CJ 'Obenters Batch 8' Kicks Off with 9 AI & Bio Startups for Innovation

Seoul Center for Creative Economy & Innovation and CJ Group are jointly igniting the engine of innovation. Starting with an orientation on the 1st, the ‘2025 O!VentUs 8th Batch’ has officially begun, with 9 startup teams possessing the potential to innovate CJ's core business areas of food/bio, logistics/distribution, and entertainment/media having been finally selected. These teams will seek opportunities for practical Proof of Concept (PoC) and joint commercialization with CJ affiliates. For this 8th batch of O!VentUs, major CJ affiliates such as CJ CheilJedang, CJ Freshway, CJ Logistics, CJ Olive Young, and TVING participated extensively, demonstrating high expectations for collaboration with startups. The 9 startups selected through fierce competition are as follows: Peapnut, which produces blood sugar-regulating processed nut products using ultra-fine low-temperature grinding technology; Freshia hour, a customized pet food subscription service based on pet big data; Textyli, which possesses technology for producing recycled materials from discarded mixed fibers; Lympid, which introduced freeze-dried prescription pet food; Cubic, a secure synthetic data generation solution; Codestates, an AI-based talent propensity analysis and career optimization solution; Entre Reality, a beauty AI analysis and simulation solution; The V Planet, an AI-based automatic short-form video production solution; and Chameleon, which provides barrier-free solutions. Each selected team will collaborate closely with their matched CJ affiliate for four months to validate business ideas and receive 10 million KRW in PoC funding per team. Additionally, diverse support for startup growth will be provided, including IR/PR consulting, professional accelerating, CJ business collaboration meetups, and investment linkage opportunities. The culmination of this entire process will be revealed at a demo day held at the end of October, where PoC achievements will be presented and investment opportunities will be sought. Lee Young-geun, CEO of the Seoul Center for Creative Economy & Innovation, stated, “O!VentUs selected companies have consistently achieved outstanding results in business and investment linkages every year,” emphasizing that "one-stop support" for startups will be further strengthened through an open innovation specialized fund to be established at the Seoul Center in 2025. A CJ official also commented, “The demand for startup collaboration from CJ affiliates is increasing every year,” adding, “We look forward to practical cooperation with the innovative companies selected this time and will continue to expand open innovation to foster business model innovation within the group and revitalize the startup ecosystem.” The O!VentUs 8th Batch will be a crucial turning point where the infrastructure of large corporations meets the innovative technology of startups to create new synergy and produce successful cases that will lead future industries.