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Chairman Lee Jae-keun of KB Financial Group. (Photos: KB Financial Group)

On Sept. 10, KB Financial Group held the KB Innovation HUB - IR Day at the Fairmont Ambassador Seoul hotel in Yeouido to support investment attraction for innovative Korean startups.

KB Innovation HUB - IR Day connected promising startups entering their growth phase with major Korean venture capital firms and institutional investors.

It provided a platform for startups to directly present their business models and growth strategies to investors and explore new investment opportunities.

This year, the event was held in conjunction with the 2026 KB Financial Group Korea Conference organized by KB Securities.

To ensure that the event led to tangible investment connections, KB Financial Group carefully selected investors based on factors such as fund sizes and key investment sectors.

Those related to startups pose for a photo during the KB Innovation HUB - IR Day at the Fairmont Ambassador Seoul in Yeouido of Seoul on Sept. 10.

A total of 33 organizations participated, including eight innovative startups; KB Financial Group’s investment-related subsidiaries (KB Kookmin Bank, KB Insurance, KB Asset Management and KB Investment); major Korean VCs (such as Korea Investment Partners and IMM Investment); and policy and institutional investors.

The presentation sessions were divided into two parts. Part 1 featured four KB Starters (startups incubated by KB Financial Group) while Part 2 showcased four companies which received investments from KB Investment.

Open Asset (Korean won-pegged stablecoin infrastructure provider), OptAI (edge/on-device AI optimization solutions), Telepix (comprehensive space AI solutions), and Piler (multimodal video-based brand safety AI solutions) made presentations on their business models and growth strategies in the first session.

In the second session, Rawga (plant-based collagen ingredient manufacturer), byL (IT-based senior care platform), GeoRobot (modular mobile robot platform) and PlayTag (AI video-based behavior analysis solutions) took the stage to explain their business competitiveness and growth potential to investors.

The event was notable for expanding participation beyond KB Starters to include companies invested in by KB Investment, thereby strengthening synergies between the group’s startup incubation and investment channels.

KB Financial Group plans to designate the participating KB Investment portfolio companies as “KB Starters” and connect them with various follow-up support programs, such as collaboration with affiliates, consulting and assistance to help them enter the global market.

Additionally, the program was designed to allow attendees to participate in key sessions of the KBFG KC, broadening the scope of interactions between startups and capital market stakeholders.

“KB Financial Group will continue to strengthen its support system encompassing affiliate collaboration and investment linkages to fulfill its roles in productive finance by helping innovative Korean companies successfully enjoy stable growth,” a KB Financial Group official said.

Launch of 2026 KB Financial Energy-Saving Facility Support Project

KB Financial Group will launch the 2026 KB Financial Energy-Saving Facility Support Project to assist local small business owners in achieving carbon neutrality and implementing ESG management practices in cooperation with the Korea Foundation for Cooperation of Large & Small Business, Rural Affairs (KOFCA).

This initiative was jointly planned by KB Financial and the KOFCA to alleviate the burden of energy costs for small business owners and improve their business environments.

Utilizing funds from the “Green Transition (GX)” sector of the Large-Small Business Win-Win Cooperation Fund contributed by KB Financial Group, the project will support energy-saving initiatives proposed by up to four metropolitan or basic local governments.

The total fund amounts to 600 million won, with selected regions receiving between 100 million won and 300 million won. All of it will be dedicated to local small business owners and self-employed individuals, ensuring they will be able to directly experience tangible benefits such as improved store environments and lower electricity costs.

Local governments wishing to participate are invited to freely develop ideas for “energy self-sufficiency and infrastructure efficiency” that reflect the unique characteristics of their local commercial districts.

They must then submit a proposal in collaboration with a specialized implementing agency capable of executing the project.

Key support areas include energy efficiency improvements such as replacing aging wiring or installing high-efficiency LED signage, eco-friendly equipment support including the installation of eco-friendly heat pumps and cooking fume reduction systems and smart energy management (involving the distribution of smart meters and IoT-based standby power-cutoff outlets).