Mark & Company
Mark & Company is a Seoul-based data-driven startup accelerator and early-stage investor that runs the Innovation Forest platform covering 5M+ startups, offers B2B analytics tools for VCs and support institutions, operates government TIPS programs, and manages corporate open-innovation programs with major Korean conglomerates and a 100B KRW K-Beauty fund.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2019
- HeadquartersSeocho, South Korea
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Mark & Company does
Mark & Company is a South Korean data-driven startup accelerator and early-stage investment firm founded in 2020 and headquartered in Seocho-gu, Seoul. The company operates Innovation Forest (혁신의숲), a startup growth analysis platform that aggregates data on over 5,000,000 startups across 90+ data points including investment metrics, business performance indicators, and growth indices. Innovation Forest is extended by three B2B modules: IPMS for government/support institutions to manage startup cohorts, GMS for VCs to track portfolio growth, and Innovation Forest Insights for industry-specific analytics. Growth Bridge, launched in 2024, is the open-innovation connection layer that uses Innovation Forest data and Mark & Company's deal scouting to match startups with large corporations for PoC and partnership programs.
The company serves four customer segments: early-stage startups seeking data-driven investment and growth support, large Korean corporations pursuing open innovation and internal venture programs, government and support institutions that need tooling for cohort management, and investment institutions that need portfolio analytics. Mark & Company is a designated TIPS and Seoul-type TIPS operator, granting it the right to recommend Korean startups for government R&D funding. Beyond accelerator and platform services, it manages or co-manages capital vehicles including a 100 billion KRW K-Beauty dedicated fund with SolidOne Partners (anchored by LG Household & Health Care) and a venture investment partnership with the Yun Minchang Investment Foundation. Disclosed corporate open-innovation engagements include Samsung Securities, Hyundai Motor Group's ZER01NE, LG Display, KT, Shinhan Bank, and Kyobo Book Centre.
Revenue is generated across four streams: investment returns from direct equity stakes, recurring B2B platform subscriptions (IPMS/GMS/Insights), professional services fees for operating government programs (TIPS, Seoul-type TIPS, accelerators), and corporate open-innovation service fees for design and execution of corporate venture programs. Headcount is in the 11-50 range and includes leadership with prior operating experience at Hanwha Dreamplus, CJ E&M, Kakao, and several prior startups and accelerators. Mark & Company is privately held with no disclosed institutional ownership; no public revenue is reported.
Mark & Company firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mark & Company
- Legal name
- (주) 마크앤컴퍼니
- Website
- https://markncompany.co.kr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2019
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Mark & Company is a Seoul-based data-driven startup accelerator and early-stage investor that runs the Innovation Forest platform covering 5M+ startups, offers B2B analytics tools for VCs and support institutions, operates government TIPS programs, and manages corporate open-innovation programs with major Korean conglomerates and a 100B KRW K-Beauty fund.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Mark & Company industry classification
Industry- NAICS
- Management Consulting Services (54161)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs (FSANAHAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B) (FSANAAAB)
Keywords
Where Mark & Company is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seocho
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Mark & Company business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Investment Returns: Returns from investing in early-stage startups with high growth potential using data-driven analysis
- Platform Solutions: B2B solutions including IPMS for support institutions, GMS for investors, and Innovation Forest Insights for industry-specific analysis
- Government Program Operations: Operating government startup support programs including TIPS, Seoul-type TIPS, and other accelerator programs
- Corporate Open Innovation Services: Connecting startups with large corporations for open innovation collaboration, including internal venture cultivation and startup-corporate matching
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Mark & Company product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mark & Company is a Korean startup accelerator and data-driven investment firm that operates the Innovation Forest platform, aggregating 5M+ startup data points across 90+ indicators to identify and invest in early-stage startups. The company also sells B2B software solutions (IPMS for support institutions, GMS for investors, Innovation Forest Insights) and runs accelerator programs and corporate open innovation initiatives such as the Samsung Financial C-Lab Outside and Hyundai ZER01NE Company Builder.
Product overview
Mark & Company operates a unified platform ecosystem centered on Innovation Forest, a startup growth analysis platform that aggregates over 5 million startup data points across 90+ indicators. The core platform is complemented by specialized B2B solutions: IPMS for support organizations to manage startup programs, GMS for investors to track portfolio growth, and Innovation Forest Insights for industry-specific analytics. Growth Bridge serves as the open innovation connection layer, enabling startups and large corporations to collaborate through PoC and business partnerships. The company also runs branded investment programs including Growth Finder and co-operated accelerator programs like Samsung Financial C-Lab Outside.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Innovation Forest (혁신의숲): A startup growth analysis platform that provides data on over 5 million startups, offering various B2B solutions including IPMS for support organizations, GMS for investors, and InnoForest Insights for specific industries.
- Innovation Forest Awards (혁신의숲 어워즈)
- Growth Bridge
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% startup selection success rate in TIPS programs (2023)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Mark & Company
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Mark & Company technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability5 records
Feature5 records
Mark & Company partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- Samsung SecuritiescoreJoint operation of Samsung Financial C-Lab Outside program (7th year), focusing on financial innovation startups. Selected startups receive up to 40 million won in PoC funding with additional 10 million won prize and CES exhibition support.
