Nurien Software, a Korean developer of social networking and online gaming services, has announced this week a Series A round of funding of $15 million. Investors in the startup comprise a mixture of VC firms from eastern and western reaches, including Northern Light Venture Capital, Globespan Capital Partners, New Enterprise Associates, and QiMing Venture Partners. The company plans for an official launch of its platform and offerings in both its home state and China by the end of 2008, followed by a US debut in early 2009. According to Nurien, the infusion will be used to hasten its launches later this year, the process of which begins this month in closed-beta form in Korea only.
The focus of the company is one of virtual social interaction and gameplay, a la Second Life. Users of its services will be able to do all the standard stuff of creating avatars and interacting with fellow participatants. They will also be given access to a games whose titles include: "MStar", a dance-based development; "Runway", which is centered on fashion; and "QuizStar", a so-called “casual online game.”