South Korea’s tech giant Naver is accelerating its global AI strategy with the launch of Naver Ventures. It is a U.S.-based investment arm. The firm’s first move is backing TwelveLabs, a Silicon Valley startup known for its advanced video AI technology. Naver founder Lee Hae-jin announced the investment during his first overseas trip since returning to active management. “AI is not something we can do alone,” Lee said at the networking event in California. The investment marks a major step in Naver’s commitment to expanding its AI footprint beyond Asia and into the heart of the global tech ecosystem.
Why TwelveLabs Is Naver Ventures’ First Bet
TwelveLabs is a rising star in the AI world, building multimodal AI infrastructure that understands and searches video content with remarkable precision. Recognized by CB Insights as a top 100 AI company four years in a row, the startup fits well into Naver’s vision of smart, decentralized AI. Founded in 2021, TwelveLabs stands out for its ability to interpret complex visual data, a core capability as the digital economy becomes increasingly video-driven. Naver’s new venture capital arm aims to foster global innovation, and TwelveLabs is its first step. The announcement was made at a Naver Ventures networking event held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Silicon Valley.
Over 200 key figures from the startup and investment community were in attendance. Among them were notable CEOs from Sendbird, Moloco, and Datarize, highlighting Naver’s growing network in the U.S. Naver’s strategic investments division, now led by Kim Nam-sun, will guide the venture firm. With past investments including Poshmark and Wallapop, Naver is betting on consumer-to-consumer (C2C) commerce and AI convergence to drive its next wave of global growth. TwelveLabs aligns well with this strategy, offering scalable video AI infrastructure that could integrate across Naver’s expanding digital ecosystem.
Naver’s Broader Vision: Sovereign AI and Global Commerce
Naver’s founder Lee Hae-jin emphasized two strategic themes during his U.S. appearance: global commerce and sovereign AI. The former focuses on C2C marketplaces, with platforms like Korea’s Smartstore, Japan’s Line and Yahoo, and U.S.-based Poshmark already under Naver’s umbrella. Spain’s Wallapop also adds to this growing portfolio. Sovereign AI, the idea of countries developing independent AI using their own data, is central to Naver’s roadmap. With geopolitical tensions and data sovereignty becoming global concerns, Naver seeks to lead in AI models that serve localized, culturally aligned needs. Lee stated that AI will become more segmented by region and service type.
While global players may pursue unified models, Naver positions itself as a “partner on the side of diversity,” aiming to build specialized, sovereign systems. One such initiative includes a partnership with Nvidia to build a large language model focused on the Thai language. In addition, Naver is expanding into the Middle East through its new hub. Naver Arabia, signaling serious ambitions in multilingual and culturally contextual AI development. By combining regional relevance with global ambition, Naver is not just entering the AI race; it’s carving a unique lane that could reshape how companies build and deploy next-gen AI tools.
What Naver’s AI Strategy Means Going Forward
Naver’s investment in TwelveLabs signals a shift from regional tech player to global AI contender. With its Silicon Valley base, the company is now embedded in the world’s leading innovation ecosystem. Its dual focus, sovereign AI and cross-border C2C commerce, places it at the intersection of digital independence and global connectivity. Backed by partnerships with Nvidia and expansion into the Middle East. Naver is evolving from a platform company to a builder of foundational AI infrastructure. As competition in AI intensifies, Naver’s strategic investments may determine its future role in shaping AI’s global landscape.
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