PI Corporation Secures 4 Billion KRW Series A Investment from Altos Ventures
Reading Time: 2 minutesPI Corporation, Korean startup founded by 1st generation influencer-turned-entrepreneur Son Sung-soo, has secured 4 billion KRW Series A investment from Altos Ventures. This marks their first external funding, with Altos Ventures leading the round solo.
PI Corporation, established by Son Sung-soo in July 2021, is a new media entertainment company nurturing short-form content creators and idols. They currently have exclusive contracts with over 100 short-form creators and 300 live streamers, including prominent influencers like Yuvin Kelly (7 million followers), Kim Hyemin (7 million followers), Ddo Muk (2 million followers), ChillLit (1.5 million followers), and lea (5 million followers), totaling over 200 million followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.
PI’s core strength lies in their creator development system, supporting talent discovery and short-form content creation for platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Since November last year, they expanded into TikTok live streaming, nurturing about 100 streamers, including six of the top 10 domestic live revenue creators.
They leverage various brand and marketing campaigns to enhance creator exposure, collaborating with major clients such as Dior, Calvin Klein, Nike, Vans, MLB, Samsung Electronics, Amorepacific, and Lotte Chilsung. Their music marketing efforts achieved significant milestones with over 150 music challenges garnering more than 10 billion views, placing over 60 songs on Billboard and Melon charts’ top 100.
PI has become a potent marketing partner for major domestic labels, launching TikTok challenges for new music releases. They further solidified their position by securing official live agency partnerships with TikTok headquarters in Thailand and Japan, aiming for global expansion of Korean short-form content.
Altos Ventures Partner Oh Moon-seok noted, “PI Corporation has proven its ability to rapidly cultivate emerging creators into mega celebrities and found a successful revenue model through global music challenges and brand collaborations.” He emphasized PI’s pivotal role in the rapidly expanding TikTok-dominated digital advertising market and the shift of major SNS and e-commerce platforms towards short-form video content.
Son Sung-soo, CEO of PI Corporation, commented, “The short-form content market has now opened its doors,” stating plans to explore new business opportunities in the limitless potential of short-form content areas, including commerce, launching exclusive brands, nurturing new media idols, and producing short-form dramas.
[Korean Contents Startup News]
- BREAK&COMPANY Secures Additional Funding, Eyes Global Expansion and New Partnerships
- WEBTOON Entertainment Sets IPO Price at $21, Targets $315 Million Raise
- GURUCOMPANY Secures Funding to Enhance and Expand Webtoon and Web Novel Solutions
- FROMSEOUL Secures Seed Investment to Enhance Web-Based XR Avatar Platform
- ‘Onoma AI’ Selected for KODIT’s First Penguin Program, Enhancing Webtoon Production with Generative AI
- ‘BIGC’ Partners with ‘ConnectedStage’ to Expand Global K-Pop Concerts and Digital IP, Starting With Japan
- ZETCITI Secures Investment for Real-Time Pop-Up Map Platform PREZEM
- MVNT Secures Seed Investment to Protect Dance IPs and Choreographer Rights
- Carpenstreet Selected for KODIT’s First Penguin Program with Acon Platform Development
- ‘SANDY FLOOR’ Selected for KODIT’s Little Penguin Program, Developing “GREAT TOY SHOWDOWN”
