With a portfolio that includes climate tech, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things, Brinc, a global venture accelerator, has made its official debut in the South Korean market by purchasing Next Stage Venture Studio, a 2024-launched accelerator based in Seoul. The acquisition signifies Brinc’s growing dedication to bolstering cross-border startup infrastructure in Asia-Pacific, as it is the first time a global accelerator has purchased a domestic accelerator in South Korea.
Growing interest in South Korea as a center for tech innovation coincides with the launch of Brinc Korea. Seoul is among the top 20 cities in the world, with a startup ecosystem worth over US$160 billion, according to Startup Genome’s 2024 Global Startup Ecosystem Report. But access to international funding, corporate partnerships, and mentorship remains restricted for Korean startups—issues Brinc Korea seeks to directly address.
Jinho Bae and Jonathan Moore, both Techstars alums, and two other co-founders with experience in startup investment strategy founded Next Stage, which has prioritized founder-first, hands-on acceleration. Brinc’s established accelerator framework, which runs in 15 programs across seven countries, gains local market insight from the team’s integration.
Through market-entry assistance throughout Brinc’s global footprint, syndicated investment opportunities, and carefully curated connections to corporate partners, Brinc Korea will provide early-stage Korean startups with access to foreign capital. Along with businesses supported by 500 Startups, Breakthrough Energy, SOSV, and Y Combinator, Brinc’s current portfolio of over 260 startups has raised over US$300 million.
In order to help local industries adopt international innovation, Brinc Korea will also act as a technology scouting partner for Korean corporations and institutions. International companies like Huawei, Schneider Electric, PepsiCo, and Manulife have collaborated with Brinc in the past.
“South Korea represents a strategic opportunity with a high density of technical founders and scalable innovation,” said Manav Gupta, founder and CEO of Brinc. “By acquiring Next Stage, we are embedding Brinc deeper into APAC’s startup fabric and expanding support for mission-driven founders.”
“We saw immediate alignment with Brinc in our approach to founder engagement,” added Jonathan Moore, co-founder of Next Stage. “This integration allows us to bring global reach and capital to South Korea’s early-stage ecosystem.”
The launch of Brinc Korea places it in a position to play a significant role in connecting South Korea’s domestic innovation with international markets.
