Venture Business Statistics Overview
Key statistics on Korean venture businesses including numbers, type distribution, revenue scale, and employment, with annual trend analysis.
Venture Business Statistics Overview
Data Sources
This material is based on official statistics published by the Korea Venture Business Association (KOVA)Korea Venture Business Association (KOVA)
Association for protecting venture enterprise interests and developing the venture ecosystem., the Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS)Ministry of SMEs and Startups (MSS)
Central government agency overseeing SME and venture enterprise policy in Korea., and Korea Venture Investment Corporation (KVICKorea Venture Investment Corp. (KVIC)
Government fund-of-funds operator. A key capital source for the venture investment ecosystem.). Key sources:
- KOVA, "In-Depth Survey on the Status of Venture Businesses" (published annually)
- MSS, "Venture Enterprise Certification Status" (released quarterly)
- KVIC, "Venture Investment Statistical Yearbook" (published annually)
- Korea SME Research Institute, "SME and Venture Enterprise Trends"
1. Total Number of Venture EnterprisesVenture Enterprise
An enterprise certified under the Special Act on Fostering Venture Enterprises, recognized for its technology and growth potential, receiving various tax, financial, and human resource benefits.
Current Status (as of 2025)
As of the end of 2025, the estimated number of valid venture enterprise certifications in Korea is approximately 38,000.
| Year | Number of Venture Enterprises | Change from Prior Year | Rate of Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 31,260 | +3,140 | +11.2% |
| 2016 | 32,215 | +955 | +3.1% |
| 2017 | 35,282 | +3,067 | +9.5% |
| 2018 | 37,140 | +1,858 | +5.3% |
| 2019 | 37,416 | +276 | +0.7% |
| 2020 | 37,993 | +577 | +1.5% |
| 2021 | 40,438 | +2,445 | +6.4% |
| 2022 | 41,065 | +627 | +1.6% |
| 2023 | 39,702 | -1,363 | -3.3% |
| 2024 | 38,500 | -1,202 | -3.0% (est.) |
| 2025 | 38,000 | -500 | -1.3% (est.) |
Key Trend Analysis: - After reaching a peak in 2021 (surpassing 40,000), the count has declined slightly due to economic slowdown and rising interest rates - The count has been adjusting since 2023 following tightened certification requirements (raised investment amount threshold) - The declining trend is expected to moderate as new venture enterprises enter from AI and deep tech sectors
2. Distribution by Certification Type
Current Status by Type (as of 2024)
| Certification Type | Number of Companies | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Technology Innovation Type (R&D Type) | 21,500 | 55.8% |
| Venture Investment TypeVenture Investment Type Certification type for enterprises that have received investment of 10% or more of capital from VCs, SME investment companies, or Korean venture investment unions. |
14,300 | 37.1% |
| Pre-Venture Type | 2,700 | 7.1% |
| Total | 38,500 | 100% |
Trends: - Technology Innovation Type remains the largest (driven by growth in companies with corporate R&D centers) - Venture Investment Type surged during the 2020–2022 investment boom but has since corrected - Pre-Venture Type has declined since 2022 amid a decrease in new startups
3. Distribution by Revenue Scale
Revenue Bracket Distribution (2024)
| Revenue Bracket | Number of Companies | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under KRW 500 million | 11,200 | 29.1% |
| KRW 500M – KRW 2 billion | 9,800 | 25.5% |
| KRW 2B – KRW 5 billion | 7,300 | 19.0% |
| KRW 5B – KRW 10 billion | 4,600 | 11.9% |
| KRW 10B – KRW 50 billion | 4,700 | 12.2% |
| KRW 50 billion or more | 900 | 2.3% |
| Total | 38,500 | 100% |
Total Combined Revenue of Venture Enterprises
Total revenue of venture enterprises in 2024: approximately KRW 200 trillion
- This equals approximately 11% of domestic GDP
- A 67% increase compared to 5 years ago (2019: approximately KRW 120 trillion)
- Accounts for approximately 15% of total SME revenue
Mean and Median Revenue: - Average revenue per company: approximately KRW 5.2 billion - Median revenue: approximately KRW 1.8 billion (a small number of large companies pulls the average up)
4. Employee Count
Distribution by Employment Size (2024)
| Number of Employees | Number of Companies | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer than 10 | 13,500 | 35.1% |
| 10–50 | 16,800 | 43.6% |
| 50–100 | 4,500 | 11.7% |
| 100–300 | 3,000 | 7.8% |
| 300 or more | 700 | 1.8% |
Total Employment by Venture Enterprises
As of 2024: approximately 800,000 people
- Approximately 11% of total manufacturing employment
- Approximately 30% of ICT services employment
- Average of 21 employees per company
Employment Growth Rate: - Average annual growth rate of 4.3% over the past 5 years - Significantly higher job creation than large enterprises (-0.5%) and general SMEs (+1.2%)