- Samsung Financial NetworkscoreCo-operating Samsung Financial C-Lab Outside program (7th year) with joint operations with Samsung Venture Investment
- Samsung Venture InvestmentcoreCo-operating Samsung Financial C-Lab Outside program (7th year) with joint operations with Samsung Financial Networks
- 01Booster (제로원부스터)majorJapan-based accelerator partnership for MARK Global Express Japan program supporting Korean startups' entry into Japanese market. Includes global onboarding meetups, market deep dives, and local partner matching.
- Hyundai Motor Group ZER01NEcoreOperating ZER01NE Company Builder program for 4 consecutive years, cultivating internal Hyundai employees to spin off as startups. Final 6 teams successfully spun off in 2023 program.
- Kyobo Book Centre (교보문고)majorOperating Kyobo Book Centre internal venture program. First batch of 6 teams cultivated, resulting in 4 successful outcomes (3 spin-offs, 1 internal business implementation).
- Korea Design & Technology Promotion (한국디자인진흥원)majorOperating StyleTech growth support program for 5 consecutive years supporting fashion/beauty tech startups. Supported 22 companies with 32 collaboration cases through corporate-startup open innovation.
- KTmajorOperating UNIQUERS program (with Shinhan Bank) for internal venture and new business idea competition. 9 teams selected for 5-week business development process.
- Shinhan Bank (신한은행)majorCo-operating UNIQUERS program with KT for internal venture and new business ideas. 9 teams selected with 2 teams each from KT and Shinhan winning grand prizes.
- LG DisplaymajorOperating 2020 Dream Project including Dream Play (startup cultivation) and Dream Challenge (internal venture). Supported 18 startups and 4 internal ventures since 2018.
- Seoul Business Agency (서울경제진흥원/SBA)majorPartner in Try Everything 2024 joint cooperation program for global startup expansion support, particularly for Japan market entry programs.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Mark & Company competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Y Combinator: The benchmark global startup accelerator running biannual cohort programs with seed investment. Comparable in accelerator-as-investment model, though vastly larger scale and globally focused versus Mark & Company's Korea-centric positioning.
- Plug and Play: Global corporate innovation and accelerator platform running startup-corporate matching programs across multiple verticals. Directly comparable to Mark & Company's Growth Bridge OI model and corporate partner approach, but at global scale.
- Techstars: Largest global accelerator network with hundreds of programs and corporate partnerships. Relevant broader incumbent benchmarking Mark & Company's accelerator + corporate OI approach, though Techstars operates globally and at much larger scale.
- 500 Global: Global accelerator and venture fund (formerly 500 Startups) running cohort programs across emerging markets including Southeast Asia. Comparable accelerator-plus-micro-VC hybrid with multi-region footprint similar to Mark & Company's stated ambition.
Direct peers
- Futureplay: Korean early-stage accelerator and venture capital firm that combines acceleration programs with seed/Series A investing. Closely comparable to Mark & Company's accelerator-plus-VC-plus-data hybrid model, with overlapping Korean tech startup deal flow.
- SparkLabs: Korean-origin global accelerator and VC network running cohort programs and seed investments across multiple geographies. Comparable business model: structured accelerator programs plus follow-on fund investing, with Korea HQ serving as primary base like Mark & Company.
- D.CAMP: Korean startup ecosystem platform founded by banks/Korean institutions, providing acceleration, programs, and community for early-stage startups. Direct peer given shared focus on operating government/corporate startup support programs within the Korean ecosystem.
- N15: Korean startup accelerator previously referenced in Mark & Company team member backgrounds. Operates in the same Korean accelerator ecosystem with overlapping cohort methodologies, making it a relevant domestic peer for comparison.
- Antler: Global early-stage VC and accelerator with active presence in Korea and across Asia. Comparable in combining cohort-based acceleration, founder matching, and pre-seed/seed investment, operating across multiple geographies similar to Mark & Company's expansion intent.
Regional players
- 01Booster: Japan-based accelerator that is also a Mark & Company partner via the MARK Global Express Japan program. Comparable in running cohort programs and connecting startups with corporate partners, but operating primarily in Japan rather than Korea.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Mark & Company social profiles
Digital presenceMark & Company financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mark & Company leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Mark & Company funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors4 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mark & Company M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments25 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Mark & Company
What does Mark & Company do?
Mark & Company is a Korean startup accelerator and data-driven investment firm that operates the Innovation Forest platform, aggregating 5M+ startup data points across 90+ indicators to identify and invest in early-stage startups. The company also sells B2B software solutions (IPMS for support institutions, GMS for investors, Innovation Forest Insights) and runs accelerator programs and corporate open innovation initiatives such as the Samsung Financial C-Lab Outside and Hyundai ZER01NE Company Builder.
Is Mark & Company a public or private company?
Mark & Company is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was Mark & Company founded?
Mark & Company was founded in 2019. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Mark & Company based?
Mark & Company is headquartered in Seocho, South Korea, in the Asia region.
How does Mark & Company make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Investment Returns are the primary driver. The others are platform Solutions, government Program Operations and corporate Open Innovation Services.
Who are Mark & Company's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Y Combinator, Plug and Play, Techstars and 500 Global. Direct peers are Futureplay, SparkLabs, D.CAMP, N15 and Antler. 01Booster is listed as a regional player.
Does Mark & Company have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mark & Company.
What industry is Mark & Company in?
Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAHAD, Corporate Accelerators & Startup Programs, with a secondary code of FSANAAAB, Early-Stage Venture Capital (Series A/B). Its NAICS code is 54161 and its SIC code is 8742.