SparkLabs Partners Opens Gyeongbuk Branch at Handong University to Foster Bio Startups

Global venture capital firm SparkLabs Partners has officially begun to revitalize the regional startup ecosystem by establishing a Gyeongsangbuk-do branch on the campus of Handong University in Pohang, Gyeongsangbuk-do. This new branch will serve as a key hub for discovering and fostering AI and bio-related startups, based on close cooperation with Pohang City and Handong University. SparkLabs Partners plans to significantly expand its support for bio and healthcare startups in the future through partnerships with specialized clinical hospitals. On the same day, the 'Pohang City-US Sacramento Startup & Bio Innovation Forum,' exploring innovative cooperation between Pohang and Sacramento, USA, was successfully held at Handong University's Grace School. Approximately 50 key figures, including representatives from the Greater Sacramento Economic Council, FLANN Inc., UC Davis Health Ventures, and CEOs of local bio-companies, participated to share the current status of Pohang's bio-industry and the vision for a global corporate innovation park and specialized clinical hospital, engaging in in-depth discussions on joint research, investment, and market entry strategies. In particular, Sacramento's Aggie Square cluster was introduced, and promising local bio-companies such as ThreeBrooks Therapeutics, Inexoplat, and Hessed Bio showcased their innovative technologies, confirming the potential for technological exchange between the two cities. Through panel discussions and networking sessions, plans for industry-academia-research collaboration and personnel exchange were concretized. Pohang Mayor Lee Kang-deok emphasized AI and the bio-industry as Pohang's next-generation growth engines, expressing his expectation that cooperation between SparkLabs Partners and Handong University, along with global solidarity with the Sacramento cluster, will give rise to competitive companies in Pohang. Kim Ho-min, CEO of SparkLabs Partners, also stated that the establishment of the Gyeongsangbuk-do branch will be a significant milestone, combining local foundations with global investment capabilities. He added that through cooperation with Pohang City and Handong University, SparkLabs will actively support AI and bio-related startups and promote their growth by connecting them with global bio clusters.