Hyundai Motor Group has announced the launch of ZER01NE Fund III, a strategic investment fund worth KRW 125 billion, aimed at fueling innovation in next-generation technologies through early-stage startup investments.
This latest fund represents a 1.5x increase in size compared to the previous ZER01NE Fund II and is backed by 10 of the Group’s affiliates, including Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Corporation, Hyundai Motor Securities, Hyundai GLOVIS, Hyundai WIA, Hyundai Rotem, Hyundai MOBIS, Hyundai AutoEver, Hyundai Capital, and Hyundai BNG STEEL.
ZER01NE Fund III will focus on discovering and investing in startups worldwide that align closely with the Group’s evolving business strategies, particularly in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, cybersecurity, hydrogen and energy technologies.
“This fund reinforces the Group’s position as a leading strategic investor in transformative technologies. By deepening collaboration with innovative startups, we aim to generate meaningful synergies across our affiliates and accelerate our future-ready business initiatives”, said Kyuseung Keith Noh, Vice President and Head of ZER01NE Group at Hyundai Motor Group.
The new fund builds on the success of its predecessors. ZER01NE Fund I (approximately KRW 10 billion) and ZER01NE Fund II (KRW 80.5 billion) collectively invested in over 105 startups, leading to over 200 collaboration cases within the Group.
Notable ZER01NE Fund I portfolio companies include:
- Clobot provides cloud-based robot management platforms for industries such as logistics, healthcare and security. It rapidly scaled from seed investment to IPO in 2024, driven by its proprietary autonomous navigation solutions. .
- MakinaRocks is an AI startup that specializes in industrial artificial intelligence solutions, particularly focusing on manufacturing and process optimization. The company develops machine learning platforms that help industrial clients predict equipment failures, optimize production processes, and improve operational efficiency through data analytics.
- POEN remanufactures and upcycles end-of-life EV battery packs, transforming discarded cells into high-performance, cost-effective battery units for reuse. It partners with OEMs globally to reduce battery waste and promote sustainable energy storage solutions.
- Macaron Factory is an automotive tech startup that developed “Mycle,” a mobile app platform connecting car owners with repair shops and mechanics. The company digitizes the car maintenance experience by offering on-demand booking services, transparent pricing, and streamlined communication between vehicle owners and service providers.
The investment period for ZER01NE Fund II concluded in January 2025. Its key companies include:
- 60Hertz develops AI-powered software to manage and optimize distributed renewable energy assets like solar, wind and EV systems. It helps global clients meet RE100 goals through forecasting tools, energy trading platforms and smart grid technologies.
- LD Carbon recycles end-of-life tires into recovered carbon black and tire pyrolysis oil using advanced pyrolysis technology. It supplies eco-certified materials to global manufacturers while significantly reducing carbon emissions and promoting circular economy practices.
- Terracle recycles waste plastics based on green chemical technology. The primary vision is to enable the infinite recycling of plastics without environmental pollution, utilizing low-temperature depolymerization technology for PET, reverting plastic back to its raw materials.
- Holiday Robotics develops manipulation-centric humanoid robots with dexterous hands, leveraging LLMs, computer vision, and simulation-based reinforcement learning for manufacturing assembly tasks with plans to expand into service and home applications.
With the launch of ZER01NE Fund III, the Group continues its commitment to shaping the future of mobility and sustainability by backing pioneering startups with high potential to contribute to its long-term growth.
