South Korean gaming major Krafton, best known in India for Battlegrounds Mobile India, is deepening its commitment to the country’s startup ecosystem. The company has partnered with technology giant Naver and global financial services firm Mirae Asset to set up a large India-focused investment fund with a target size of up to ₹6,000 crore. The fund aims to support high-growth Indian startups across technology-driven sectors and strengthen long-term innovation in the country.
The new fund, named the Krafton-Naver-Mirae Asset Unicorn Growth Investment Fund, is being positioned as a growth-stage investment vehicle with a strong emphasis on India. It is expected to begin operations from January 2026 and will be managed by Mirae Asset Venture India. The structure of the fund reflects growing global confidence in India’s startup ecosystem, which continues to attract strategic capital from international investors.
Krafton is expected to anchor the fund with an initial commitment of around ₹1,230 crore, while Naver will make a comparable contribution. Mirae Asset and other external investors will help scale the corpus to the planned ₹6,000 crore over time. At the first close, the fund is likely to have an initial size of more than ₹3,000 crore, which will then be deployed gradually over the coming years.
Focus on Growth-Stage and Scalable Businesses
The fund will primarily target growth-stage startups that have already demonstrated strong product-market fit and are ready to scale. Key focus areas include artificial intelligence, fintech, digital content, consumer internet platforms, logistics, gaming, and emerging technology-led businesses. By concentrating on later-stage investments, the fund aims to back companies that have the potential to become India’s next unicorns.
India has become one of the fastest-growing startup hubs globally, driven by a large digital user base, improving infrastructure, and a supportive policy environment. The new fund is expected to play a significant role in providing patient capital to startups that are building for scale and sustainability rather than short-term growth.
Krafton’s Growing Presence in India
Krafton has been steadily increasing its footprint in India over the past few years. Since 2021, the company has invested more than $200 million in Indian startups across gaming, fintech, content platforms, and community-driven apps. Its portfolio includes investments in companies such as Cashfree Payments, Shuru, Nautilus Mobile, Nodwin Gaming, Loco, Kuku FM and Pratilipi.
The launch of this new fund marks a shift from individual startup investments to a more structured, long-term investment strategy focused on building an ecosystem. For Krafton, India is not just a gaming market but a strategic destination for innovation across multiple technology sectors.
Strategic Collaboration with Naver and Mirae Asset
Naver brings deep expertise in digital platforms, artificial intelligence, and content ecosystems, while Mirae Asset contributes strong experience in managing large investment funds across global markets. Together, the three partners aim to combine capital with strategic guidance to help Indian startups expand both domestically and internationally.
Industry observers believe the fund could emerge as one of the most influential growth-stage investment vehicles in India over the next few years. As global capital becomes more selective, such long-term strategic funds are expected to play a crucial role in shaping the future of India’s technology landscape.
With this ₹6,000 crore initiative, Krafton, Naver and Mirae Asset are sending a clear signal of confidence in India’s entrepreneurial potential and its ability to produce globally competitive technology companies.