Team Leader Son Ji-yeon from Law Firm Central Joins
Accelerating In-House IP Analysis
[Asia Economy Reporter Kwangho Lee] Daily Partners, a bio-specialized venture capital (VC), has newly recruited an investment analyst. After strengthening its house capabilities by securing specialized personnel from medical and pharmaceutical schools, it has now deployed an investment analyst with a patent attorney background. It is expected to examine intellectual property (IP) in the bio field more closely.
According to the investment banking (IB) industry on the 12th, Daily Partners recently hired Team Leader Ji-yeon Son for its VC investment division. This brings the VC investment division's personnel to eight. Alongside professionals with high understanding in the bio field such as doctors, pharmacists, bio-specialized analysts, and industry experts, they have secured an analyst specialized in IP, further enhancing competitiveness.
Team Leader Son graduated from Ewha Womans University with degrees in Science Education and General Science, and also earned a law degree from Korea National Open University. She then joined the law firm Central and worked in the chemistry department. True to her patent attorney background, she focused on the patent field and built her career. She later joined Daily Partners and has been pursuing a path as a venture capitalist.
A Daily Partners representative said, "Until now, we have relied on external advice for patents and intangible asset evaluations," adding, "With the hiring of a patent attorney, we expect to strengthen our IP capabilities." They also added, "We believe it will be possible to provide external advice as well."
Recently, the number of patent attorney-origin investment analysts in the bio field has been increasing. Since intellectual property such as patents is crucial in the R&D process of new drug developers, experts who can properly filter these are needed. Early-stage companies often only have technology and materials. In such cases, the insight of a patent attorney is sometimes required to make investment decisions.
Daily Partners has been steadily strengthening its manpower. It is evaluated as having both experience and networking capabilities to see the potential of investee companies. Currently, it holds both VC investment and PE investment divisions as its two wings, along with an accelerator license. It is regarded as an organization capable of comprehensive investment.
Daily Partners has consistently created series funds. It operates funds such as Empowering, Swanson, Golden Hour, Snowball, Watson, Nextwave, and Earlybird, continuing investments appropriately according to the growth stages of investee companies. This allows for more meticulous investment.
Meanwhile, it is accelerating the formation of a new blind fund. Previously, in 2022, it was selected as a general partner (GP) for the first regular call of the Korea Fund of Funds in the vaccine and bio sector. Daily Partners is currently forming a fund worth a total of 50 billion KRW. It has received 40% of the capital, 20 billion KRW, and is seeking the remaining 60% from the private sector. The fund is expected to be unveiled around November. Managing Director Inho Kwon is expected to serve as the lead fund manager.
Daily Partners was selected as a GP for the Korea Fund of Funds in the early startup sector in 2019 and formed a sub-fund. This is the second time it has secured a Korea Fund of Funds GP position, marking a significant achievement. Although market conditions are challenging, it plans to play a role as a growth catalyst for the bio industry through the new blind fund. With the addition of this new fund, the assets under management (AUM) will approach 400 billion KRW, laying the foundation for a mid-sized house.
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