Seoul, Korea: SMARTSCORE, Korea’s leading golf platform, has secured a 110 billion KRW (about US$76 million) investment from Affirmma Capital.

This major funding round comes at a time of global economic uncertainty and a cooling golf industry, underscoring the market’s confidence in SMARTSCORE’s innovative technology and its potential for rapid international growth.

The investment is structured as a strategic partnership aimed at enhancing corporate value. While the existing management team, led by the founder, will continue to drive the company’s vision, Affirmma Capital will participate as a strategic partner in key decision-making processes to support SMARTSCORE’s leap into the global arena.

From IT Solutions to a Global Integrated Platform, SMARTSCORE plans to utilise the newly acquired funds to aggressively expand its footprint in advanced markets, including North America, Europe, and Japan. Key strategic initiatives include:

Strengthening Global Competitiveness: Enhancing the brand power of its subsidiary, Majesty Golf, on the world stage.

Localised Market Entry: Accelerating the localisation of its industry-leading golf IT solutions and platform services specifically tailored for the North American and Japanese markets.

Business Diversification: Expanding its golf resort business by leveraging its extensive experience in golf course management across Southeast Asia.

Industry experts view this large-scale investment as a significant milestone, proving that SMARTSCORE’s platform competitiveness and global growth strategy remain robust even amidst a challenging investment climate. The deal is seen as a ‘strategic win-win’, ensuring long-term stability and providing a powerful engine for the company’s mid-to-long-term growth strategy.

Yeom In-wook, CEO of SMARTSCORE, said: “This investment is a strategic decision that goes beyond simple financial improvement; it is a catalyst for our global expansion and the advancement of our business portfolio.

“Under our current leadership, and in partnership with our new investors, we are committed to maximising our corporate value and evolving into a comprehensive global golf platform that covers all aspects of the industry.”

*SMARTSCORE is a member of the Asian Golf Industry Federation.