500 Global and dcamp Bridge Korea and Silicon Valley to Accelerate Startup Growth

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 1, 2025--

500 Global, one of the world’s most active venture capital firms 1, and dcamp , South Korea’s premier foundation dedicated to fostering entrepreneurship, today announced a strategic partnership aimed to accelerate Korean startups’ growth as they expand to the US market.

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Leveraging their proven track of supporting promising founders, 500 Global and d.camp will identify Korean startups that are primed for international expansion and investment. Select startups will join the 500 Global Flagship Accelerator in Silicon Valley to deepen their understanding of the US market, connect with the local ecosystem and develop opportunities for growth.

Younghoon Park, CEO of dcamp, stated,

“Through this strategic partnership, we aim to bridge the best of Korea’s entrepreneurial spirit with Silicon Valley’s renowned ecosystem. Our mission at dcamp has always been to empower Korean startups with the right tools and opportunities. Partnering with 500 Global is a transformative step forward, equipping our entrepreneurs to excel on the global stage.”

This partnership builds on an established relationship stemming from 500’s early bet on Korea in 2012. Through its dedicated local funds and Seoul-based programs, 500 Global has supported startups like CardMonster - an AI-powered gaming studio connecting major IPs with the tabletop gaming market - in scaling globally. After seed investment from 500 Korea, CardMonster traveled to the US as part of the program's Immersion Trek, connected with GTM mentors from Stripe as well as AI hyperscalers, and will be presenting at the upcoming Flagship Demo Day in San Francisco on October 7th.

Christine Tsai, CEO and Founding Partner of 500 Global, remarked,

“Our partnership with dcamp underscores 500 Global’s long standing conviction that ambitious, talented founders exist all around the world. Korea’s vibrant startup ecosystem is positioned to make a global impact, and we’re excited to accelerate this potential by connecting Korean founders to the opportunities, resources, and networks of Silicon Valley and beyond.”

The partnership was publicly launched at a signing ceremony held at 500 Global’s Palo Alto headquarters on August 28, 2025, featuring Christine Tsai and Younghoon Park, symbolizing the commitment of both organizations to fostering global entrepreneurial success.

About 500 Global

500 Global is a multi-stage venture capital firm with $2.1B in assets under management 2 that invests in founders building fast-growing technology companies. We focus on markets where technology, innovation, and capital can unlock long-term value and drive economic growth and development. 500 Global has backed over 5,000 founders representing more than 3,000 companies operating in 80+ countries. We have invested in more than 35+ companies valued at over $1 billion and 150+ companies valued at over $100 million (including private, public, and exited companies). In Korea alone, 500 Global has three dedicated funds and 80+ portfolio companies. Our 175+ team members are located in more than 25 countries and bring experience as entrepreneurs, investors, and operators from some of the world’s leading technology companies.

About dcamp

​​dcamp is a startup growth support platform established under the Banks Foundation for Young Entrepreneurs, funded by donations from Korea’s 19 financial institutions. As its slogan ‘Startup Growth Partner’ suggests, dcamp provides investment and incubation infrastructure on a comprehensive scale to help entrepreneurs achieve explosive growth. Since its establishment in 2012, dcamp has actively driven the growth of early-stage startups. In 2024, it launched ‘dcamp 2.0,’ renewing its strategy to accelerate startups in the pre-A and Series A stages. It selects a maximum of 10 startups every quarter – with a focus on ICT, deep-tech, and climate-tech – and provides intricate and customized support to help them overcome the "Death Valley" phase. dcamp helps startups overcome growth pains and reach new heights by offering a wide spectrum of resources including equity investment, fund investment, office space, educational programs, talent recruitment, networking, promotional support, and global expansion.

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Signing ceremony held at 500 Global’s Palo Alto headquarters on August 28, 2025, featuring Christine Tsai and Younghoon Park

KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — Uganda’s presidential election was plagued by widespread delays Thursday in addition to a days-long internet shutdown that has been criticized as an anti-democratic tactic in a country where the president has held office since 1986.

Some polling stations remained closed for up to four hours after the scheduled 7 a.m. start time due to “technical challenges," according to the nation's electoral commission, which asked polling officers to use paper registration records to ensure the difficulties did not “disenfranchise any voter.”

President Yoweri Museveni, 81, faces seven other candidates, including Robert Kyagulanyi, a musician-turned-politician best known as Bobi Wine, who is calling for political change.

