Korea Technology Finance Corporation

What Korea Technology Finance Corporation does

Korea Technology Finance Corporation (KOTEC/KIBO) is a South Korean government-backed public financial institution wholly owned by the Government of the Republic of Korea under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Busan, KOTEC provides credit guarantees, technology evaluations, and financing support to small and medium enterprises that lack the collateral or credit history needed for traditional bank financing. The corporation operates an integrated platform ecosystem built on AI-based technology assessment, anchored by the K-TOP (Korea Technology-rating Open Platform) which delivers three proprietary evaluation models—KTRS-FM for technology business evaluation, Tech-Index for innovation growth capacity measurement, and patent-database AI for origin technology assessment. Its broader platform includes Smart Tech-Bridge for technology trading, Tech-Safe for IP protection, KPAS for patent valuation, the KIBO ONE digital service hub, Digital Branch online applications, SME Factoring services, and a Carbon Neutrality Platform.

KOTEC generates revenue primarily through guarantee fees on credit guarantees extended to SMEs, supplemented by technology evaluation services, factoring fees on accounts receivable financing, and M&A guarantee support. Pricing follows preferential terms for qualifying programs, including up to 1.3 percentage point fee reductions for smart factory participants and 100% guarantee ratios for strategic industry companies in regions like Jeolla. The corporation distributes products through deep partnerships with all major Korean banks (Shinhan, Woori, Hana, Nonghyup, Busan Bank, Kyongnam Bank), government agencies (KBIZ, KHIDI, KISED), industry associations, and international partners (AmBank, Basel Area Business & Innovation, Korea-ASEAN Financial Cooperation Center). Its customer base spans SMEs facing succession challenges, smart factory participants, regional high-growth tech companies in the southeastern corridor, Korean biopharma firms, food technology companies expanding globally, and rehabilitation-stage enterprises, with KIBO Venture Camp having supported 890 startups cumulatively.

The institution serves a policy mandate rather than a profit motive, positioning itself as an ecosystem architect between government funding and private bank lending for technology SMEs. Operations are supported by approximately 1,001-5,000 employees across headquarters in Busan and regional offices including Seoul, with international presence in Indonesia, Malaysia, Switzerland, and the United States through partnership channels. KOTEC does not have external shareholders or venture capital investors; its operations are funded through government contributions and guarantee fees, with growing subrogation obligations (1.5677 trillion KRW in 2024) representing both credit risk and the scaling of its guarantee portfolio.

Name

Korea Technology Finance Corporation

Legal name

Korea Technology Finance Corporation (기술보증기금)

Website

https://kibo.or.kr:444

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Korea Technology Finance Corporation (KOTEC/KIBO) is a South Korean government-backed public financial institution providing credit guarantees, AI-based technology evaluations, and financing support to small and medium enterprises through bank partnerships and its integrated K-TOP platform ecosystem.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government-Backed Technology Finance and Credit Guarantees

NAICS

Commercial Banking (522110), Sales Financing (52222), Financial Transactions Processing, Reserve, and Clearinghouse Activities (522320)

SIC

Miscellaneous Business Credit Institution (6159), Finance Services (6199)

akta.pro primary industry

KYC/KYB & Customer Onboarding (CIP, beneficial ownership, screening) (FSAGAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Beneficial Ownership (UBO) & Corporate Registry Verification (KYB) (FSAMAMAK)

Keywords

• Technology credit guarantees
• SME financing services
• IP-backed lending
• Technology evaluation
• Guarantee-backed financing

Headquarters

HQ city

Busan

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Guarantee Fee Income: KOTEC generates primary revenue through guarantee fees charged to SMEs for credit guarantees. The corporation paid record subrogation payments of 1.5677 trillion KRW in 2024, indicating substantial guarantee operations. Guarantee fees are reduced by up to 1.3 percentage points for qualifying programs.
2. Technology Evaluation Services: Revenue from conducting technology evaluations for ventures and SMEs, including KTRS-FM business evaluations, Tech-Index assessments, and origin technology evaluations through the K-TOP platform
3. Factoring Services: Accounts receivable factoring services for SMEs through the中小企业팩토링 program, enabling early cash conversion of trade receivables
4. M&A Guarantee Support: Guarantee program facilitating mergers and acquisitions for companies facing succession challenges, reaching 31 billion KRW as of November 2025

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Korea Technology Finance Corporation (KOTEC/KIBO) provides credit guarantees, technology evaluations, and financing support services for South Korean small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and technology ventures. Its offerings include technology guarantee products, IP-backed financing, SME factoring services, technology evaluation platforms (K-TOP), technology trading (Smart Tech-Bridge), patent evaluation (KPAS), M&A guarantee support, and a startup accelerator (KIBO Venture Camp), distributed through bank partnerships and digital channels.

