South Korea’s game major Nexon has become the largest shareholder in methinks, a virtual remote research platform based in Silicon Valley, U.S. to enhance user-friendly contents.

According to the investment banking industry, Nexon has acquired a controlling stake including the founder’s share for 15 billion won ($11.54 million).

methinks, founded by Yun Jeong-seob, former chief executive officer of NHN (presently, Naver) USA, is a platform arranging video research for companies to tap their responses to new services and products. Through live interviews on its platform, businesses can respond faster to consumer needs, while target interviewees can receive financial rewards of around $20.

methinks, commanding more than 400,000 so-called thinkers, the panelists for corporate surveys, provides customizable research packages to domestic firms such as Samsung, LG, and NCSoft, and international firms, including Verizon, MZ, and VEVO. VEVO increased sales by 40 times through its promotion customized based on focused interviews and responses through methinks’ platform.

Since its foundation, methinks has received funding from various investment firms, including KB Investment and IMM Investment. It also gained investments from individual investors such as Kim Beom-soo, Kakao’s founder and chairman, Kim Jeong-ho, co-founder of Naver, and Moon Tae-sik, co-founder of NHN.

Nexon is said to have decided to acquire the research startup upon satisfaction from its service.

By Kang Doo-soon, Park Chang-young, and Jenny Lee

[ⓒ Pulse by Maeil Business Newspaper & mk.co.kr, All rights reserved]