VENTURE PEOPLE

What VENTURE PEOPLE does

VENTURE PEOPLE (VenturePeople) is a South Korea-based executive search firm founded in July 2000 by four HR professionals from leading Korean venture companies. The firm specializes in placing C-level executives (CEO, COO, CFO, CMO, CTO), mid-management, and specialist talent for enterprises ranging from global MNCs and major Korean conglomerates to mid-size firms and growth-stage startups. In 2005 the firm became the sole Korean member of the NPA (National Personnel Associates Cooperative) global search network, which spans 500+ partner firms across 16 countries, enabling cross-border executive search execution. The firm's services span four core modules - executive/C-level recruitment, mid-management & specialist recruitment, advisory/consultant placement, and reference check - with a medical executive headhunting add-on launched in May 2024 in partnership with KeyMedi.

The firm's operations are built on a proprietary integrated talent database that interlinks clients, projects, candidates, and career management records for systematic search execution, supplemented by objective diagnostic assessment tools (occupational aptitude, personality, core competency evaluation). Approximately 70 headhunters (many working on a freelance basis) deliver services through a five-stage process (position analysis, sourcing and pre-screening, client interviews, salary negotiation support, post-placement management). Distribution is exclusively consultant-led B2B engagement, with no self-service or marketplace channel; contact is initiated via email or direct phone. The firm holds the Korean Ministry of Employment and Labor's Excellent Employment Service Institution certification, the longest such streak in the search industry (12 consecutive years since 2008), and has additional institutional partnerships with Seoul National University, Yonsei University, KAIST, and KOTRA.

Revenue is generated primarily through contingency-based executive search commissions with quote-based, inquiry-determined fees (no public pricing). The firm has no disclosed funding, no M&A activity, and is privately held under Representative Director Choi Bo-Gyun (최보균), with ownership reportedly backed by first-generation leaders of Korean venture companies. Recent growth-oriented activity has been via partnerships and ecosystem memberships (Remember Alliance 2022, Simply platform 2023, Resume9 2023) and the 2024 launch of a medical executive headhunting vertical, indicating incremental rather than rapid scaling within an otherwise stable operating footprint.

Name

VENTURE PEOPLE

Legal name

VENTURE PEOPLE CORP.

Website

https://vpeople.co.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Korean executive search firm specializing in C-level and specialist placements for enterprises, conglomerates, and growth companies. Sole Korean member of the NPA global search network, operating with a proprietary talent database and team of approximately 70 consultants across multiple industry verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search Services

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Financial Services Leadership Search (Banking/Insurance/PE/Asset Mgmt) (BPACAAAF)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Headhunting firm
• Talent recruitment
• C-level placement
• Staffing consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Yeoksamdong

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Executive Search Commission: Contingency-based executive search fees. The company matches companies seeking talent with candidates, charging a commission for successful placements. Fee structure is quote-based, requiring direct inquiry with consultants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

VENTURE PEOPLE (VenturePeople) is a South Korean executive search firm that recruits and places C-level executives (CEO, COO, CFO, CMO, CTO), mid-level managers, and specialist professionals for client companies. Services include executive search, mid-management and specialist placement, advisory/consultant placement, and reference verification, delivered through a five-stage process led by assigned consultants and supported by a proprietary integrated talent database.

Product overview

VENTURE PEOPLE (벤처피플) is a top-tier executive search firm in South Korea offering a unified suite of recruitment services. The core offering consists of four main service modules: (1) Executive/C-Level Recruitment for CEO, COO, CFO, CMO, CTO positions; (2) Mid-Level Management & Specialist Recruitment for managers and technical experts; (3) Advisory/Consultant Placement for temporary specialized consulting needs; and (4) Reference Check Services for candidate verification. The company also launched a Medical Executive Headhunting service in 2024 as an add-on module. Services are delivered through experienced consultants supported by internal ERP systems and talent databases.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Executive/C-Level Recruitment Service (임원/C-level 전문인력 헤드헌팅)
• Mid-Level Management & Specialist Recruitment Service (중간관리자급 전문인력 추천)
• Advisory/Consultant Placement Service (特定分野 마누역 추천)
• Reference Check Service (평판조회)
• Medical Executive Headhunting Service (의사 헤드헌팅)

