bolttech closes Series C fundraise, welcomes strategic investors Sumitomo Corporation and Iberis Capital
With investments totalling US$147 million, bolttech closes Series C with t he addition of new investors
SINGAPORE, June 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- bolttech, the fast-growing global insurtech, today announced the addition of Sumitomo Corporation, one of Japan's largest trading houses, and Iberis Capital, a leading private equity and venture capital manager in Portugal, as strategic investors. Their participation marks the successful close of bolttech's Series C funding round, with shares acquired by Series C investors in the amount of US$147 million, reflecting a company valuation of US$2.1 billion.
In addition to Sumitomo Corporation becoming a strategic investor, the company has entered a joint venture with bolttech to deliver embedded insurance programmes and complementary end-to-end services for partners in Asia.
Sumitomo Corporation and Iberis Capital join Dragon Fund, Baillie Gifford, Generali's Lion River, and other investors in bolttech's Series C funding round closing. This investment will enable the company to enhance its platform's capabilities and accelerate its global growth strategy, to make insurance more personalised, accessible, affordable, and convenient for customers.
Shinichi Kato, Group CEO of Media & Digital Group, Sumitomo Corporation, said, "We are thrilled to join forces with bolttech – both as a strategic investor and through our joint venture. We are confident that this partnership will enable us to work closely with the bolttech team to drive growth and innovation across the Asia region."
Luís Quaresma, Partner, Iberis Capital, said, "bolttech has emerged as a leading embedded insurtech player spanning a global footprint in a short amount of time. We are impressed by its tech capabilities, strategic vision for the future of insurance and its highly talented management team. We look forward to contributing to its next phase of growth, supporting the continued advancement of its unique solution."
Rob Schimek, Group Chief Executive Officer, bolttech, said, "We are delighted to welcome our newest strategic investors Sumitomo Corporation and Iberis Capital as we successfully close our Series C. This investment is a strong endorsement of our unique business proposition, reinforcing our commitment to enabling a better insurance experience for customers worldwide. We are excited to continue our journey to build the future of insurance, working towards our vision of connecting people with more ways to protect the things they value."

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Korea Herald
11 hours ago
- Korea Herald
US may target Samsung, Hynix, TSMC operations in China, sources say
The US Department of Commerce is considering revoking authorizations granted in recent years to global chipmakers Samsung, SK Hynix and TSMC, making it more difficult for them to receive US goods and technology at their plants in China, according to people familiar with the matter. The chances of the United States withdrawing the authorizations are unclear. But with such a move, it would be harder for foreign chipmakers to operate in China, where they produce semiconductors used in a wide range of industries. A White House official said the US was "just laying the groundwork" in case the truce reached between the two countries fell apart. But the official expressed confidence that the trade agreement would go forward and that rare earths would flow from China, as agreed. "There is currently no intention of deploying this tactic," the official said. "It's another tool we want in our toolbox in case either this agreement falls through or any other catalyst throws a wrench in bilateral relations." Shares of US chip equipment makers that supply plants in China fell when the Wall Street Journal first reported the news earlier on Friday. KLA Corp dropped 2.4 percent, Lam Research fell 1.9 percent and Applied Materials sank 2 percent. Shares of Micron, a major competitor to Samsung and SK Hynix in the memory chip sector, rose 1.5 percent. A TSMC spokesman declined comment. Samsung and Hynix did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Lam Research, KLA and Applied Materials did not immediately respond, either. In October 2022, after the United States placed sweeping restrictions on US chipmaking equipment to China, it gave foreign manufacturers like Samsung and Hynix letters authorizing them to receive goods. In 2023 and 2024, the companies received what is known as Validated End User status in order to continue the trade. A company with VEU status is able to receive designated goods from a US company without the supplier obtaining multiple export licenses to ship to them. VEU status enables entities to receive US-controlled products and technologies "more easily, quickly and reliably," as the Commerce Department website puts it. The VEU authorizations come with conditions, a person familiar with the matter said, including prohibitions on certain equipment and reporting requirements. 'Chipmakers will still be able to operate in China," a Commerce Department spokesperson said in a statement when asked about the possible revocations. "The new enforcement mechanisms on chips mirror licensing requirements that apply to other semiconductor companies that export to China and ensure the United States has an equal and reciprocal process.' Industry sources said that if it became more difficult for US semiconductor equipment companies to ship to foreign multinationals, it would only help domestic Chinese competitors.
