16 IPO transactions, supported by a small team of 8-10 employees.

The firm's revenue model is dual: (1) fund management fees from operating its series of investment partnership funds, and (2) investment returns from successful portfolio company exits, IPOs, and follow-on investment appreciation. The firm does not publicly disclose its own revenue. GTM is sales-led, primarily sourcing deals through direct application, network referrals, and its parent TS Investment's LP ecosystem, with a focus on building a differentiated pipeline of startups that can qualify for government R&D programs like TIPS and then scale to Series A and beyond.

Name

New Paradigm Investment

Legal name

New Paradigm Investment Co., Ltd.

Website

https://npinvestment.co.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

New Paradigm Investment is a Seoul-based startup accelerator and venture capital firm that invests KRW 300-500 million at the Pre-A stage in ICT, AI, and healthcare startups, operating as a TIPS-licensed scale-up specialist under TS Investment's KRW 1.3 trillion AUM network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Accelerator and Venture Capital

NAICS

Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259), Funds, Trusts, and Other Financial Vehicles (525)

akta.pro primary industry

Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B) (FSANAAAB), Sector-Focused Venture Capital (Vertical Specialists) (FSANAAAD)

Keywords

• Startup accelerator services
• Venture capital investment
• Scale-up programs
• Pre-A stage funding
• Portfolio growth management

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Investment Returns: Returns generated from successful portfolio companies through exits, IPOs, and follow-on investment appreciation. The firm has achieved at least one IPO exit (Blue M Tec to KOSDAQ) and multiple follow-on investment rounds that increase portfolio company valuations.
2. Fund Management Fees: Management fees generated from operating multiple investment partnership funds including Baby Unicorn Growth funds (1-7 series), innovation growth funds, and follow-on funds. The firm manages approximately KRW 1.3 trillion in AUM through parent company TS Investment network.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

New Paradigm Investment is a startup accelerator and venture capital firm that provides Pre-A stage investment, operates government-backed programs such as TIPS and WINGS, and delivers follow-on investment, scale-up, and IPO/M&A preparation support to early-stage startups. The firm manages multiple investment funds totaling approximately KRW 1.3 trillion in assets under management, with a sector focus on ICT, AI, and healthcare.

Product overview

New Paradigm Investment is a South Korean startup accelerator that operates investment programs for early-stage companies, not a product technology company. Their core offerings include the Baby Unicorn Growth Program (아기유니콘 성장 프로그램), TIPS (Tech Incubator Program for Startup) operator services, WINGS (民间투자 연계型 기술창업支援) program operations, and various scale-up support services. The company provides investment funding (primarily 300-500 million KRW per company), follow-on investment support, IPO preparation, and business development assistance through its TS Investment network with 1.3 trillion KRW AUM. As an accelerator, they do not offer a software product, platform, or SaaS service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Baby Unicorn Growth Program (아기유니콘 성장 프로그램): A scale-up support program for Pre-A stage startups that provides initial investment, TIPS/WINGS/LIPS linkage, follow-on investment support, and growth acceleration through 5+ annual programs.
• NP Synergy Day

Products and services

• Baby Unicorn Growth Program Flagship startup scale-up program supporting early-stage Korean startups from Pre-A through growth stages, integrating capital, mentorship, and operational support. Targeted at founders in ICT, AI, and healthcare seeking structured pathways to scale.
• TIPS Operator Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% TIPS selection rate (44 out of 46 recommended companies)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered major and moderate.

• Samil PwCmajorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 May 2025M&A cooperation agreement signed for startup M&A activation support. Samil PwC provides merger and acquisition advisory services, due diligence support, and transaction structuring expertise for portfolio companies exploring M&A exits or strategic acquisitions.
• Korea Accelerator Association (KAA)moderateOthersIndustry association membership providing networking with other accelerators, participation in policy advocacy, and access to industry best practices and regulatory updates.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sparklabs: Korean startup accelerator operating Pre-A and seed-stage programs with both domestic and global portfolio support. Directly competes for early-stage Korean startups in the same accelerator segment and is a fellow Korea Accelerator Association member alongside New Paradigm Investment.
• D.CAMP: Korean startup hub and accelerator backed by domestic financial institutions, providing early-stage investment and growth support. Directly competes in the Korean Pre-A accelerator segment with overlapping founder/funnel relationships.
• FuturePlay: Korean tech startup accelerator and seed investor with focus on AI and deep tech, closely mirroring New Paradigm's ICT/AI focus areas. Competes for the same Pre-A stage startups in Korea's AI ecosystem.
• Mashup Ventures: Korean accelerator and early-stage investor focused on connecting startups with corporate partners. Operates in the same Korean early-stage accelerator ecosystem as New Paradigm Investment with overlapping TIPS operator activity.
• Plug and Play: Global accelerator with a meaningful Korea presence, running vertical-specific programs (fintech, insurtech, brand & retail). Provides similar early-stage investment and corporate partnership services that compete with New Paradigm's value-up model in Korea.
• 500 Global: Global venture capital firm and accelerator with operations in Korea. Competes for Korean early-stage deals, particularly in AI and SaaS sectors, overlapping with New Paradigm Investment's primary focus areas.

Broad incumbents

• Kakao Ventures: Corporate venture arm of Kakao with larger AUM and broader sector coverage. While not exclusively a Pre-A accelerator, it makes similar early-stage investments in Korean tech startups and represents a broader incumbent competitor with deeper corporate distribution.
• Naver D2SF: Corporate venture arm of Naver investing in AI and tech startups in Korea. Operates with significantly larger resources and similar sector focus, representing a broader incumbent competitor in Korean early-stage tech investing with strong corporate partnership leverage.
• KB Investment: Major Korean venture capital firm with broad sector coverage and substantially larger AUM. Competes for Korean startup deals across stages and participates in the same LP/VC ecosystem that New Paradigm operates in, often co-investing alongside the firm.
• POSCO Capital: Korean venture capital and growth equity firm with broader sector coverage and significantly larger AUM. Competes for Korean tech and deep tech deals and participates as a follow-on investor in rounds where New Paradigm leads, operating in the same ecosystem as a broader incumbent.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/npinvetment
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/78792954/admin/feed/posts
• Instagraminstagram.com/newparadigm_official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments100 records

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New Paradigm Investment