The Full List of 15 Unicorn Startups in Seoul (2026)
Seoul is home to 15 unicorn startups, with a strong presence in finance and technology. The blockchain firm Dunamu leads the local scene with a valuation of $12B.
Travel platform Yanolja is valued at $9B, and the fintech app Toss has secured $1.4B in funding. The city's top startups span various sectors including e-commerce, media, and cloud computing.
Below is the full list of 15 Seoul unicorn startups at this time.
Top 10 Most Valuable Seoul Unicorns
Dunamu operates a suite of financial platforms centered on blockchain technology and asset trading. They are best known for creating South Korea's largest cryptocurrency exchange, Upbit, and the social trading app Stockplus.
| Valuation | $12B |
| Year Founded | 2012 |
| Founders | Chi-Hyung Song, Hyoung-nyon Kim |
| Funding Amount | ₩968.5B |
| Company Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | Altos Ventures, IMM Investment, Kakao Ventures, Qualcomm, Global Brain Corporation |
Yanolja developed a leading travel super app for booking accommodations, transportation, and leisure activities. The platform is a dominant force in South Korea’s travel market, providing a comprehensive tool for travelers to plan their entire trip.
| Valuation | $9B |
| Year Founded | 2005 |
| Founders | Lee Sujin |
| Funding Amount | $2B |
| Company Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | Booking Holdings, Partners Investment, GIC, SoftBank Vision Fund, SL Investment |
Toss developed a mobile financial platform designed to simplify everything from payments to personal finance management. Their app brings together a wide range of financial services, making it a popular all-in-one solution for users.
| Valuation | $7B (Joined December 2018) |
| Year Founded | 2011 |
| Founders | Seunggun Lee |
| Funding Amount | $1.4B |
| Company Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Series G |
| Top Investors | Goodwater Capital, HSG, Ribbit Capital, PayPal, Bessemer Venture Partners |
MUSINSA operates a leading online fashion platform that curates and sells a wide range of Korean brands. They connect consumers with both emerging and established designers through rich storytelling and personalized product selections.
| Valuation | $3B (Joined November 2019) |
| Year Founded | 2001 |
| Founders | Cho Man Ho, Mun-il Han |
| Funding Amount | $508.1M |
| Company Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Series C |
| Top Investors | Sequoia Capital, IMM Investment, Wellington Management, Premier Partners, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts |
Karrot Market offers a hyperlocal community app where users can buy and sell secondhand goods. The platform connects people with their neighbors, creating a trusted marketplace for local commerce.
| Valuation | $3B |
| Year Founded | 2015 |
| Founders | Changhun Jeong, Gary Kim, Jae-hyun Kim, Paul Kim, Yong-hyun Kim |
| Funding Amount | $235M |
| Company Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Series D |
| Top Investors | SBVA, Altos Ventures, Strong Ventures, Goodwater Capital, Kakao Ventures |
Tridge runs a global sourcing hub that connects buyers and suppliers in the food and agriculture industry. Their platform provides data-driven market intelligence and fulfillment services to digitize and streamline a traditionally fragmented trade sector.
| Valuation | $3B (Joined August 2022) |
| Year Founded | 2015 |
| Founders | Hoshik Shin, Kangwook Lee, Minjong Chung |
| Funding Amount | $113.8M |
| Company Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Series D |
| Top Investors | SBVA, Activant Capital, Forest Partners, DS Asset Management |
Market Kurly runs a premium online grocery platform focused on high-quality food and ingredients. The service is built around its signature "Dawn Delivery," which brings orders placed at night to customers' doorsteps by the next morning.
| Valuation | $2B |
| Year Founded | 2015 |
| Founders | Sophie Kim |
| Funding Amount | ₩1018.5B |
| Company Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Private Equity |
| Top Investors | HSG, G Squared, Hillhouse Investment, Launchbay Capital, Translink Capital |
Toss Bank provides a complete digital banking experience for customers through its mobile platform. They aim to simplify personal finance by offering easy access to everything from savings accounts and loans to everyday payments.
| Valuation | $2B |
| Year Founded | 2020 |
| Founders | — |
| Funding Amount | $949.3M |
| Company Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | E.LAND, Standard Chartered, Viva Republica, Altos Ventures, Premier Partners |
MegazoneCloud builds and manages cloud infrastructure for enterprises, offering end-to-end services on platforms like AWS and Google Cloud. They are best known as Asia's largest cloud managed service provider, holding premier partner status with the industry's top companies.
| Valuation | $2B |
| Year Founded | 2018 |
| Founders | Joo-Wan Lee |
| Funding Amount | $672.9M |
| Company Size | Major Organization (1,001-5,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Series C |
| Top Investors | Salesforce Ventures, MBK Partners, IMM Private Equity, Korea Investment Partners, Korea Development Bank |
ZigBang built a real estate marketplace centered around its apartment hunting application. Their platform acts as a comprehensive search engine, helping users find and manage properties.
| Valuation | $2B (Joined June 2022) |
| Year Founded | 2010 |
| Founders | Jason Ahn |
| Funding Amount | ₩432.9B |
| Company Size | Large Team (251-1,000) |
| Last Funding Status | Venture Round |
| Top Investors | Korea Development Bank, IMM Investment, Altos Ventures, Goldman Sachs, BlueRun Ventures |
The Remaining 5 Unicorns Founded in Seoul
The ten most valuable unicorns are just the beginning of Seoul's startup story. Many other companies are growing quickly and making a name for themselves.
These companies work in many different areas, from media and gaming to fashion and travel. Here’s a look at the other unicorns shaping Seoul's startup scene.
| Unicorn Startup | Main Industry | Year Founded | Amount Raised | Valuation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 RIDI | Media | 2008 | $181.3M | $1.33B |
 L&P Cosmetic | Fashion | 2009 | ₩40B | $1.19B |
 HAEGIN | Gaming | 2017 | $128.8M | $1B |
 Good Choice Company | Travel | 2015 | ₩50B | $1B |
 GP Club | Fashion | 2003 | $67M | $1B |
