SK Square Deepens Global AI and Semiconductor Bets with Major Investments in US and Japan
SK Square is stepping up its ambitions in artificial intelligence and semiconductor innovation, announcing that it has completed initial investments in five high-potential companies based in the United States and Japan. This marks the first phase of what the company describes as a broader, long-term plan to establish a leadership position in the next wave of AI and chip technologies.
As part of its strategy, SK Square has committed to investing around 100 billion won (approx. $72 million USD) in emerging tech firms across the U.S. and Japan. Already, about 20 billion won has been deployed to five companies selected for their disruptive technologies and strong IP positions. Partners in this effort include SK Hynix, Shinhan Financial Group, and LIG Nex1.
The firm isn’t stopping there. In parallel, it’s preparing to channel more than 1.3 trillion won (roughly $950 million) into AI chip and infrastructure investments—a move designed to reinforce synergies with SK Hynix and respond to growing global demand for computing power.
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Betting Big on Next-Gen Players
The five companies receiving investment highlight SK Square’s focus on firms at the cutting edge of AI chips, semiconductor components, and display materials:
- d-Matrix (U.S.) – Specializes in AI inference chips for data centers. Its backers already include heavyweights like Microsoft and Temasek.
- TetraMem (U.S.) – Developing low-power, high-performance ReRAM-based AI chips, led by former HP researchers.
- AIOCORE (Japan) – Pioneering new photonic semiconductor wiring technology.
- LINK-US (Japan) – Focuses on ultrasonic composite vibration bonding tools that improve semiconductor packaging.
- Kyulux (Japan) – Gaining attention in the OLED space with novel display material technology.
All five are pursuing IPOs within the next few years, and some are already in the process of raising additional capital—raising hopes for early upside on SK Square’s positions.
Building AI Chip and Infrastructure Muscle
Looking ahead, SK Square is gearing up to address one of AI’s biggest constraints: the underlying hardware. The firm plans to invest heavily in next-gen semiconductors, AI chip packaging, and technologies that solve server bottlenecks. It also intends to back ultra-fast communication solutions and data center infrastructure to support the growing compute demands of AI workloads.
To drive these initiatives, Do Hyun-woo, a former semiconductor analyst, has been named managing director of SK Square’s overseas investment arm, TGC Square. The firm is aggressively building its global deal pipeline and investment network.
Crucially, SK Square says it will maintain a debt-free strategy, giving it financial flexibility as it seeks to raise and allocate more than 1.3 trillion won in investment capital this year.
A Broader ICT Strategy
President Han Myung-jin said the company will continue to reshape its ICT portfolio throughout the year, exiting non-core businesses and aggressively expanding its AI and semiconductor footprint.
SK Square’s recent moves reflect a growing trend among Korean tech conglomerates to secure a stake in the global AI race—not just by developing solutions in-house, but by placing smart bets on rising stars around the world.
