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TBT Partners operates as an adventure capital firm, providing strategic investment and hands-on operational guidance to emerging companies. The firm extends beyond traditional capital injection, acting as a dedicated discussion partner and team player. They leverage their extensive industry knowledge and experience to assist portfolio companies in developing innovative services and products, identifying potential and mitigating risks in the venture landscape.
The firm was co-founded in 2018 by Ram Lee and Joungho Ahn, stemming from a belief that "thoughts become things" and a commitment to enabling startup success. Ram Lee brings executive leadership from roles including CEO of Camp Mobile and VP of Mobile Strategy at NAVER. Joungho Ahn’s background includes managing partner positions at other investment firms and experience in strategic finance at Samsung C&T and investment banking at Goldman Sachs.
TBT Partners serves startups seeking not just funding but also profound strategic and operational support. Their long-term vision centers on aligning growth with progress, actively helping entrepreneurs construct impactful services and products that can contribute positively to the world. They aspire to foster companies that translate innovative ideas into tangible, beneficial realities.
TBT Partners has 6 tracked investments across 6 companies. The latest tracked deal is $18.8M Series C in Medistream in December 2025.
| Date | Company | Round | Lead Investor(s) | Co-Investor(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 24, 2025 | Medistream | $18.8M Series C | Altos Ventures | DS Investment Partners, IBX Partners, Industrial Bank OF Korea, Korea Investment & Securities, SJ Investment Partners |
| Jan 1, 2023 | PeopleFund | $20.0M Series C | Bain Capital | 500 Startups, Anthemis Group, Scott Hartley, Iterative, Nonlinear, Pareto Holdings, Picus Capital, Rumbo Ventures, Eric WU, Guilherme Bonifacio, Nate Matherson, Tushar Garg, Geeks ON A Plane, Access Ventures, D3 Jubilee Partners, IBX Partners, Kakao Investment |
| Nov 3, 2022 | Lawfully | $2.5M Seed | — | Sanghun KIM, Bluepoint Partners, Lotte Ventures |
| Sep 21, 2021 | Upstage AI | $26.6M Series A | Company K Partners, Cindy JIN | Premier Partners, Primer Sazze Partners, Stonebridge Ventures |
| Jun 14, 2021 | SANDBOX | $22.4M Series C | TBT Partners | Cresco Lake Partners, DS Asset Management, NVC Partners |
| Aug 19, 2020 | SuperBin | $17.0M Series B | Fine Asset Management | Humax, Intervest, Seaglobalcns |