WhatTime Secures Seed Funding for Expansion
Deal News | Feb 26, 2025 | Aim Group
South Korea-based watch recommerce company What-Time, operated by Taming Lab, has secured seed funding from investors including Kakao Ventures, Mashup Ventures, and Seoul National University Angel Funding Club. Launched in May 2022, What-Time offers a recommerce marketplace specializing in high-end, limited-edition, and vintage watches. The platform manages the entire transaction process, from buying to reselling, and has systems in place to handle counterfeit products and provide post-sale repair services. With the newly raised funds, WhatTime plans to enhance its appraisal and repair features. Taming Lab CEO Hoyeon Yoo emphasizes the company’s commitment to addressing the lack of transparency and trust in the luxury watch market, with aspirations to scale globally.
Sectors
- Recommerce
- Luxury Goods
Geography
- South Korea – WhatTime is based in South Korea, and the funding involves South Korean investors such as Kakao Ventures.
Industry
- Recommerce – The article relates to a company involved in recommerce, which refers to the process of buying and selling pre-owned goods, specifically focused here on luxury watches.
- Luxury Goods – What-Time operates within the luxury watch market, dealing in high-end, limited-edition, and vintage watches.
Financials
- Undisclosed – Undisclosed amount of seed funding raised by What-Time.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| What-Time | Target Company | Company | A South Korean startup specializing in the recommerce of luxury watches, operated by Taming Lab. |
| Taming Lab | Operational Owner | Company | Operates What-Time, driving its strategic vision and market operations. |
| Kakao Ventures | Investor | Company | A South Korean venture capital firm that has provided seed funding for What-Time. |
| Mashup Ventures | Investor | Company | Participated in the seed funding round for What-Time, alongside other investors. |
| Seoul National University Angel Funding Club | Investor | Company | A funding entity comprising angel investors from Seoul National University, contributing to What-Time's seed round. |
| Hoyeon Yoo | CEO of Taming Lab | Person | CEO of Taming Lab, leading the strategic development of What-Time. |