Naver’s startup investment arm D2SF has made a new investment in F4GE, a startup that connects South Korean root-industry factories into a unified manufacturing network linked to global defense and manufacturing companies.
According to Naver D2SF on the 26th, F4GE has secured its first institutional investment since its founding in January 2026. The investment round included participation from Naver D2SF, K-Net Investment Partners, Saje Partners, D.CAMP, and 500 Global, among other domestic and international investors. The investment amount was not disclosed.
F4GE is building a business that integrates scattered South Korean manufacturing factories into a “programmable manufacturing network” that global defense and manufacturing companies can leverage. The company deploys its proprietary software into existing factory environments to collect real-time data on equipment, processes, inspections, and workflows, then converts this data to align with the standard documentation and compliance frameworks required by global buyers.
Through this approach, South Korean manufacturers can meet the requirements for entering global supply chains without replacing large-scale equipment or systems, while global buyers can secure verifiable manufacturing partners.
F4GE is currently expanding its root-industry factory partnerships centered on manufacturing hubs in South Korea’s southeastern region, including Sacheon, Changwon, and Busan. In North America and Europe, the company is broadening its network with demand-side companies in the defense, aerospace, shipbuilding, and robotics sectors.
The investment will be used for hiring manufacturing engineering and artificial intelligence (AI) development talent, as well as expanding new manufacturing partnerships.
Yang Sang-hwan, head of Naver D2SF, said, “F4GE is a team building a structure that connects the on-the-ground capabilities of South Korean manufacturing with global defense and manufacturing demand,” adding, “We will continue to identify startups that solve structural problems in defense and manufacturing with technology.”
He further noted, “As Team Naver is pursuing industrial AI transformation across various domains, including defense-specialized AI models, defense and manufacturing-focused LLMs, and physical AI, Naver D2SF also plans to continuously discover startups that solve structural problems in defense and manufacturing with technology and create global market opportunities.”
Meanwhile, Naver D2SF has begun an open call for startups seeking new investment in the defense and manufacturing sector. The firm plans to identify startups across the full spectrum of defense and manufacturing, including data analytics and fusion, simulation and verification, physical AI, strategic and tactical AI, command and control and battlefield management, manufacturing and maintenance automation, cybersecurity, and dual-use infrastructure. Investment review applications can be submitted through the Naver D2SF website until October 25.