Product overview

KIBO operates as a government-backed technology finance institution offering a comprehensive platform ecosystem for SME technology development and commercialization. The core K-TOP (Korea Technology-rating Open Platform) provides AI-based technology evaluation with three main modules: KTRS-FM for technology business evaluation, Tech-Index for innovation capacity measurement, and origin technology evaluation using patent database AI. These evaluation services are complemented by the Smart Tech-Bridge technology trading platform, Tech-Safe technology protection services, and KIBO ONE digital platform for integrated service access. The organization provides financial products including technology guarantees, IP-based financing (knowledge property subscription allowing loans up to 5x paid-in capital), SME factoring services, guarantee-linked and investment-linked products, and carbon neutrality platforms. Additional platforms include the Digital Branch for online services, Social Venture Square, and K-PAS patent evaluation system, all supported by data value evaluation capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• K-TOP: Korea Technology-rating Open Platform - AI-based open technology evaluation platform providing KTRS-FM (technology business evaluation), Tech-Index (innovation growth capability index), and origin technology evaluation services
• Smart Tech-Bridge
• Tech-Safe
• KIBO Venture Camp
• BIRD Program
• Carbon Value Platform
• KIBO ONE Platform

Products and services

• K-TOP (Korea Technology-rating Open Platform) Open technology evaluation platform providing AI-based technology business evaluation (KTRS-FM), innovation growth capacity index (Tech-Index), and origin technology assessment using patent database AI models for SMEs and enterprises
• Smart Tech-Bridge (스마트 테크브릿지) AI-powered technology trading and commercialization platform supporting technology transactions, IP information sharing, and business acceleration for SMEs and venture companies
• Tech-Safe (테크세이프) Technology protection service safeguarding SMEs' valuable technologies and intellectual property through comprehensive IP protection solutions
• KPAS Patent Evaluation System Patent evaluation system providing standardized assessment and valuation of patent assets, supporting the use of IP as collateral for SME financing
• SME Factoring (중소기업팩토링) Factoring service enabling SMEs to convert accounts receivable to cash before maturity, with annual purchase limit of 100 billion KRW; supports early cash conversion of trade receivables for both buyer and seller enterprises
• KIBO ONE Platform (기보 ONE 플랫폼) Digital service hub providing integrated access to guarantee applications, technology evaluations, startup support, factoring, and technology trading through a unified digital interface
• Digital Branch (디지털지점) Online service portal offering guarantee applications, technology evaluations, startup support, and business services with digital document submission and remote assistance
• Carbon Neutrality Platform (탄소중립 플랫폼) Platform supporting corporate carbon neutrality initiatives with carbon value assessment and guarantee services for environmental sustainability
• Social Venture Square (소셜벤처스퀘어) Platform supporting social ventures and enterprises with social impact missions through dedicated financing and support services
• Intellectual Property Subscription (지식재산공제) IP-based financial product enabling companies to borrow up to 5 times their paid-in capital using intellectual property as collateral for accessing financing
• KIBO Venture Camp National accelerator platform supporting innovative Korean startups with special tracks including Regional Balance, ESG, New Growth 4.0, Pre-Startup, and Global Track; has supported 890 startups to date with approximately 70 startups recruited per cohort
• Investment-linked Guarantee (투자연계보증) Guarantee product linked to investment, providing financing support for companies receiving venture investment to bridge gaps between equity and debt funding
• Guarantee-linked Investment (보증연계투자) Investment product linked to guarantees, providing equity investment combined with guarantee support for technology ventures and SMEs
• Data Value Evaluation (데이터가치평가) Service evaluating the monetary value of enterprise data assets for use in financing and as collateral in loan applications
• BIRD Program Phased funding support program providing up to 3.4 billion KRW for local SMEs and venture companies from R&D planning through commercialization in partnership with regional governments
• Technology Credit Evaluator (기술신용평가사) Technology credit evaluation service under K-TOP providing professional technology assessment credentials and certifications for evaluators