Quantifiable outcome

• Guaranteed replacement candidate at no cost if recommended candidate resigns within specified period
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Kemedi (키메디)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024Launched physician headhunting service in May 2024, expanding specialized medical/healthcare executive search capabilities
• Remember Alliance (리멤버 얼라이언스)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2022Alliance partnership for enhanced talent sourcing and candidate relationship management across member organizations
• Jobindex (잡인덱스)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 August 2018Smart database system update and career content curation service partnership for expanded candidate sourcing and professional content distribution
• Seoul National University Graduate School of Business (SNU MBA) - Resume ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2012Designated as official resume clinic and employment consulting partner for Seoul National University Graduate School of Business, providing career services to MBA students and alumni
• KAIST Graduate School of ManagementminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2007Career management partnership designated by KAIST Graduate School of Management for student and alumni career services
• KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 June 2007Registered headhunting partner with KOTRA for supporting Korean companies' global talent acquisition and international business expansion
• Singapore Overseas BranchminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 June 2007Cooperative overseas branch established in Singapore to support international executive search operations and Asia-Pacific market coverage
• Yonsei University Alumni Association (연세대학교 총동문회)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2007Official headhunting partner designated by Yonsei University Alumni Association for career services to alumni members
• NPA (National Personnel Associates Cooperative, Inc.)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2005Global executive search network established 1956, headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. VenturePeople is the sole Korean member since May 2005. Network comprises 500+ search firms across 16 countries with 4,500+ active consultants. Enables international project execution, cross-border talent acquisition, and split placements globally.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Spencer Stuart: Global executive search firm with a strong Korean office focused on board, CEO, and senior executive placements. Directly competes with VenturePeople for the same C-suite search mandates at large Korean enterprises and multinational subsidiaries.
• Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with established Asia-Pacific operations. Comparable as a senior executive search specialist competing for the same Korean CEO/board-level mandates with similar relationship-driven model.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search firm with deep presence across Asia-Pacific including Korea. Directly comparable as a senior-level, C-suite-focused search firm competing for the same Korean executive mandates across conglomerates and growth-stage companies.
• Odgers Berndtson: Global executive search firm with strong presence in Asia-Pacific including Korea. Comparable in senior executive search focus and relationship-driven delivery model, often competing for board and C-suite mandates at Korean enterprises.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with significant Asia-Pacific presence, particularly in financial services and technology. Comparable in serving large Korean enterprises and cross-border mandates similar to VenturePeople's NPA-driven international work.
• Page Executive (Michael Page): Executive search arm of PageGroup focused on senior management and C-level placements globally, including Korea. Directly comparable as an executive-only search firm competing for similar senior-level mandates in Korean and cross-border contexts.

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm with a major executive search practice and broader HR/talent advisory offerings. Comparable in executive search core but broader portfolio (RPO, consulting, assessment) creates different competitive dynamics.
• Robert Half: Global staffing and recruiting firm with specialized finance/accounting and administrative search. Comparable in recruitment services business model and Korean market presence, though broader and more diversified than VenturePeople's executive-only focus.
• Hays Korea: Global recruiting firm with Korean operations covering mid-to-senior professional and executive search. Comparable in B2B recruitment services and Korean market presence, though broader industry coverage and deeper pockets than VenturePeople's executive-only focus.

Regional players

• HRnetOne: Asia-headquartered recruiting and executive search firm with significant presence across APAC including Korea. Comparable in multi-country Asian executive search delivery, competing for similar cross-border mandates though primarily a regional player.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about VENTURE PEOPLE