Hana Financial Group said on March 18 it is recruiting participating companies for the 2026 Hana ESG Double Impact Matching Fund.

The Hana ESG Double Impact Matching Fund, which Hana Financial runs as part of its ESG management, is South Korea’s first fund formed entirely with donations financed by group donations. It provides early-stage commercialisation funding to ESG startups with strong job-creation potential and eco-friendly technologies and business capabilities, as well as companies that contribute to revitalising small businesses and local commercial districts, and companies that support seniors’ retirement and self-reliance.

It also continues to generate impact by reinvesting investment gains and principal back into the fund and reinvesting in new companies through a virtuous-cycle structure, including support for various social innovation companies. Since the programme began in 2022, it has recorded cumulative results including 52 investee companies, 9.05 billion won in investments, 64 billion won raised in follow-on funding and 183 jobs created.

Starting this year, it expanded the scope of support further by including companies that create ESG impact using AI technology among its investment targets.

Recruitment will be conducted in two rounds: a first round through April 13 and a second round from May 4 to June 26.

Screening criteria include social value, business feasibility, organisational capability and corporate value. Final participating companies will be selected through an investment review committee after document screening and on-site due diligence. Total investment size is 2 billion won.

Selected companies will be offered opportunities for networking and investor briefings with venture capital officials in addition to investment funding, with the aim of supporting continued growth including links to follow-on investment. The group also plans to provide non-financial support, including practitioner mentoring, ESG consulting and help in developing sales channels by using Hana Financial Group’s infrastructure.

An official at Hana Financial’s ESG planning team said Hana Financial has played a priming role in the growth of innovative companies by discovering and nurturing promising startups in the ESG sector through the Hana ESG Double Impact Matching Fund. The official said it will continue to serve as a financial partner for impact creation by supporting various social innovation companies.