Quantifiable outcome

• IP finance scale reached 12.4 trillion KRW outstanding at end of 2025, 14.8% increase year-over-year
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Korea Food Industry AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 July 2026Three-way agreement with Korea Food Industry Association and NH Nonghyup Bank to support food tech companies' global K-Food expansion. The association identifies promising food tech companies and recommends them to Nonghyup Bank, which selects eligible companies for credit extension and refers them to KOTEC for guarantee support using bank's contributions and guarantee fee support funds.
• Daegu Rehabilitation CourtcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 June 2026Agreement to share intellectual property information of bankrupt companies through Smart Tech Bridge platform and provide financial support including Rechallenge Recovery Support Guarantee for companies undergoing rehabilitation procedures.
• Shinhan Financial GroupminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026Joint event hosting at BIO USA 2026 with Stanford Biodesign collaboration for Korean bio companies seeking global market entry, following Seoul National University Hospital's standalone booth at the convention.
• Tway AirminorOthers · 7 May 2026Partner offering discount coupons for Southeast Asian routes at ASEAN-Korea exhibition, supporting connectivity for Korean businesses.
• Basel Area Business & InnovationflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2026Collaboration with Roche Korea and KHIDI to launch joint open innovation program for Korean biopharma companies expanding into global markets. Basel Area connects companies to its Life Sciences Supercluster and infrastructure, with Roche leading company selection and KHIDI promoting the program.
• Roche KoreaflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2026Flagship program partner for Korean biopharma expansion into Basel Area Life Sciences Supercluster, leading company selection and exploring funding opportunities.
• Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 May 2026Joint open innovation program partner promoting and operating the program for Korean biopharma companies seeking global market entry through Basel Area collaboration.
• AmBank GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 4 May 2026Collaboration to attract Korean FDI into Malaysia using AmBank's FDI Desk established in 2023. KOTEC uses its technology appraisal system to bridge financing gaps faced by Korean tech SMEs with limited local credit history, while Woori Bank supports Korean investors in Malaysia.
• KBIZ (Korea Federation of Small and Medium Business)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2026Business agreement to strengthen financial support for SMEs participating in joint smart factory construction project with Samsung Electronics and Woori Bank, with KOTEC providing up to 1.3 percentage point reduction in guarantee fee rates.
• Samsung ElectronicscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 January 2026Joint smart factory project with KBIZ, Woori Bank, and KOTEC providing mentoring and step-by-step support for SME smart factory construction.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Korea Credit Guarantee Fund (KODIT): KODIT is Korea's other major government-backed credit guarantee institution providing credit guarantees to SMEs. It is the most direct comparable to KOTEC, with overlapping mandate but focused on general credit rather than technology-specific evaluation.
• Small Business Corporation (SBC): Another Korean government-backed institution under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups providing direct loans, guarantees, and management support to SMEs. Comparable as a sister policy finance institution with similar government backing and SME focus.
• Korea Venture Investment Corporation (KVIC): Korea's main government-backed venture investment fund manager. KOTEC already partners with KVIC on the southeastern corridor financing initiative, and both serve as policy finance vehicles for technology and venture funding.

Broad incumbents

• Korea Development Bank (KDB): Korea's state-owned policy development bank providing corporate financing, guarantees, and investment across industries. Larger and broader than KOTEC, but operates in adjacent policy finance space with overlapping government ownership.
• Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK): Korean policy bank focused on SME financing, offering loans, guarantees, and venture capital. Larger than KOTEC with broader product range, but specialized in SME segment with similar government backing.
• Woori Bank: One of KOTEC's major distribution partners providing guarantee products to SMEs. Commercial bank with broader product portfolio but overlapping SME target market and active partnership with KOTEC.
• Shinhan Bank: KOTEC's largest guarantee distribution partner having signed a 2,000 billion KRW support agreement. Korean commercial bank with broad SME financing capabilities that KOTEC supplements through its guarantee products.
• Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM): Korean government-backed policy bank supporting overseas investments and exports. Comparable as government-backed policy finance institution with international mandate that overlaps with KOTEC's ASEAN expansion.

Regional players

• Japan Finance Corporation (JFC): Japan's government-backed policy financial institution providing loans and guarantees to SMEs. Closest regional comparable reflecting similar East Asian policy finance model, though serving Japan rather than Korea.
• National Credit Guarantee Fund (Taiwan): Taiwan's government-backed SME credit guarantee institution. Provides regional perspective on Asian credit guarantee operations and structural comparability to KOTEC's mandate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/techkibo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCMF6s380uQOSNRcs231MJ5g
• Facebookfacebook.com/KIBObb
• Instagraminstagram.com/techkibo/?hl=ko

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments98 records

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

Frequently asked questions about Korea Technology Finance Corporation