5. Distribution by Company Age
Current Status by Company Age (2024)
| Company Age | Number of Companies | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Within 3 years of establishment | 7,700 | 20.0% |
| 4–7 years | 11,200 | 29.1% |
| 8–10 years | 7,700 | 20.0% |
| 11–15 years | 7,300 | 19.0% |
| Over 15 years | 4,600 | 11.9% |
Insights: - The 4–7 year bracket is the largest → "growth-stage venture enterprises" are the mainstream - Long-established venture enterprises (15+ years) also account for 12% → some companies grow while maintaining venture status - The 20% share of companies within 3 years of establishment demonstrates the vitality of new entrants each year
6. Venture Enterprise Survival Rate
Survival Rate Trajectory After Establishment
| Company Age | Survival Rate |
|---|---|
| After 1 year | 62.4% |
| After 3 years | 40.2% |
| After 5 years | 28.5% |
| After 7 years | 22.1% |
| After 10 years | 16.8% |
Comparison with General Startup Companies: - 5-year survival rate of general SMEs: approximately 27% - 5-year survival rate of venture enterprises: approximately 28.5% (slightly higher) - Venture-certified companies show improved early-stage survival rates due to government support and investor oversight
Leading Causes of Venture Enterprise Failure: 1. Capital depletion (35%) 2. Absence of market demand (22%) 3. Team dissolution (17%) 4. Intensified competition (12%) 5. Product defects (9%) 6. Other (5%)
7. R&D Investment Status
R&D Investment Scale (2024)
- Total R&D investment by venture enterprises: approximately KRW 15 trillion
- Average R&D investment per company: approximately KRW 390 million
- R&D expenditure as a percentage of revenue: approximately 7.5% (more than 3 times the 2.3% for general SMEs)
R&D-Intensive Sectors: - ICT software: 40% of total R&D - Bio and healthcare: 25% - Electrical and electronics: 15% - Machinery and materials: 12% - Other: 8%
Patent Application Status
- Annual patent applications by venture enterprises: approximately 60,000
- Average patents held per company: 4.2
- Venture enterprise share of total SME patent applications: approximately 35%
8. Venture Investment Recipient Status
Investment Attraction Status (2024)
- Number of companies receiving investment: approximately 2,800 per year
- Total venture investment amount: approximately KRW 5.8 trillion
- Average investment per company: approximately KRW 2.07 billion
Distribution by Investment Stage: - Seed and early stage: 45% (approximately KRW 2.6 trillion) - Growth stage: 35% (approximately KRW 2 trillion) - Late stage and Pre-IPO: 20% (approximately KRW 1.2 trillion)
Investment ExitExit
The process by which investors recover their investment through IPO, M&A, or secondary sale. Status (2024)
| Exit Method | Number of Cases | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| IPO | 72 | Approx. KRW 2.1 trillion |
| M&A | 148 | Approx. KRW 1.4 trillion |
| Secondary | 210 | Approx. KRW 0.8 trillion |
| Redemption / Liquidation | 340 | Approx. KRW 0.5 trillion |
| Total | 770 | Approx. KRW 4.8 trillion |
9. Venture Enterprise IPO Status
KOSDAQ Listing Status (2020–2024)
| Year | KOSDAQ New Listings | Former Venture Enterprises | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 89 | 61 | 68.5% |
| 2021 | 119 | 87 | 73.1% |
| 2022 | 74 | 52 | 70.3% |
| 2023 | 58 | 41 | 70.7% |
| 2024 | 72 | 51 | 70.8% |
Approximately 70% of newly listed KOSDAQ companies are former venture enterprises.
10. Summary of Key Indicators
| Indicator | Figure (as of 2024–2025) |
|---|---|
| Total number of venture enterprises | Approx. 38,000 |
| Total venture enterprise revenue | Approx. KRW 200 trillion |
| Total venture enterprise employment | Approx. 800,000 |
| Average revenue per company | Approx. KRW 5.2 billion |
| Average employment per company | Approx. 21 |
| Average R&D per company | Approx. KRW 390 million |
| Annual venture investment | Approx. KRW 5.8 trillion |
| Annual new certifications | Approx. 6,000 |
| 5-year survival rate | Approx. 28.5% |
Conclusion
Korea's approximately 38,000 venture enterprises generate KRW 200 trillion in revenue and employ 800,000 people, serving as an important pillar of the national economy. While the count has adjusted somewhat after surpassing 40,000 in 2021, new venture enterprises in AI, bio, and climate technology sectors continue to enter the market.
In particular, the fact that more than 70% of newly listed KOSDAQ companies are former venture enterprises demonstrates that the venture ecosystem is not merely a target of policy support, but a core growth engine of Korea's capital markets.
Statistics are based on official releases by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the Korea Venture Business Association, and KVIC. For accurate and up-to-date figures, please refer to the official websites of each organization.