Naver Launches Smartstore Expansion Accelerator

Naver is ambitiously launching a special accelerator program, 'Roundup League,' for promising brands dreaming of business expansion and global entry. The core objective of this program is to provide comprehensive support for brands with their own product competitiveness and strong philosophy to take a step further and shine in the global market. 'Roundup League' provides practical growth drivers beyond mere support. In addition to sharing Naver's experience in applying cutting-edge AI solutions and its technical know-how, a top-tier group of experts in Korea, including venture capitalists (VCs), accelerators, and investment firms, will participate as an 'alliance.' They will provide expert consulting essential for business advancement, such as setting IR metrics, data-driven investment attraction strategies, and strengthening IP branding, helping brands solve challenges they realistically face. From discovering business models to expanding into global markets and adopting advanced technologies, they will present customized strategies to help brands broaden their experience and strengthen their capabilities. On the 17th, the 'Roundup League' Batch 1 networking event, marking its beginning, was successfully held at Naver's 1784 building. Twenty diverse brands with global expansion potential, including cosmetic brands that modernly interpret Korean beauty elements, vegan dessert and plant-based beverage brands, and K-fashion inspired lifewear brands, were selected as participants and had their first meeting with investors. Park Jin-ho, Director at PathfinderH, who participated as part of the expert alliance, emphasized the significance of this program, stating, "From an investor's perspective, it's a valuable opportunity to discover highly potential investment targets with global growth stories." Furthermore, Shin Ji-man, Leader of Naver Impact Synergy, expressed her ambition, saying, "'Brand originality,' possessing its own philosophy and vision, is a driving force for ecosystem diversity and an asset for success," and "We will actively support brands that have sufficient potential and capabilities but face difficulties due to a lack of network, capital, or methodology, enabling them to leap forward freely." 'Roundup League' will be a strong partner, enabling domestic brands to write new growth stories on the global stage through the powerful synergy between Naver and the group of experts.