Daily Startup and Investment Report — April 11, 2026

Major Funding and Investment News

Daily Cookie — Seed Funding Secured The messenger-based knowledge content service "Daily Cookie" has successfully raised seed funding from Bon Angels and Strong Ventures. Daily Cookie delivers bite-sized knowledge content directly to users via messenger. Recently, they've integrated a "creator economy" model that allows influencers to create their own content and generate revenue on the platform.

Inflab — Selected for the "DIPS 1000+" Project Inflab, the company behind the IT knowledge-sharing platform "Inflearn," has been selected as a finalist in the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' "DIPS 1000+ Project" for the content sector. With this support, Inflab plans to accelerate its global expansion.

LG Household & Health Care — Ramping Up Startup Investment LG Household & Health Care is actively investing in and mentoring startups to secure new growth engines. Since 2023, the company has steadily increased its startup investments, strengthening partnerships with innovators in new technology and business domains.

---

VC and PE Market Trends

Financial Holdings Hit 4 Quadrillion KRW in Total Assets Domestic financial holding companies hit record-high earnings last year, with net profits exceeding 26 trillion KRW. Total assets reached 4,067.4 trillion KRW, marking the first time the industry has surpassed the 4 quadrillion mark. This massive capital pool is expected to influence startup and PE investment markets.

Mirae Asset Securities Lists 3 New VIX/Semiconductor ETNs On the 9th, Mirae Asset Securities announced the listing of three new ETNs, including a VIX futures ETN and both leveraged and inverse semiconductor ETNs. The "Mirae Asset 1.5X S&P500 VIX S/T Futures ETN" is designed for investors looking to capitalize on market volatility. This expansion reflects a shift in portfolio strategy among institutional investors.

KRX to List 5 New ETFs on the 14th The Korea Exchange (KRX) announced that 5 new ETFs from Hana, Mirae Asset, Korea, and Samsung Active Asset Management will debut on the stock market on the 14th. The lineup includes a "US Space Tech" ETF, highlighting the continued growth of thematic ETF offerings.

---

Market Analysis and Macro Context

2026 Investment Shift: Profitability Over Growth A new report highlights that the most critical question for founders in 2026 is, "When will you be profitable?" As the investment environment prioritizes sustainable business models over rapid growth, startups are facing higher hurdles for fundraising. Investors are increasingly favoring companies with solid, long-term business models.

Rise in Delisting Risks for Listed Companies The Korea Exchange reported that 12 companies on the KOSPI and 42 on the KOSDAQ faced potential delisting after their 2025 year-end audit reports. Eight companies that failed to meet requirements for three consecutive years have already been delisted. This underscores the need for investors—and venture capitalists—to focus on companies with rock-solid fundamentals.

For US-Bound Startups, Storytelling is Key Experts emphasize that "storytelling" is the most crucial factor when startups try to raise capital in the US, whether through direct entry or a "flip" (moving the headquarters). Because investment is a long-term partnership spanning 5 to 10 years, Korean startups need a systematic strategy for building relationships with local investors when entering global markets.

This report is based on publicly available news sources and is not intended as investment advice. We recommend verifying details via the original links provided.