Jobis&Villains, which operates SamjjeomSam, is joining hands with Seoul National University Holdings Co to find a “second SamjjeomSam.”

The two companies on Jan. 15 signed a memorandum of understanding at Jobis&Villains’ headquarters in Seoul’s Gangnam district to build an AI-based ecosystem for finance and lifestyle services. Under the agreement, they decided to establish a joint investment system covering the full process from identifying promising startups and supporting them to linking them to commercialisation.

They will first create a “growth fund” to finance the search for promising startups. They plan to build an AI-based ecosystem of services aimed at helping solve problems faced by irregular workers such as gig workers, freelancers and small business owners who are excluded from financial and lifestyle benefits, and to support early-stage startups with aligned direction. They also plan to steadily expand the size of investments by bringing in additional outside partners such as financial institutions.

Seoul National University Holdings is a technology-based venture capital institution established in 2008 and manages 14 funds worth a total of 120 billion won.

Jobis&Villains CEO Beom-seop Kim said, “I want to return the interest and support SamjjeomSam has received from customers to promising early-stage startups.” He said he would not spare efforts, together with Seoul National University Holdings, which has extensive investment experience, to act as a supporter so that AI-based startups can establish themselves in the market and a healthy startup ecosystem can be created.

Seoul National University Holdings CEO Seung-hwan Mok said that to create real value in fintech, cooperation on strategic investment and financial infrastructure networks is essential beyond simple capital investment. He said the agreement was pursued with the aim of supporting the real growth of promising companies the two sides invest in through links with strategic investment partners such as Jobis&Villains and with aligned financial firms.