SoftBank Ventures Asia Invests in Habitus Associates Co., LTD., Leading the Digital Transition of the Art Industry
2023年9月18日 - 08:00AM
JCN Newswire
韓國首爾, 2023年9月18日 - (亞太商訊) - SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA / ACN Newswire /
September 17, 2023 / Habitus Associates Co., LTD., the entity
behind the online art platform 'Artue' and under the leadership of
Bo Young SONG, has secured a seed investment of 4 billion won. This
investment round was led by SoftBank Ventures Asia with several
angel investors also taking part.
Artue, powered by Habitus Associates Co., LTD, is pioneering the
art industry's digital transformation. The platform is
revolutionizing the traditionally offline, high-barrier art
brokerage, providing emerging artists with market entry
opportunities and reducing purchasing barriers for collectors.
A notable feature of Artue is its digital twin technology, enabling
a virtual experience that mirrors physical art spaces. With the
integration of online transactional capabilities, Artue is also
enhancing its digital Catalogue Raisonné service and introducing
resale functionalities.
The team at Habitus Associates Co., LTD. comprises industry
veterans from influential corporations like Naver, Kakao,
Credit-Suisse, LG, Hyundai Motor Group, Kukje Gallery, and Korea
Arts Management Service. The advisory board includes Eugene Whang,
with two decades at Apple; Alan Lau, previously of Tencent and now
with Animoca Brands; Changwook Kim of Naver; and Federico Tan, a
communications specialist with clients including Sacai and Takashi
Murakami.
With the new funds, the company intends to further develop and hone
Artue's offerings, boost its technical capabilities, and expand its
reach. Strategic talent acquisition and international artist
promotion are also on the agenda, along with securing additional
intellectual properties to diversify Artue's portfolio.
In 2022, the global art market was valued at an impressive 80
trillion won, with projections indicating continued growth driven
by an increase in affluent individuals and the expanding digital
landscape. Remarkably, South Korea's art market achieved over 1
trillion won in sales during the challenging pandemic year.
Estimates for 2022 show potential growth to 1.377 trillion won.
With Seoul witnessing a surge in global galleries and auction
houses, South Korea is positioning itself as a significant player
in the art market alongside giants like the US, UK, China, and
Japan.
Bo Young SONG, co-founder of Habitus Associates Co., LTD., has
served as a member of the Selection Committee member of Art Basel
Hong Kong for a decade and as the first Asian partner and the
regional CEO of renowned European art publisher Cahiers d'Art. She
stated, "Artue is our response to the digital era. Beyond
traditional art experiences, our platform aims to expedite and
enhance the journey of gallerists, artists, and collectors."
JP Lee, CEO of SoftBank Ventures Asia, added, "Habitus Associates
Co., LTD. seamlessly integrates art with IT, revolutionizing the
traditional art market. We will actively support the continued
growth of Artue and, furthermore, the digital transition of the art
market."
Contact Information
Ines On SimCommunications Managerines@artue.io+82-10-6298-5999
Related Files
About SoftBank Ventures Asia & Habitus Associates.docx
來源 : Habitus Associates (Artue)
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