Korea’s leading tech giant Naver Corp. has launched an accelerator program that connects promising Korean brands with venture capital firms, professional investors, and accelerators, the ‘Round Up League.’ With this program, Naver intends to drive the global scale-up of Korean brands by offering advanced business development support and direct access to capital and technology resources.
Naver Launches Brand Accelerator Program: ‘Round Up League’
Officially announced on July 21, 2025, the Round Up League is positioned as a cornerstone of Naver’s evolving business ecosystem. It is an accelerator program that helps Korean brands to scale up and expand their business in the global market.
The program focuses on fostering Korean brands with unique product strengths and brand philosophies. The initiative helps these brands overcome growth limitations by providing access to capital, cutting-edge technology, and global market networks, while strengthening Naver’s broader business ecosystem.
In addition, Naver’s ‘Round Up League’ also aims to elevate Korea’s e-commerce ecosystem by transitioning from education-centered support to a full-fledged growth acceleration platform—empowering brands to unlock their global potential.
Part of Naver’s Impact Program: Hands-On Support for Korean Brands
The Round Up League is a part of Naver’s Impact Program—a program that has provided step-by-step support for businesses ranging from early-stage entrepreneurs to Smart Store operators entering growth phases.
Specifically, Naver Round Up League focuses on Korean brands that have reached the business advancement stage. By joining this program, they will be able to gain hands-on support in tackling key scale-up challenges, including:
- Developing new and diversified business models,
- Expanding presence in global markets,
- Adopting advanced technologies, including AI-driven solutions.
Not only that, but they will also be able to foster their own brand originality, building their iconic identities and visions. Later on, these Korean brands’ identities will drive both the diversification of the e-commerce ecosystem and their own success in the long term.
Naver ‘Round Up League’: Connecting Korean Brands to VC Firms, Investors and Accelerators
Along with creating a promising support system, Naver Round Up League also helps connect these Korean brands to a strategic alliance network.
Standing at the core of Round Up League program is Naver with their AI-based solutions and tech expansion.
In addition, Naver partners with venture capital (VC) firms, accelerators, and investors with deep expertise and experience in platform businesses, connecting Korean brands and providing them with consultations on various business strategies, including:
- Setting clear IR (Investor Relations) indicators,
- Designing data-based investment attraction strategies,
- Enhancing intellectual property (IP) branding for sustainable global presence.
20 Promising Korean Brands Begin Their Global Journey with Naver ‘Round Up League’
For the first batch of Naver Round Up League, 20 handpicked Korean brands began their growth journey with direct networking sessions involving investors and alliance partners on July 17, 2025, at the Naver 1784 building.
These selected Korean brands mainly represent industries with high global potential, including:
- K-beauty brands offering contemporary interpretations of Korean beauty,
- Vegan dessert and plant-based beverage brands tapping into sustainable consumption trends,
- K-fashion lifestyle brands that embody modern Korean cultural aesthetics.
Strategic Win for Brands and Investors
As the program begins, Round Up League promises results in strategic wins for both participating Korean brands and the alliance investors.
“Round Up League creates a meaningful opportunity for investors to discover brands with compelling growth narratives and global expansion ambitions. Brands supported by Naver’s infrastructure are expected to exhibit strong competitiveness in global markets.”
Park Jin Ho, Executive Director at Pathfinder H (Alliance Partner).
“Brand originality is not just about aesthetics—it’s a core growth engine for e-commerce diversity. Through our boost-up framework, we will offer substantial capital, network connections, and operational expertise to help high-potential brands overcome the scaling gap and accelerate towards success.”
Shin Ji Man, Head of Naver Impact Synergy.
Naver ‘Round Up League’: Building Korea’s Next Growth Ecosystem
Naver has consistently invested in Korea’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, providing infrastructure and education from startup incubation to Smart Store management. With Round Up League, Naver has committed to:
- Solidifying a qualitative growth infrastructure for scale-up brands,
- Bridging the gap between domestic success and global market breakthroughs,
- Driving the sustained evolution of the Korean e-commerce ecosystem.
The program signals a shift in Naver’s growth strategy—transforming promising Korean brands into globally recognized players by removing traditional growth bottlenecks.
Keep tab on latest news in the Korean startup ecosystem & follow us on LinkedIN, Facebook, and Twitter for more exciting updates and insights.
