# KakaoTalk

Startup profile on Capital Atlas: https://capitalatlas.ai/startups/kakaotalk

- Industry: Internet
- Headquarters: Jeju, South Korea
- Website: www.kakaocorp.com
- Total disclosed funding: $100M
- Latest round: Series B (Apr 28, 2012)
- Investors on record: 6

## About

Founded in 2010 and based in South Korea, Kakao Corporation operates as an Internet company that provides a mobile lifestyle platform. The company was formed as a result of a merger between Daum Communications and the original Kakao Inc. In July 2014, Kakao Corporation raised KRW 4.87 trillion in an IPO, selling 43 million shares at KRW 113,412 on the KOSDAQ, and in July 2017, Kakao Corporation raised KRW 6.91 trillion in an IPO, selling 67.78 million shares at KRW 102,000 on the KOSPI. 

Kakao Corporation operates a mobile messaging app called KakaoTalk in South Korea. The mobile platform allows its users to make free calls and messages on the internet and also enables them to share photos, videos, voice messages, location, URL links as well as contact information among other users. As of May 2017, the app has 220 million registered users and 47 million active monthly users.

The company also operates an Internet-only bank that was established in 2017 with services such as deposits, loans, and wiring money. Kakao also offers taxi service with its KakaoTaxi mobile application along with a premium extension of the same service through its Kakao Taxi Black application. Other than operating mobile applications, the company also has a long list of subsidiaries that operates in various sectors such as entertainment (KakaoMusic, PotPlayer); finance (KakaoPay, Klaytn); investment (Kakao INV)’; video games (Kakao Games); and streaming (Piccoma TV, KakaoTV:) etc. 

In 2020, the company generated revenue of KRW 4.16 trillion with a net income of KRW 167.1 billion. 

The company’s subsidiary Kakao Bank plans to raise $2.3 billion in an initial public offering in June 2021. The bank is planning to sell 65.45 million new shares at between KRW 33,000 and KRW 39,000 apiece.

## Funding rounds

- Series B, Apr 28, 2012, $81M — WeMade Co., Ltd., Tencent Investment
- Series A, Sep 1, 2011, $19M — DCM, Maverick Capital, CyberAgent Capital, Korea Investment Partners, WeMade Co., Ltd.

## Investors

- DCM (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/dcm) — Series A
- Maverick Capital (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/maverick-capital) — Series A
- CyberAgent Capital (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/cyberagent-capital) — Series A
- Korea Investment Partners (https://capitalatlas.ai/funds/korea-investment-partners) — Series A
- WeMade Co., Ltd. — Series A, Series B
- Tencent Investment — Series B