From MICE transport specialist to B2B mobility platform developer

GroundK originally started as a tourism and MICE company handling protocol and transportation for MICE participants. It later expanded its scope by becoming a Korean partner for global chauffeur service companies, and repositioned itself as a developer of mobility platforms for transport operators. Even as COVID-19 reduced revenues, the company continued to focus on R&D to turn the crisis into opportunity. In addition, GroundK provides membership loyalty programme services for domestic and international corporate clients.

T-RiseUp: a cloud-based asset-management system for transport operators

GroundK develops and operates T-RiseUp, a cloud-based mobility asset-management system (Property Management System) designed to strengthen the digital capabilities of transport operators and grow their businesses. It serves customers who require chauffeured vehicles, as well as enterprises and organisations that need fleet operations management. T-RiseUp efficiently manages a transport operator's core assets — clients, reservations, vehicles, and drivers — through cloud technology. Transport industry professionals can use T-RiseUp to unify communication channels and digitalise operations, enabling them to deliver better service to customers, reduce costs, confirm all information accurately in real time, and achieve quality control and efficient resource utilisation.

Investment driven by business model and market potential

This investment round was made swiftly on the back of high industry recognition for T-RiseUp's business model and capabilities. A representative from the investing parties — K-Bridge Investment and the Korea Credit Guarantee Fund's Investment Finance Centre — stated: "GroundK possesses Korea's only B2B mobility-specialised system, built on extensive experience and know-how in transport services. We invested because it can strengthen public competitiveness through the digital transformation of transport operators who still rely on analogue tools, and because significant growth is expected in the process of building a supplier network." They added: "We also look forward to its expansion into global markets beyond Korea."

CEO Jang Dong-won commented: "With this investment, we plan to focus on the stable market entry and activation of T-RiseUp. GroundK's ultimate goal is to become a trusted partner for transport operators — and to grow into a global company in the MICE and corporate solutions sector through our mobility platform."

Recognised for technology excellence across multiple programmes

Selected for Korea's National Innovative Companies 1000 in May 2021, GroundK has had its capabilities verified through numerous technology-based programmes on the strength of its core mobility platform technology, including the SW High-Growth Club 200, the Start-up Leap Package Innovation Growth Platform, the SME Technology Innovation Development Project (market-responsive category), and the Tourism Venture Enterprise designation.

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