Woori Financial unveils W7tr investment blueprint for innovative firms, from funding to IPO

Woori Financial Group will commit 7 trillion won ($4.57 billion) to innovative companies in line with the government's productive finance policy, the group announced Tuesday. The plan centers on building a continuous venture capital supply system tailored to each stage of a startup's growth — from initial funding through to an initial public offering — to serve as a "ladder of growth."

Woori Financial held the "2026 WFRI Conference" at its headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday under the theme "The Future of Innovation Drawn by Productive Finance."

At the event, the group announced it would channel 7 trillion won from its Future Co-Growth Project into a "continuous venture capital supply system." Woori Financial had previously disclosed plans to deploy 90 trillion won over five years into productive and inclusive finance, with 7 trillion won earmarked specifically for "productive investment."

Under the framework, early-stage companies will receive support through the DinoLab Fund, with individual funds sized below 50 billion won, while growth-stage companies will be backed through corporate venture capital funds of under 100 billion won. Unlike general venture capital funds, these CVC funds are operated directly by Woori Financial with strategic corporate objectives.

At the scale-up and pre-IPO stages, Woori Venture Partners and Woori Investment & Securities — which manage funds exceeding 100 billion won — will provide large-scale investment and IPO support. For companies that have established a solid footing, Woori Venture Partners and Woori Investment & Securities will underwrite follow-on investments and lead IPO arrangements to support fundraising.

Woori Financial is also actively scouting promising companies through DinoLab, its startup incubation platform. As of the end of June, the group had discovered and nurtured 231 startups through DinoLab over the past seven years, with cumulative startup investment totaling 470 billion won. In 2024, it established DinoLab Fund No. 1 with 5 billion won and invested in eight companies, including DeliveryLab. DinoLab Fund No. 3, launched in April, aims to support 20 companies with a combined 20 billion won.

The group is also stepping up efforts to cultivate startups outside the capital region. DinoLab currently operates seven centers in total — two in Seoul and one in Vietnam — including four regional hubs in South Gyeongsang, North Chungcheong, Busan and North Jeolla provinces. Since 2024, DinoLab has identified and nurtured 69 regional startups, accounting for about 66 percent of all newly selected companies during that period. Going forward, the group plans to enhance its support framework by incorporating collaboration and strategic investment from the planning stage of new projects, including digital solutions.

Innovative companies that have received investment from Woori Financial also attended the conference and shared their experiences. Lee Won-seok, chief executive of DeliveryLab, said Woori Financial had served as a true partner in business growth — providing follow-on investment and facilitating collaboration with group affiliates after the company was selected through DinoLab, laying the groundwork for the firm to reach the next level. "Drawing on our experience growing alongside Woori Financial, we will contribute to building a virtuous cycle in the innovation ecosystem by working together with local small businesses," he added.

Woori Financial Group Chairman Lim Jong-ryong said finance must evolve beyond simply supplying capital into "investment-driven productive finance" that backs future potential, with venture capital at its core. "Woori Financial will mobilize all of its affiliates, starting with DinoLab, to actively support companies in securing the investment and business opportunities they need," he said.

Meanwhile, Woori Financial plans to complete disbursement of 9.4 trillion won in productive finance funds from the Future Co-Growth Project by next year, as part of efforts to secure long-term growth drivers for businesses.