[The Stock = Reporter Kim Dong-jin] The domestic “small but strong” (Sobujang) industry is facing significant challenges due to U.S.-China conflicts and the restructuring of global supply chains. However, investment enthusiasm for ‘Sobujang’ companies with outstanding technological capabilities and growth potential remains strong.
Sobujang is an abbreviation for the materials, components, and equipment industries. It encompasses semiconductor materials, automotive parts, manufacturing equipment, and various advanced materials. Sobujang technology drives value-added improvements and new product development, acting as a catalyst for innovation across the manufacturing sector. It is often referred to as the “root industry” of manufacturing. For this reason, countries like the U.S., China, Japan, and Europe are accelerating national-level policies to foster Sobujang industries.
According to industry sources on the 17th, K-Sobujang startups such as Etifos, The Good System, HAPS, Mocuratech, and Faraday Dynamics have recently succeeded in attracting new investments and are actively pursuing research and development (R&D) and business expansion.
V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) startup ‘Etifos’ (CEO Kim Ho-jun) secured an 80 billion KRW Series A investment from KDB Industrial Bank and LB Investment on the same day. Founded in 2018, Etifos develops V2X solutions that enable vehicles to communicate with other vehicles, roads, and traffic signals. V2X is an essential communication technology for connected cars and Level 4+ autonomous driving. Major countries, including South Korea, have finalized V2X communication policies and are investing heavily in infrastructure.
Etifos has participated in domestic C-ITS (Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems) development projects, supplying V2X modems and equipment. Recently, it has also been conducting proof-of-concept (PoC) projects with overseas partners in Japan and Germany.
Kim Ho-jun, CEO of Etifos, stated, “This investment signifies the growth potential of the V2X market and the recognition of Etifos’ differentiated technological capabilities in the capital market. We aim to secure meaningful sales in both infrastructure and aftermarket V2X markets.”
The Good System (TGS, CEO Cho Myung-hwan), a manufacturer of heat dissipation plates for semiconductor packaging, secured a 70 billion KRW Series B investment on the 16th. This investment included 10 billion KRW from Mirae Asset Venture, BSK Investment, and Timefolio Asset Management through a stock purchase, and 60 billion KRW from a Japanese semiconductor company as a strategic investor (SI). TGS had previously raised 30 billion KRW in a Series A round in January last year, bringing its total cumulative investment to 100 billion KRW.
Founded in 2016, The Good System develops high-performance heat dissipation plates for semiconductor packaging. Notably, the company has succeeded in localizing high-performance heat dissipation plates, which were previously reliant on imports, and holds over 40 intellectual property rights related to thermal design technology. Recently, it developed the world’s first diamond-metal composite material with a thermal conductivity of 1000W/m·K, drawing industry attention.
HAPS (CEO Lee Dong-hwal), a hydrogen fuel cell company based in Gumi, North Gyeongsang Province, also successfully secured a 12 billion KRW Series A investment from venture capital firm ANDA Asia Ventures earlier this month.
Founded in November 2021, HAPS specializes in producing polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC)-based “stacks,” a core component in hydrogen fuel cell systems that generates electricity and heat, similar to the cathode material in secondary batteries. The company achieved 2.6 billion KRW in sales last year, just two years after its founding, and aims for 8 billion KRW in sales this year.
Mocuratech (CEO Park Ho-young), a lithium-ion secondary battery solutions company, received strategic equity investment from Gaon Group, an AI total solutions specialist, on the 25th of last month. Mocuratech possesses Battery Balancing Module (BBM) technology, which ensures the safety of lithium-ion batteries by managing their health status to prevent fires and explosions.
BBM is a core product applicable to all equipment using lithium batteries, such as electric vehicles (EVs), energy storage systems (ESS), and urban air mobility (UAM). With the secondary battery reuse market expected to grow significantly due to the short lifespan (5-10 years) of EV batteries, Mocuratech has developed solutions to extend the lifespan of used batteries through performance restoration.
Additionally, Faraday Dynamics (CEO Jang Han-deut), a precision servo motor manufacturer, secured seed investment from POSTECH Holdings, Bigbang Angels, and Kingo Spring on the 25th of last month. The investment amount was not disclosed.
Faraday Dynamics was founded in 2020 by CEO Jang Han-deut, who holds a Ph.D. from Osaka University and KAIST and is currently a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Incheon National University. With a vision to create robots that enrich human life, CEO Jang recognized the importance of developing motors capable of precise speed and direction control, leading him to venture into servo motor production. Faraday was selected for Samsung Electronics’ external startup incubation program, “C-Lab Outside,” in February and is currently in discussions for collaboration with Samsung.