The East African country of roughly 45 million people has 21.6 million registered voters. Polls were expected to close at 4 p.m., but voting was extended one hour until 5 p.m. local time. Results are constitutionally required to be announced in 48 hours.

In the morning, impatient crowds gathered outside polling stations expressing concerns over the delays. Umaru Mutyaba, a polling agent for a parliamentary candidate, said it was “frustrating” to be waiting outside a station in the capital Kampala.

“We can’t be standing here waiting to vote as if we have nothing else to do," he said.

Wine, the candidate, alleged electoral fraud, noting that biometric voter identification machines were not working at polling places and claiming that there was “ballot stuffing.”

Wine wrote in a post on X that his party's leaders had been arrested. “Many of our polling agents and supervisors abducted, and others chased off polling stations,” the post said.

Museveni told journalists he was notified that biometric machines weren't working at some stations and that he supported the electoral body's decision to revert to paper registration records. He did not comment on allegations of fraud.

Ssemujju Nganda, a prominent opposition figure and lawmaker seeking reelection in Kira municipality, told The Associated Press he had been waiting in line to vote for three hours.

Nganda said the delays likely would lead to apathy and low turnout in urban areas where the opposition has substantial support. "It’s going to be chaos,” he said.

Nicholas Sengoba, an independent analyst and newspaper columnist, said delays to the start of voting in urban, opposition areas favored the ruling party.

Emmanuel Tusiime, a young man who was among dozens prevented from entering a polling station in Kampala past closing time said the officials had prevented him from participating.

“My vote has not been counted, and, as you can see, I am not alone," he said he was left feeling “very disappointed.”

Uganda has not witnessed a peaceful transfer of presidential power since independence from British colonial rule six decades ago.

Museveni has served the third-longest term of any African leader and is seeking to extend his rule into a fifth decade. The aging president’s authority has become increasingly dependent on the military led by his son, Muhoozi Kainerugaba.

Museveni and Wine are reprising their rivalry from the previous election in 2021, when Wine appealed to mostly young people in urban areas. With voter turnout of 59%, Wine secured 35% of the ballots against Museveni’s 58%, the president’s smallest vote share since his first electoral campaign three decades ago.

The lead-up to Thursday's election produced concerns about transparency, the possibility of hereditary rule, military interference and possible vote tampering.

Uganda's internet was shut down Tuesday by the government communications agency, which cited misinformation, electoral fraud and incitement of violence. The shutdown has affected the public and disrupted critical sectors such as banking.

There has been heavy security leading up to voting, including military units deployed on the streets this week.

Amnesty International said security forces are engaging in a “brutal campaign of repression,” citing a Nov. 28 opposition rally in eastern Uganda where the military blocked exits and opened fire on supporters, killing one person.

Museveni urged voters to come out in large numbers during his final rally Tuesday.

“You go and vote, anybody who tries to interfere with your freedom will be crushed. I am telling you this. We are ready to put an end to this indiscipline,” he said.

The national electoral commission chairperson, Simon Byabakama, urged tolerance among Ugandans as they vote.

“Let us keep the peace that we have,” Byabakama said late Wednesday. “Let us be civil. Let us be courteous. Let’s be tolerant. Even if you know that this person does not support (your) candidate, please give him or her room or opportunity to go and exercise his or her constitutional right."

Authorities also suspended the activities of several civic groups during the campaign season. That Group, a prominent media watchdog, closed its office Wednesday after the interior ministry alleged in a letter that the group was involved in activities “prejudicial to the security and laws of Uganda.”

Veteran opposition figure Kizza Besigye, a four-time presidential candidate, remains in prison after he was charged with treason in February 2025.

Uganda opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu, known as Bobi Wine, right, greets election observers, including former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, at his home in Magere village on the outskirts of Kampala, Uganda, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Hajarah Nalwadda)

Billboards of Uganda President and National Resistance Movement (NRM) presidential candidate Yoweri Museveni are seen in Kampala, Uganda, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Samson Otieno)

Electoral workers deliver ballot boxes to a polling station during presidential election in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Voters are reflected in a police officer's sunglasses as they wait in line after voting failed to start on time due to system failures during presidential election in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Voters wait to cast their ballots during the presidential election in Kampala, Uganda, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)