Lotte Ventures U.S. is the venture capital arm of LOTTE Group, a global corporation with over 90 businesses in retail, food and beverage, chemicals and construction. It provides early and growth-stage capital and support through accelerator programs and direct funding, drawing on LOTTE’s market access and infrastructure. Based in San Francisco and Seoul, the firm aims to help entrepreneurs transform ideas into scalable businesses by offering expertise and connections under its motto “BUILD UP POSSIBILITY. BUILD UP FUTURE.” Since its launch, the U.S. office has supported more than 200 startups.
The firm focuses on biotechnology, robotics and advanced business initiatives such as space projects and materials innovation. In biotechnology, it partners with LOTTE Biologics, a global contract development and manufacturing organization, to support development and production. Robotics investments aim to improve automation and logistics across LOTTE’s retail network. Advanced business includes projects that use aluminum or titanium from LOTTE affiliates. Startups in healthcare, data services, retail and entertainment also qualify for funding. Early-stage companies enter biannual accelerator cohorts, while more mature teams may receive follow-on rounds and assistance with market entry.
Lotte Group affiliates commit significant resources to clean hydrogen production and ESG funds, and several units develop battery materials including separators and electrolyte solvents. Within Lotte Ventures’ portfolio, Soelect, Inc. stands out. The firm led a Series A round to advance Soelect’s lithium metal anode materials and solid-state components built for electric vehicles and grid storage. This investment supports scaling fast-charge LiX™ technology, which aims to boost energy density, improve safety and lower total lifecycle expense for next-generation batteries.
