SMATOOS continues its international expansion into the
business education markets of China, Japan, and Taiwan.
business education markets of China, Japan, and Taiwan.
SEOUL, South Korea—March 23, 2015--SMATOOS Inc. today announced it had raised nearly $3 million USD (3 billion Korean won) in the latest round of investments for its BeNative business English learning service. The service, which centers on video samples featuring entrepreneurs from the U.S., provides web-based learning tools using materials developed through unique data mining techniques.
The latest round of investments come from Korea Investment Partners, Mirae Asset Venture Investment, and Partners Investment, and will allow SMATOOS to continue its international expansion into China, Japan, and Taiwan. In total, SMATOOS has now raised approximately $6 million USD (6 billion Korean won) from Series A and B rounds. Of note is that investors who had previously invested into CEO Alan Moonsoo Kim’s previous company, ETOOS, re-invested in SMATOOS. Kim said, “It is quite meaningful that many of the venture capitalists who invested in ETOOS have once again invested in SMATOOS.” ETOOS was sold for nearly $30 million USD to SK Communications, one of the largest companies in South Korea.
Earlier this year, BeNative entered into contract with Benefit One, the largest e-commerce business in Japan, along with several other clients such as Samsung, LG, and Sony. In addition, the service is being provided as course credit to local universities.
BeNative features CEOs, executives, and managers from companies such as Box, Dreamworks Animation, Lift Labs (recently acquired by Google), Roku, and NestGSV, a venture accelerator sponsored by Stanford University. Using authentic videos of professionals and unscripted footage of checking into hotels, small talk in the office, and other scenarios, BeNative is able to provide premium-quality educational content.
About SMATOOS
SMATOOS is a global educational technology company with current branches in Seoul, Tokyo and Hong Kong. It was named one of the Top 100 Global private companies of 2014 by Red Herring, and was recently nominated as one of 2015’s top innovative companies by the Edison Awards. SMATOOS is in current plans to also develop the same BeNative service for learning Chinese and Spanish.
Earlier this year, BeNative entered into contract with Benefit One, the largest e-commerce business in Japan, along with several other clients such as Samsung, LG, and Sony. In addition, the service is being provided as course credit to local universities.
BeNative features CEOs, executives, and managers from companies such as Box, Dreamworks Animation, Lift Labs (recently acquired by Google), Roku, and NestGSV, a venture accelerator sponsored by Stanford University. Using authentic videos of professionals and unscripted footage of checking into hotels, small talk in the office, and other scenarios, BeNative is able to provide premium-quality educational content.
About SMATOOS
SMATOOS is a global educational technology company with current branches in Seoul, Tokyo and Hong Kong. It was named one of the Top 100 Global private companies of 2014 by Red Herring, and was recently nominated as one of 2015’s top innovative companies by the Edison Awards. SMATOOS is in current plans to also develop the same BeNative service for learning Chinese and Spanish.
