Rebellion, a leading developer of neural processing units (NPUs), has raised 640 billion won ($470 million) in a pre-IPO funding round, venture investment information platform TheVC reported on the 1st.
The latest round brings Rebellion's cumulative funding to approximately 1.3 trillion won ($950 million). The company was valued at 3.4 trillion won ($2.5 billion) in the pre-IPO investment.
The funding combined government-led policy capital and private investment in a joint public-private effort. On the public side, the National Growth Fund contributed 250 billion won and the Korea Development Bank invested 50 billion won, totaling 300 billion won in policy funding. On the private side, Mirae Asset Group served as the anchor investor, leading 300 billion won in investment at the group level. Existing investors also exercised their warrant rights.
Rebellion develops inference-specialized AI semiconductor NPU chips. The company plans to use the funds to aggressively recruit talent and rapidly scale its organization.
Dusel Biotherapeutics Raises 23.5 Billion Won
Dusel Biotherapeutics, a developer of artificial platelets, has closed a 23.5 billion won funding round. Participants included Hanwha Investment & Securities, Wonik Investment Partners, Hyundai Investment Partners, KDB Capital and the Korea SMEs and Startups Agency.
Dusel plans to invest the funds in building production infrastructure needed to commercialize artificial platelets. The company will install an additional 50-liter bioreactor at its factory in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, and plans to add a 200-liter bioreactor later. Dusel's goal is to establish a mass production system capable of producing 1,000 liters per month.
Alongside fundraising, Dusel is also focused on securing revenue sources. The company is developing platelet lysate (growth factor extract) as a cell culture additive based on its artificial platelet platform, beyond its use for transfusion. Dusel expects to generate its first revenue in the second half of this year. Last year, the company signed a letter of intent (LOI) worth $2 million (approximately 3 billion won) with Germany's PL BioScience. Dusel expects to finalize the formal contract this month, with revenue expected in the second half.
Anabatic Semi Closes 15 Billion Won Investment
Anabatic Semi, a startup specializing in battery management system (BMS) semiconductors, has successfully raised 15 billion won. Existing investors Smilegate Investment, Mirae Asset Venture Investment and JB Investment participated in the follow-on round, while IBK Industrial Bank of Korea, iM Investment Partners and EcoPro Partners joined as new investors.
Anabatic Semi was founded in 2024 by CEO Jung Se-woong, a former Samsung Electronics executive. Jung led the development of Samsung Electronics' mobile application processor (AP) "Exynos" and oversaw the medium- and large-scale battery division at Samsung SDI, making him a specialist in both semiconductors and batteries.
Anabatic Semi has recently developed the ABS8210, an analog front-end (AFE) IC that measures and controls battery cell conditions in real time for energy storage systems (ESS) and electric vehicles, and is preparing for mass production. The newly secured funds will be used for ABS8210 mass production preparation and next-generation product development.