Brinc, the global venture accelerator with a portfolio spanning climate tech, AI, and IoT, has officially entered the South Korean market by acquiring Next Stage Venture Studio, a Seoul-based accelerator launched in 2024. The acquisition marks the first time a global accelerator has acquired a domestic accelerator in South Korea, signaling Brinc’s deepening commitment to strengthening cross-border startup infrastructure in Asia-Pacific.

The launch of Brinc Korea comes amid growing interest in South Korea as a tech innovation hub. According to Startup Genome’s 2024 Global Startup Ecosystem Report, Seoul ranks in the top 20 globally, with a startup ecosystem value of over US$160 billion. However, Korean startups still face limitations in accessing global capital, mentorship, and corporate partnerships—challenges Brinc Korea aims to directly address.

Founded by Techstars alumni Jinho Bae and Jonathan Moore, along with two co-founders with backgrounds in startup investment strategy, Next Stage has focused on hands-on, founder-first acceleration. The team’s integration into Brinc brings local market insight into Brinc’s established accelerator framework, which operates in 15 programs across seven countries.

Through Brinc Korea, early-stage Korean startups will gain access to international capital through syndicated investment opportunities, market-entry support across Brinc’s global footprint, and curated connections to corporate partners. Brinc’s existing portfolio of over 260 startups has collectively raised more than US$300 million and includes companies backed by Breakthrough Energy, SOSV, Y Combinator, and 500 Startups.

Additionally, Brinc Korea will serve as a technology scouting partner for Korean corporates and institutions, facilitating the introduction of international innovation into local industries. Past Brinc collaborations have included global brands such as Huawei, Schneider Electric, PepsiCo, and Manulife.

“South Korea represents a strategic opportunity with a high density of technical founders and scalable innovation,” said Manav Gupta, founder and CEO of Brinc. “By acquiring Next Stage, we are embedding Brinc deeper into APAC’s startup fabric and expanding support for mission-driven founders.”

“We saw immediate alignment with Brinc in our approach to founder engagement,” added Jonathan Moore, co-founder of Next Stage. “This integration allows us to bring global reach and capital to South Korea’s early-stage ecosystem.”

Brinc Korea’s launch positions it as a key player in bridging South Korea’s domestic innovation with global markets.

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