- ZER01NE Fund III, valued at KRW 125 billion, goals to speed up innovation in future applied sciences via early-stage startup investments
- The fund targets startups globally that align with strategic areas like AI, robotics, cybersecurity, hydrogen and power applied sciences
- Constructing on the successes of earlier funds, ZER01NE Fund III is supported by 10 Hyundai Motor Group associates to develop startup collaborations
Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) introduced immediately the launch of ZER01NE Fund III, a KRW 125 billion strategic funding fund aimed toward accelerating innovation in future applied sciences via early-stage startup investments.
The brand new fund marks a 1.5-fold improve in measurement over the earlier ZER01NE Fund II and is supported by 10 associates of the Group, together with Hyundai Motor Firm, Kia Company, Hyundai Motor Securities, Hyundai GLOVIS, Hyundai WIA, Hyundai Rotem, Hyundai MOBIS, Hyundai AutoEver, Hyundai Capital, and Hyundai BNG STEEL.
ZER01NE Fund III will concentrate on discovering and investing in startups worldwide that align intently with the Group’s evolving enterprise methods, notably within the areas of synthetic intelligence (AI), robotics, cybersecurity, hydrogen and power applied sciences.
“This fund reinforces the Group’s place as a number one strategic investor in transformative applied sciences,” mentioned Kyuseung Keith Noh, Vice President and Head of ZER01NE Group at Hyundai Motor Group. “By deepening collaboration with progressive startups, we purpose to generate significant synergies throughout our associates and speed up our future-ready enterprise initiatives.”
The brand new fund builds on the success of its predecessors. ZER01NE Fund I (roughly KRW 10 billion) and ZER01NE Fund II (KRW 80.5 billion) collectively invested in over 105 startups, resulting in over 200 collaboration instances inside the Group.
Notable ZER01NE Fund I portfolio firms embrace:
- Clobot supplies cloud-based robotic administration platforms for industries resembling logistics, healthcare and safety. It quickly scaled from seed funding to IPO in 2024, pushed by its proprietary autonomous navigation options. .
- MakinaRocks is an AI startup that focuses on industrial synthetic intelligence options, notably specializing in manufacturing and course of optimization. The corporate develops machine studying platforms that assist industrial shoppers predict gear failures, optimize manufacturing processes, and enhance operational effectivity via knowledge analytics.
- POEN remanufactures and upcycles end-of-life EV battery packs, remodeling discarded cells into high-performance, cost-effective battery items for reuse. It companions with OEMs globally to scale back battery waste and promote sustainable power storage options.
- Macaron Manufacturing unit is an automotive tech startup that developed “Mycle,” a cellular app platform connecting automotive house owners with restore outlets and mechanics. The corporate digitizes the automotive upkeep expertise by providing on-demand reserving companies, clear pricing, and streamlined communication between car house owners and repair suppliers.
The funding interval for ZER01NE Fund II concluded in January 2025. Its key firms embrace:
- 60Hertz develops AI-powered software program to handle and optimize distributed renewable power property like photo voltaic, wind and EV programs. It helps international shoppers meet RE100 objectives via forecasting instruments, power buying and selling platforms and good grid applied sciences.
- LD Carbon recycles end-of-life tires into recovered carbon black and tire pyrolysis oil utilizing superior pyrolysis expertise. It provides eco-certified supplies to international producers whereas considerably lowering carbon emissions and selling round economic system practices.
- Terracle recycles waste plastics based mostly on inexperienced chemical expertise. The first imaginative and prescient is to allow the infinite recycling of plastics with out environmental air pollution, using low-temperature depolymerization expertise for PET, reverting plastic again to its uncooked supplies.
- Vacation Robotics develops manipulation-centric humanoid robots with dexterous palms, leveraging LLMs, laptop imaginative and prescient, and simulation-based reinforcement studying for manufacturing meeting duties with plans to develop into service and residential purposes.
With the launch of ZER01NE Fund III, the Group continues its dedication to shaping the way forward for mobility and sustainability by backing pioneering startups with excessive potential to contribute to its long-term progress.
