GenExis and CNT Tech Launch Fisheries Startup Investment Fund

South Korean accelerators GenExis and CNT Tech have formed a new fund aimed at early-stage companies in the fisheries sector. GenExis said on the 30th that it completed the formation of the CNT Tech-GenExis Future Youth Fisheries Investment Partnership on the 29th.

The fund was created under the fisheries account of the Agriculture, Food and Fisheries Fund of Funds, which is run by the Agricultural Policy Insurance and Finance Service. It falls into the "Future Youth (AC)" segment, an early-stage investment category managed by accelerators. The two firms act as co-general partners (Co-GP), sourcing promising fisheries companies, investing in them and providing accelerating support.

How investments will be chosen

When picking targets, the managers will weigh demand from the fishing industry alongside a company's commercial prospects. According to the firms, they will look at how distinctive the technology or product is, whether it can enter the market, whether a revenue structure exists and whether management can execute.

After investing, they plan to help companies refine their business models, widen sales channels and attract follow-on funding, tailored to each company's stage. Where companies qualify, they will also consider linking them to government R&D and commercialization programs such as TIPS and LIPS. LIPS combines private investment with government support for small business owners.

Widening the investment footprint

The two companies were earlier selected together as managers in the agri-food fund of funds' early-stage category and in the Korea Venture Investment Corp. fund of funds' small early-stage category. With the fisheries fund, they now cover agri-food, fisheries and early-stage startups.

GenExis has invested in bio and healthcare, AI, energy and materials, parts and equipment, and agri-food and consumer goods. It was named a TIPS operator in 2023 and, in the first half of this year, was also chosen as an operator for LIPS and the "Everyone's Startup" program.

"We have built a base to provide both capital and growth support to promising fisheries companies," GenExis said, adding that it intends to find companies in the field and stay with them through commercialization and follow-on growth after investing.