TheVentures, a global early-stage investment venture capital firm, said on Tuesday it signed a strategic memorandum of understanding with Hong Kong-listed Chinese AI startup Zhipu AI, also called Z.ai, to support the global AI startup ecosystem.

The agreement aims to combine the two companies’ acceleration systems and technical infrastructure to jointly identify and nurture promising AI startups. Z.ai recently introduced a startup-only support programme, and South Korean startups can use it to access Z.ai’s core AI infrastructure, including its latest large language model, GLM-5.

Through the partnership, the two companies will pursue providing Z.ai technical infrastructure and API access rights to South Korean and global startups based on AI technology, operating global scale-up mentoring that combines TheVentures’ nurturing know-how and Z.ai technology, and creating a community for technical information exchange between startups in the two countries.

Kim Cheol-woo (김철우), CEO of TheVentures, said, "We have created an environment in which AI startups can make a leap by using Z.ai’s technology infrastructure, including GLM-5." He added, "TheVentures will cooperate with Z.ai to broaden technology choices for domestic AI startups and expand points of contact with global markets."

Rosie Gong (공 로지), a manager in charge of the startup ecosystem at Z.ai, said, "Z.ai places value on supporting capable South Korean startups and developing the AI ecosystem together." She added, "Through cooperation with TheVentures, we plan to actively support early-stage companies so they can grow in step with global AI technology trends."