Welfare Union, a Korean startup specializing in customized senior care food and nutritional services, has secured Series A funding from Merry Year Social Company (MYSC) and Gaia Venture Partners. Established in November 2011, Welfare Union aims to provide comprehensive nutritional and care services for seniors. The market for senior nutritional care is estimated to grow to KRW 2.6 trillion by 2027, driven by the increasing demands due to rapid aging.

Welfare Union has developed ‘Hyoban,’ a rice-based meal suitable for individuals requiring soft diets, and offers catering services tailored for the elderly and disabled who may face difficulties with chewing, swallowing, or digestion. These services ensure that meals are easy to consume and safe.

By offering these products and services, Welfare Union strives to improve the welfare and quality of life for socially vulnerable groups by aiding their nutritional intake and promoting health maintenance.

With years of expertise in developing specialized care foods and meal services for seniors, Welfare Union plans to further develop and distribute various soft diet aids, and expand its specialized social franchise for senior meal delivery nationwide. In collaboration with Nutri, a leading Japanese care food company, it aims to broaden its product line and push forward with premium care food catering, establishing itself as a comprehensive provider of nutritional care services tailored to the diverse needs of the senior population.

MYSC stated, “In this era of rapid aging, we support the Welfare Union’s endeavor to resolve the nutritional and caregiving challenges faced by the senior population through specialized products and services. We look forward to their growth as a social service enterprise.”

Jang Sung-oh, CEO of Welfare Union, expressed his commitment, saying, “This investment will enable us to fully launch our smart nutritional care platform and delivery meal franchise business. We aim to create an ecosystem where the elderly and disabled in Korea can fulfill their nutritional needs without facing discrimination.”