SK Global Business Development(GBD), a global investment arm in SK holdings, has a mission to support and invest in promising entrepreneurs who aspire to make a difference in the startup field. GBD has been mainly focusing on the super-early stage investment where huge growth potential resides and where the teams' contribution to the startup could be leveraged to the highest extent. We've been building a wide range of networks from incubators/startup institute to other VC firms under the name of ''Hicosystem'', which can share our vision and present deep impact on the global startup ecosystem. GBD has been especially interested in sectors that possess exponential growth prospect. GBD actively builds partnership with leading entrepreneurs who disrupt the industry and therefore create a new value to the startup community in a more sustainable way than so far.

SK Holdings

Chongqing Chengxing Equity Investment Fund Partnership is an investment firm.

Chongqing Chengxing Equity Investment Fund Partnership

Zibo Financial Holding is an investment firm.

Zibo Financial Holding

Zibo Hightech Industrial Investment is an investment firm.

Zibo Hightech Industrial Investment

I Cube Capital is an investment arm of SK Holdings.

I Cube Capital

Polestar

Electrifying passenger and commercial travel

EV Economy

Israel-based StoreDot develops an extreme fast-charging (XFC) electric vehicle (EV) battery that can be fully charged in five minutes and provides a range of up to 100 miles (compared to 75 miles of a Tesla Model 3 after being connected to a supercharger for five minutes).StoreDot also claims that its batteries would not cost more than conventional lithium-ion batteries and would follow a similar cost reduction curve in the future. StoreDot batteries achieve this fast-charging capability through a holistic approach that uses AI and machine learning to combine its proprietary organic compounds with nanomaterials.Key customers and partnershipsStoreDot partnered with the Chinese battery manufacturer EVE Energy to support the commercialization of XFC batteries. The agreement covered the intention to set up a joint venture for mass production. StoreDot unveiled its first EV battery prototype that can fully charge in 10 minutes in September 2021, with a plan for mass production via traditional lithium-ion battery manufacturing lines in 2024. The company also planned to offer extreme energy-density (XED) technology to the mass market by 2028.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15719">January 2023</a>, StoreDot partnered with Italvolt, where the latter licensed StoreDot’s XFC technology and intellectual property rights to manufacture XFC lithium-ion batteries at its plant in Italy. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/17969">April 2023</a>, the company signed a joint development agreement with VinES to jointly research, develop, and offer XFC battery cells in different form-factors in readiness for the commercialization of XFC batteries. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/22832">September 2023</a>, StoreDot signed a multi-year agreement with Volvo Cars to develop an EV battery for the upcoming generation of Volvo EVs.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/12871">September 2022</a>, StoreDot shipped EV cell samples to strategic EV OEM partners including Daimler, VinFast, Volvo, Polestar, Ola Electric, and other automotive players for real-world testing. In <a href="https://www.store-dot.com/press/storedot-makes-progress-on-manufacturing-extreme-fast-charge-batteries-on-three-continents-nearing-mass-production-readiness">May 2023</a>, the company announced plans to develop manufacturing operations across three continents, namely the US, Europe, and Asia, in order to cater to its customers within their local geographies, reduce carbon impact, and achieve just-in-time production efficiency. The company will do so by collaboratively producing the batteries at existing and future gigafactories, with production set to commence in 2024. Furthermore, in <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/22833">October 2023</a>,, StoreDot signed a strategic partnership agreement with Flex|N|Gate to produce StoreDot’s 100in5 battery cells at Flex|N|Gate’s lithium-ion cell pilot factory in Windsor, Ontario, in 2024. In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/23987">November 2023</a>, the company partnered with Polestar to explore and apply XFC technology in EVs.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27478">March 2024</a>, StoreDot signed a strategic manufacturing agreement with EVE Energy. Additionally, the company also licensed its technology to EVE.Funding and financialsStoreDot’s most recent funding was in April 2022, when it raised an <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/9803">undisclosed amount </a>from Volvo Cars Tech Fund. Previously, in January 2022, the company raised USD 60 million in a Series D round. The proceeds were to be used to fund R&amp;D activities. In March 2021, StoreDot was rumored to be in negotiations for a SPAC listing at a valuation of USD 3.5 billion but has not disclosed any specific plans to date.

The extreme-fast charging battery pioneers StoreDot is a battery developer and materials innovation leader, developing ground-breaking battery technologies based on the design and synthesis of both organic and inorganic compounds. Replacing known materials and technologies with enhanced electro-chemical properties, StoreDot's proprietary compounds, combined with nano-materials, are optimized for Extreme Fast Charging - XFC of electric vehicles. Designed to replace known technologies by means of enhanced physical, chemical, electrical and optical properties, StoreDot’s technology, inspired by nature, can be optimized for multiple industries, including fast-charging batteries for mobile devices and electric vehicles. With a strong technological team of noted scientists and device engineering experts, StoreDot is positioned to reinvent the world of materials and devices as they know it.

Polestar is an electric performance brand, focused on uncompromised car design and technology. A Volvo subsidiary, Polestar is at the center of Electromobility, introducing world-class electrified cars and innovative, customer- focused services and offers. Polestar is set to launch a range of electric vehicles. Polestar 1 will begin production in 2019 whilst Polestar 2 and 3 are already at advanced stages of development.

<div> Polestar is an electric performance brand, focused on uncompromised car design and technology. A Volvo subsidiary, Polestar is at the center of Electromobility, introducing world-class electrified cars and innovative, customer- focused services and offers. Polestar is set to launch a range of electric vehicles. Polestar 1 will begin production in 2019 whilst Polestar 2 and 3 are already at advanced stages of development. </div>

Polestar

EDGE Insights

Passenger mobility tech (Q4 2023): Partnerships strengthen EV ecosystem; autonomous technologies upgraded for safer rollout

Recent Updates

Sonichem raises GBP 600,000 in grant funding to develop bio-based plastics for automotive industry

StoreDot partners with Polestar to integrate extreme fast charging battery technology in EVs

Polestar partners with Luminar and Mobileye to enhance autonomous driving capabilities

Nvidia extends its on-demand cloud gaming service to automakers; Hyundai, BYD, and Polestar to incorporate the offering

Polestar receives USD 1.6 billion in funding

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