If Wadizis a platform that cheers on brands' challenges, there's also a team that collaborates on the 'next step' of those challenges.
It 'sWadiz'Wadiz Partners'.
Wadizis Wadizinvestment-specialized subsidiary (PEF manager and venture capital firm). It is a team thatmakes follow-on investments in brands and startups across various fields whose potential has been proven throughWadiz, and collaboratively designs their growth pathpost-investment . Beyond financial support, it maintains ongoing partnerships to help brands gain market validation and advance to the next stage.
Throughout 2025, Wadizhas created a time of growth alongside numerous brands. As the year draws to a close, we've prepared a chance to look back on that journey through the 2025 Value-up Day event.
We'll share the stories from the field—the challenges the brand faced as it grew, the choices and changes made along the way.
Next Step, Together – The Growth Path Forged by Wadizand Next Brand
First, we looked back at how NEXT BRAND, a company invested in Wadiz, has grown.
Next Brand is Wadizflagship program, designed to support the growth of small brands that have gained supporters' affection through crowdfunding. It enables these brands to leap forward into lifestyle unicorn companiesthrough investment and follow-up support.
Sogangseop, CEO of Wadiz, sharing the achievements of Wadiz Next Wadiz
Next Brand has expandedits portfolio of partner brands annually, starting with 7 brands in 2022, growing to 18 in 2023, 20 in 2024, and 22 in 2025.
The revenue generated by these brands also grew from 24.8 billion won in 2023 to 38.1 billion won in 2024, reaching 75 billion won in 2025. These achievements demonstrate that Next Brand is steadily advancing to the next stage of sustained growth.
Wadiz Next Brand Season 4 – KOOZA, TAMIM, Seol A-rae
Recently, three brands—premium stainless steel kitchenware brand 'KOOZA', underwear brand 'TAMIM', andpremium Korean herbal food brand 'Seol Arae'—have joined Wadizas part of the 'Next Brand 4th Cohort'.
Sogangseop, CEO of Wadiz, sharing Next Brand's plans for 2026
In 2026, Wadizshared plans to significantly enhance support to ensure Next Brand can grow steadily to the next stage.
For existing Next brands, we will continue to providean 'action-oriented value-up package'that includes investment and commercialization funding support, dedicated funding, data-driven growth consulting, joint product development, and distribution linkage.
For the new Next brand, we plan to design product pre-launches, market validation, follow-up investments, and various growth scenarios through annual project operations.
Through this, Wadizplans to further solidify its role as a partner that collaborates to build sustainable brand growth beyond short-term results.
We Are The Next Brand – Our Growth Story
Next, we shared the growth stories of the brands collaborating with Next Brand.
Under the New Year's tree, 'Korean herbal foods you'd like to gift' as brand assets
Seol Ae-Rae, the first brand to be announced, is a health food brand that reinterprets traditional Korean herbal ingredients in a modern way.
From the very beginning, Seol Ae Na was founded on a clear mission: to create traditional Korean herbal foods worthy of gifting to someone more precious than oneself. This principle has guided every aspect of product development and branding.
After verifying market response through Wadiz funding—from the 'Century-Old Triple-Fermented Root' which recorded cumulative funding of approximately 650 million won to the 'Royal Ssanghwa Pills' that transform Ssanghwa tea into pills—the brand has gradually expanded its product lineup while actively incorporating supporter feedback. This process has driven simultaneous growth in both brand sales and repurchase rates.
Throughout this process, Seol Ae-ryeong collaborated as Wadiznext brand, enabling ongoing review of the brand's direction even during the growth phase following the investment.
Ji Jong-hwan, CEO of Seol-Ae, sharing the brand story of Seol-Ae
Particularly impressive was how the brand steadily built a loyal customer base through CRM-based customer managementand personalized marketing tailored to customer preferences, establishing the brand name itself as a benchmark for trust.
Seol Arae is now preparing to move beyond a single brand, developing a multi-brand strategy based on its manufacturing capabilities and expertise in traditional Korean medicine, along with expansion plans targeting overseas markets. The company shared its vision to create the next stage of growth by expanding its brand from 'Seol Arae' to 'Seorae Bio'.
POREN, evolving from a function-focused bedding brand to one with a 'market strategy'
Following that, the brand story was shared PORENis a bedding brand that has grown by emphasizing the functionality of its products, particularly its 'cervical neck pillows'.
Foren achieved cumulative funding of 1 billion wonthrough Wadiz crowdfunding, demonstrating market acceptance. In 2023, it secured the top spot in Wadiz Home Living category, clearly proving its brand competitiveness.
Foren's cervical pillow, which drew repeated encore requests from supporters
Working with local German researchers to develop sleep products, the company initially focused solely on product quality. However, through Wadiz funding, they closely examined supporters' actual purchasing contexts and usage experiences to evolve their brand strategy. They emphasized that understanding 'who chooses this product and in what situations' is the key factor determining the brand's next growth phase, rather than short-term sales.
Kang Ji-jun, CEO of Digging Me International (Foren), sharing Foren's growth story
Foren stated that throughout this process, as Wadiznext brand, they were able to review and expand product strategy and brand direction even during the growth phase following the funding.
Moving forward, Foren plans to expand into larger markets by introducing new brands centered around fabric care solutions and infant sleep solutions. We look forward to Foren's next step: expanding beyond home living to become a solution brand addressing everyday life challenges.
ONGREDIENTS – K-Beauty Expanding Globally with Hero Items at the Forefront
Last to take the stage was Next Brand ONGREDIENTS(ONGREDIENTS), is a rapidly growing skincare brand expanding its global presence, driven by its hero product, the 'Calming Lotion '.
Kim Young-ho, Power Player (OnGredients) Director, sharing the current status of OnGredients' global expansion
OnGredients currently exports to 40 countriesand is building brand value based on its global sales capabilities. Its flagship product, the 'Calming Lotion,' has grown to sellapproximately 60,000 unitsmonthly, establishing itself as a core product driving brand sales. The company shared plans to continue its growth strategy centered on hero items, targeting monthly sales of 100,000 unitsnext year.
The presentation also detailed how the strategy centered on hero items translated into actual sales growth. OnGridents reported that sales volume grew approximately threefoldyear-over-year, driven primarily by power players—that is, hero item products.
The future strategy is also clear. Ongridiants will target the North American market as its core focus, aiming to internalize Amazon and TikTok Shop operations by 2025. In 2026, it plans to significantly expand its marketing efforts and further strengthen its position as a global brand.
At the end of the presentation,he also expressed gratitude toward Wadiz. "Despite limited brand marketing opportunities, Wadizprovided numerous avenues to promote our brand activities,"he stated, adding,"Next year, we will continue aggressive brand activities to achieve our goals."
The '2025 Value-Up Day'served as both a venue to review the achievements of Next Brands, who have run alongside Wadizthroughout the year, and a place to prepare for their next phase of growth. In 2025, we plan to continue various initiatives from a long-term perspective—including brand development, distribution partnerships, and global expansion—to help brands take their next leap forward.
The reason for sharing our achievements is clear: to reflect on the growth we've achieved together and use that growth as a stepping stone to reach even further.
Wadizwill continue to serve as a partner designing the 'next growth' alongside brands.
