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Greenda’s bio-aviation gasoline manufacturing plant in Jeungpyeong County, North Chungcheong Province / Courtesy of Greenda
Andreessen Horowitz, also referred to as a16z, is the world’s largest enterprise capital agency, managing belongings price about $63 billion as of final 12 months. Co-founded by Marc Andreessen, creator of the Netscape net browser, and Ben Horowitz, the agency is known for making early bets on startups which have since turn into superstars, together with OpenAI, Meta, Airbnb and Roblox.
Whereas many enterprise capital corporations had been fixated on synthetic intelligence (AI) in 2024, a16z shifted its gaze elsewhere, selling a thesis it calls “American Dynamism.” The idea refers to investing in sectors that strengthen the nationwide curiosity and competitiveness of america, resembling protection, power, manufacturing and house.
The agency’s emphasis on American dynamism stems from the conclusion that international provide chains fractured through the COVID-19 pandemic. In response, a16z noticed the necessity to restructure provide networks across the U.S., in alignment with the “America First” doctrine loudly advocated by President Donald Trump. In essence, American dynamism means breaking away from an AI-only focus and diversifying startup investments into sectors that increase nationwide competitiveness and financial vitality.
An analogous pattern is now rising amongst startup accelerators and enterprise capital corporations in Korea. Transferring away from the AI bandwagon, they’re turning to sectors like power and the protection trade. Borrowing the time period, this shift could possibly be known as “Korean dynamism” — a push for fields that guarantee long-term nationwide competitiveness within the international market.
One instance is Bluepoint, a Korean startup accelerator that has lately concentrated investments in power applied sciences supporting AI, quantum computing and small modular reactors, the place international dominance remains to be unclear, in addition to in protection, which is significant for home industrial progress.
Amongst its portfolio firms is Greenda, which collects waste cooking oil to provide sustainable aviation gasoline. In different phrases, it turns discarded cooking oil into gasoline that may energy plane. Whereas it might sound implausible at first look, the bio-aviation gasoline Greenda produces is already being exported and used as plane gasoline overseas. Because the local weather disaster deepens, the choice power sector guarantees long-term progress.
One other Korean startup, Newtype Industries, develops protection software program that makes use of AI to information tactical capturing based mostly on commanders’ fight expertise. The software program drew important consideration by demonstrating 100% accuracy throughout a U.S. Military demonstration. Bluepoint additionally invested on this firm.
For Korea’s startup sector, proactive efforts are important to uncover hidden fields strengthening long-term nationwide competitiveness. That is the trail to securing future technological sovereignty and enhancing the nation’s resilience and autonomy.
The author heads the Startuplab part of the Hankook Ilbo, the place he covers the IT and startup sectors. This column from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Instances, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Instances.
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