Gobi Partners opens new office in Seoul

Gobi Partners, a venture capital firm focused on Asia, has opened a new office in Seoul, South Korea.

This expansion aims to strengthen ties between South Korea’s tech ecosystem and Southeast Asia’s digital markets.

The new office, named Gobi Korea, will facilitate partnerships, deal flows, and knowledge exchange between the two regions.

Dan Chong, managing partner at Gobi Partners, will lead the Seoul office.

The office plans to support Korean startups entering ASEAN markets and assist Southeast Asian startups in exploring opportunities in South Korea, including market expansion and potential listings.

🔗 Source: Gobi Partners

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Gobi’s Korean expansion comes amid strategic shift in Asian VC landscape

Gobi’s move into Korea comes at a pivotal moment when Asian venture funding has hit historic lows, with Q1 2025 seeing just $13 billion raised across the region, a 40% decline from the previous year1.

This timing is strategic as the broader VC ecosystem shifts from growth-at-all-costs to capital efficiency, with investors increasingly focusing on profitability over early-stage promise1.

The expansion aligns with growing cross-border collaboration trends, as nearly 40% of Japanese and South Korean firms are planning increased partnerships to navigate global trade tensions and strengthen competitive positions2.

By establishing a Seoul presence now, Gobi positions itself to capture opportunities when funding eventually recovers, particularly in high-growth sectors like AI and fintech that continue to attract investment despite the downturn3.

2️⃣ Value-add is the new VC battleground in a competitive market

Venture capital “dry powder” in Southeast Asia has reportedly increased up to 11 times over the past six years, intensifying competition and forcing funds to differentiate beyond just providing capital4.

Gobi’s strategic focus on facilitating deal flow, joint ventures, and knowledge exchange reflects the industry-wide shift toward value-add strategies that have become critical for attracting top startups4.

This approach mirrors successful VC strategies identified in research, where funds are increasingly focusing on community creation, specialized knowledge in specific niches, and active participation in startup development4.