Seoul – September 19, 2026 -- SK hynix Inc. has launched a new corporate venture capital brand, SK hynix Ventures, to expand strategic investments across the global AI ecosystem, the company announced at the inaugural 'SK hynix Ventures Day' held in Silicon Valley.
CEO Kwak Noh-Jung leads executive delegation at Silicon Valley launch event
CEO Kwak Noh-Jung and senior SK hynix executives met with representatives from global venture capital firms and leading startups to outline investment strategies targeting AI data centers and optical-based systems. The event brought together startups from the U.S. AI computing and data center sectors to discuss memory, computing and system software innovations tied to advanced AI models.
Prior CVC investments have returned more than double committed capital
SK hynix has run a corporate venture capital operation since 2015, making direct and fund-based investments in early-stage semiconductor and emerging-tech startups across the U.S., China, Israel and Japan. Cumulative returns from that activity have exceeded twice the total capital invested, according to the company, which also credits the program with surfacing new supply chains and customers through joint equipment development and proof-of-concept collaborations with portfolio firms.
New venture unit shifts focus from tech scouting to ecosystem leadership
Previously, SK hynix's CVC activity centered on "Tech Sensing" to track future technology trends and "Path Finding" to identify new business opportunities. Under the new SK hynix Ventures banner, the company intends to broaden its scope beyond semiconductors to core AI industry segments including AI computing, data centers, system software and optical interconnect technology.
Kwak frames strategy as ecosystem-driven, not just technology acquisition
"Competitiveness in the AI era stems not just from rapidly securing innovative technologies, but from ecosystem capabilities where customers, partners, and startups create new value together," said Kwak Noh-Jung, CEO of SK hynix. He said the venture arm will support portfolio company growth while positioning SK hynix as a partner in building AI infrastructure through strategic investment and technological cooperation.