14 new startups will join MARU, the entrepreneurship platform of the Asan Nanum Foundation, in the first half of this year.
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14 new startups will join MARU, the entrepreneurship platform of the Asan Nanum Foundation, in the first half of this year.
Asan Nanum Foundation announced on the 16th that it has finalized the selection of 14 companies—Granter, DPHR, Lideuck, Lattice, Brightmount, Superhero Unite Korea, Skin Seoul Lab, Stress Solution, Signature Label, Amously, Uvis, Jungri Seupgwan, Chainshift, and Home & Co.—as the MARU cohort for the first half of 2026. This batch recorded a highly competitive ratio of 28:1.
The selected companies operate in diverse fields, ranging from enterprise AI solutions and deep tech to healthcare, K-beauty, and career platforms. The cohort includes not only AI services that solve enterprise-level problems—such as financial accounting, contract management, and space analysis—but also startups based on semiconductor process automation and digital twin technology. While the industries vary, a common characteristic is that many of these companies are integrating AI technology to solve real-world operational challenges.
MARU is an early-stage startup incubator operated by the Asan Nanum Foundation. Centered around MARU180 and MARU360 located in the Yeoksam-dong startup street in Seoul, it provides workspace, education, mentoring, investment connections, and networking opportunities. Major players in the startup ecosystem, including domestic and international venture capitals (VCs) and accelerators, are also based there, expanding touchpoints with early-stage startup teams.
The 14 selected companies will reside in MARU180 and MARU360 for up to 18 months. During their residency, they will receive support including office space, community programs, corporate partnership benefits worth approximately 1.3 billion KRW annually, 1-on-1 mentoring with over 90 experts and entrepreneurs, IR matching, and access to an entrepreneur network.
An opportunity for interaction between the new batch and existing resident teams was also provided. On the 12th, the Asan Nanum Foundation held the 'MARU Workshop,' where entrepreneurs shared their experiences and challenges. The workshop was centered around MARU's community philosophy of 'pay-it-forward,' where experienced entrepreneurs share their knowledge with newcomers, and entrepreneurs support each other's growth.
“I am very excited to join MARU as part of the first-half batch,” said Sang-won Kang, CEO of Lattice, a new batch member. “I look forward to building our next steps in an environment where I can grow alongside fellow entrepreneurs facing similar challenges.”
“MARU is an entrepreneurship platform designed to nurture the potential of startups and ensure that potential leads to actual growth,” said Seong-woo Chun, Head of the Startup Team at Asan Nanum Foundation. “We expect the selected startups to experience challenge, growth, and sharing within MARU and to fully realize their potential.”
Reporter Yu-hyeon Cho, The Naeun Mirae Source: The Naeun Mirae https://futurechosun.com/archives/151721