![[Lee Byung-jong] President Lee's pragmatic diplomacy](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwimg.heraldcorp.com%2Fnews%2Fcms%2F2025%2F06%2F19%2Fnews-p.v1.20250619.e28f3fe356a24854bdece6b379c122c6_T1.jpg&w=3840&q=100)
![[Lee Byung-jong] President Lee's pragmatic diplomacy](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fall-logos-bucket.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fkoreaherald.com.png&w=48&q=75)
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Korea Herald
[Lee Byung-jong] President Lee's pragmatic diplomacy
Less than two weeks into office, President Lee Jae Myung is already busy shaping a new course for South Korea's foreign policy — one he describes as 'pragmatic diplomacy.' His packed diplomatic calendar signals both urgency and ambition. Earlier this week, he attended the G7 summit in Canada at the invitation of the host, marking South Korea's return to global diplomacy after six months of absence during the country's turbulent leadership transition. Later this month, he is scheduled to travel to the Netherlands to participate in the NATO summit as a representative of the alliance's Indo-Pacific partners. Despite criticism over the rushed pace and pending domestic challenges, Lee is determined to reestablish South Korea as a central player on the global stage. 'Democratic Korea is back,' declared national security adviser Wi Sung-lac. Still, many are asking: What does 'pragmatic diplomacy' actually mean in practice? Lee's approach marks a distinct departure from the 'values-based diplomacy' of his predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol, who prioritized alliances with countries sharing democratic values. In contrast, Lee's strategy is rooted in flexibility and realpolitik — prioritizing economic interests and strategic outcomes over ideological alignment. In today's volatile geopolitical environment, with mounting tensions among global powers, Lee seems to be betting that ideological rigidity is a liability, not an asset. While the full contours of Lee's diplomatic doctrine are still emerging, his initial moves offer important clues. The order of his phone calls to world leaders in his first days in office has been particularly telling. As expected, his first call was to US President Donald Trump — a nod to the enduring importance of the South Korea-US alliance, especially on issues of trade and security. The 20-minute call reaffirmed the long-standing priority Korean presidents place on their alliance with Washington. More surprising was his second phone call — to Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru. Coming from a liberal background, Lee had been expected by some to reach out to China's Xi Jinping next, following the pattern of previous liberal leaders like President Moon Jae-in. Lee has, in the past, been critical of Japan's stance on historical issues, leading many to doubt whether he would prioritize Tokyo early on. However, this decision was widely interpreted as a signal of Lee's practical mindset and willingness to improve ties with Japan despite lingering historical grievances. Lee's third call to Xi Jinping was hardly unexpected, given that China remains South Korea's largest trading partner. But his fourth and fifth calls did raise eyebrows: He spoke with the leaders of the Czech Republic and Vietnam, countries often overlooked in the early stages of diplomatic outreach by past presidents. His rationale, again, was pragmatic. The Czech Republic recently awarded a 26 trillion-won nuclear power plant construction deal to a South Korean bid — a hard-won contract that edged out fierce competition from France. Lee's outreach aims to solidify that economic relationship and possibly expand it. Vietnam, meanwhile, is South Korea's third-largest trading partner and the leading destination for Korean foreign investment, making it a natural choice for early engagement. The sequence of these conversations echoes one of Lee's key refrains: 'The economy is security, and security is the economy.' His decision to attend the G7 and NATO summits underscores this philosophy. At the G7, discussions focused heavily on global trade friction — particularly the fallout from President Trump's protectionist tariffs. With trade accounting for 80 percent of South Korea's GDP, these are matters Seoul cannot afford to ignore. His participation in the NATO summit is more delicate. Lee had previously expressed reservations about Korea getting too involved in European security matters, especially the war in Ukraine. However, Europe is now a growing market for South Korean defense exports. From that angle, attending the NATO meeting is less about ideology and more about ensuring access to new economic opportunities. But Lee's pragmatic diplomacy will soon face its toughest challenge: North Korea. A purely practical foreign policy could falter if Lee reverts to the liberal camp's traditional approach of engagement with Pyongyang at the expense of alignment with key allies. President Moon Jae-in, for example, pursued such a strategy, which strained Seoul's trilateral coordination with Washington and Tokyo. That fragile alliance, revitalized under President Yoon, President Biden, and former Japanese Prime Minister Kishida in the 2023 Camp David summit, could be tested once more — especially now that all three leaders have exited the political stage. Despite his calls for pragmatic diplomacy, Lee may find himself pulled back toward a more ideological, nationalistic foreign policy. Personnel choices offer early signs of this tension. National security adviser Wi Sung-lac is widely viewed as an advocate of strong alliances, particularly with the US and other democratic partners. But Lee's pick for National Intelligence Service chief, Lee Jong-seok — a former Unification Minister — is a well-known proponent of an independent foreign policy that places inter-Korean relations above external alliances. These two key advisers, representing opposing schools of thought, could end up pulling President Lee in divergent directions, risking confusion and inconsistency in policy execution. In short, President Lee's diplomatic approach shows promise in its economic focus and global engagement. His outreach to non-traditional partners and participation in key summits signal an intent to broaden South Korea's international standing. But this pragmatic posture will only succeed if it can maintain consistency and resist being derailed by ideological pulls — especially when it comes to North Korea. The balancing act between idealism and realism, between national pride and global cooperation, will define the credibility and effectiveness of Lee's foreign policy in the years to come.


Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Korea Herald
Posco becomes first steelmaker inducted into World Steel Dynamics Hall of Fame
Korea's steel-to-battery-materials conglomerate, Posco Group, announced Thursday that it has become the first global steelmaker to be permanently inducted into the hall of fame by World Steel Dynamics, a prominent US-based steel industry consultancy. The recognition was awarded to Posco Holdings during the Global Steel Dynamics Forum held Wednesday in New York. The event was attended by key industry leaders, including Posco Group Chair Chang In-hwa, US Steel CEO David Burritt, Cleveland-Cliffs Chair Lourenco Goncalves and Tata Steel CEO T.V. Narendran, along with around 500 industry officials. The hall of fame honor recognizes Posco's achievement of ranking first in WSD's global competitiveness assessment for 15 consecutive years since 2010. The consultancy evaluates 35 steelmakers worldwide based on 23 key performance indicators, including technological innovation, production output, cost efficiency and financial soundness. "Maintaining the No. 1 position in overall competitiveness for 15 years is by no means a short journey. I express my heartfelt gratitude for the dedication and hard work of all Posco members," Chang said. "I believe this hall of fame induction reflects the support and encouragement of the global steel industry." During his visit to New York, Chang shared Posco's vision to enhance its global leadership and promote Korea–US cooperation in manufacturing, focusing on artificial intelligence and the energy sector. At the forum, he presented the group's strategy to evolve into a leading future-oriented materials company, highlighting initiatives such as developing AI-powered smart factories. The previous day, Chang also participated in a roundtable hosted by The Korea Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting cooperation between Korea and the US. There, he discussed topics including Korea–US collaboration in steelmaking, secondary battery materials and energy, in the context of rising geopolitical uncertainty, the company said.