Tech news picked on 2026-03-04
150 Trillion Won European Research Funds, Breaking Barriers with AI
- With South Korea joining Horizon Europe as an associate member, a chance has opened to compete for research funds worth 150 trillion won.
- AI services targeting teams preparing complex English proposals have also emerged.
- If you consider a research fund application tool as a startup item, relying solely on the speed of drafting is insufficient.
- There must be a reason to pay for it, such as being able to meet the requirements and submit together with European partners.
Operating Robots from Different Manufacturers on One Screen
- Biscat received seed investment from Bluepoint Partners as a platform that integrates and operates robots from various manufacturers.
- Since engineers had to modify the code every time the process changed, this software effectively sells a way for customers to use their already purchased robots more conveniently.
- For startups, the key issue is whether they can handle different demands from each site with the same product rather than resolving them through custom development each time.
N.thing's 15.8 Billion Deal: B2B Scale-up and the Power of CVC
- N.thing has secured both an AI agriculture platform supply contract and a strategic investment from Samsung Venture Investment.
- The 15.8 billion KRW supply contract is notable because it goes beyond technology demonstration to the stage of building actual infrastructure.
- However, the burden of fulfilling such a big contract may not be easy for a small team.
- They need to focus on delivery while also being able to sell the same product to the next customer to grow with less dependence on any particular partner.
The Fusion of Religion and AI: The Power of a Niche Market
- AI startup Vivadios, targeting Christian users, has received pre-seed investment.
- Starting with repetitive activities like Bible study and prayer allows for concrete planning on where to meet customers and when they will return to use the service again.
- However, it is difficult to expect that the trust gained from faith activities will directly transfer to psychological counseling and habit management.
- Whether users will willingly follow when the service expands is a separate issue to be confirmed.
Implications of AI Autonomous Manufacturing Integrated Solution
- MTI and SMCore are unveiling an AI autonomous manufacturing solution that combines smart factory software with logistics automation equipment.
- From the customer's perspective, it means less hassle of buying software and equipment separately and trying to integrate them.
- If it's difficult to drive customer adoption with our technology alone, this could be a reference for how far to bundle offerings, and it's important to also consider who will handle installation and operation after partnership.
Biscat Secures Seed Investment, Aims to Enable Communication Between Robots
- Biscat, which integrates management of robots from various manufacturers, has received seed investment from Bluepoint Partners.
- This means they can run a business with software that enables customers to operate equipment they already use together without directly selling robots.
- The key issue is whether custom development is needed each time the number of clients increases; if the connection costs per site are not reduced, selling the platform could still resemble working like a service company.
Manufactured Unicorns: The Pitfalls of AI Startup Valuations
- Some AI startups are reportedly selling shares at different prices within the same investment round to claim unicorn valuations.
- Even if a high valuation helps with hiring and publicity, the founders must renegotiate with shareholders who invested under different terms at the next funding round.
- Founders should separate the valuation used in press releases from the actual contract terms.
- It also matters whether these terms can convince the next investors.
The AI Concentration Phenomenon and Polarization in Venture Investment
- Last month, global venture investment totaled $189 billion, with 90% concentrated in a few AI companies.
- Although there is news that the investment market has loosened, it is uncertain whether the funding will reach even my company if I increase hiring.
- For early-stage teams, rather than expecting the next funding round based on total investment amounts, it is better to focus on a narrow problem where customers currently pay and calculate how long they can survive without investment.
TwoHands' 3-Year Profit Secret: Combining AI Technology and Organizational Culture
- Logistics startup TwoHands, which operates an AI fulfillment system, has been profitable for three consecutive years.
- Since it's a business that reduces costs while maintaining delivery quality, I'm curious about how the field team and the development team work together to fix the system.
- The cause of the profit cannot be explained by AI alone, but when budgeting for automation, the time spent gathering feedback from the field and making adjustments should also be taken into account.
K-Culture Premium, a Weapon for North American Expansion
- Krit Ventures invested in Kkini and Ology Group, which operate businesses in North America.
- For consumers interested in Korean food and beauty, being a Korean brand can be the primary reason for their first purchase.
- However, if starting a business locally, it is a different matter whether the popular methods in Korea can be directly applied.
- It is worth wondering if customers who come because something is Korean are also prepared with reasons to spend money again next time.
The SaaS-ification of Hardware: The Rise of IT Circulation Platforms
- CNT Tech and SparkLabs have invested in Pierrot Company, an IT device circulation platform.
- If business devices are supplied via subscription and retrieval and redistribution are managed, companies can reduce not only initial purchase costs but also the time spent managing devices.
- From the operating team's perspective, it is curious how devices retrieved equal to the monthly subscription fee are resold or lent again.
- If inventory and retrieval become tangled, this type of business might tie up cash flow even with recurring revenues.
Busan Startups Open Door to Silicon Valley Expansion
- The Busan Center for Creative Economy and Innovation has partnered with Plug and Play to support local startups entering the US market.
- Meeting local investors and mentors is welcome, but it is the founders who must answer why American customers should use their products.
- If participating, I will spend less time refining English presentation materials and more on writing down customer hypotheses to verify locally and criteria to change the product.