Tech news picked on 2026-03-27
The Future of Climate Tech Subscription Models through the Case of Deep Renewables
- Deep Renewables, which operates the solar subscription platform 'Solaris,' was selected for the Gyeonggi-do climate tech development project.
- This approach aims to reduce the initial burden through subscription in a market where customers find it difficult to pay installation fees all at once.
- On the supply side, since they must bear the facility costs first and also pay operational expenses, it is curious whether the structure can withstand until the investment capital is recovered through subscription fees.
Battery Equipment Company Turns Toward Robotics
- KowinTech has reorganized its business from battery automation equipment to autonomous mobile robots and humanoids.
- I want to see more about how existing automation technology can be applied to semiconductor and ESS logistics rather than new robot products.
- For teams seeking manufacturing customers, it's worth considering software that can be applied directly to current processes before investing in universal robots for the distant future, and the ability to customize it to customer facilities will likely determine contract wins.
Biod Selected in a Market Where 95% of AI Drug Pilots Fail
- Biod was selected for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' 'Super Gap 1000+' program, securing up to 600 million KRW in funding.
- It is welcome news for early-stage bio teams because they can continue research without giving up equity.
- By deciding which tasks in drug development to improve and which experiments to finish before the funding runs out, the content to show to the next investor becomes much clearer.
RNAi Patent by Genolution Opens Green Bio Innovation
- Genolution has filed a patent for RNA interference technology targeting the control of pine wilt disease.
- This is an attempt to solve the issues of resistance and residual toxicity of traditional chemical pesticides by targeting specific pests.
- If a small team starts a similar business, they may focus more on narrowing targets and accumulating field data rather than expanding the pests' range initially.
- It is too early to judge from the patent filing alone whether it will be effective in actual pest control fields.
Freewill Entered 3,600 Schools First
- Freewill's solution, which operates MathFlat, has been adopted by 3,641 schools and 70 universities.
- Since it utilizes more than 16 billion grading data points for diagnostics, this is a case for edutech teams to examine how school adoption is linked to product improvement.
- The business has also expanded to universities, and if it can be confirmed that students consistently use it and achieve actual learning effects, the growth story will be even more convincing.
D.CAMP and Murata Collaboration: A New Path for Deep Tech Global Expansion
- D.CAMP and Murata Electronics Korea have agreed to cooperate in discovering domestic deep tech startups and supporting their overseas expansion.
- This offers hardware startup teams a chance to simultaneously validate their products before mass production and secure overseas customers.
- The key issue is whether after conducting demonstrations with large corporations, actual deliveries will follow.
- If the department responsible for the demonstration can connect to the purchasing managers, the reasons for participation will become much clearer.
YC W26 Innovation: Humanoids and Behavior Control AI
- Teams showcasing humanoid robot training and doomscrolling prevention services attracted attention at YC W26 Demo Day.
- Even if cheap tools enable quick launches, competing teams can also use the same tools.
- For robot teams, we will start by assessing whether they can continuously collect data from real work sites; for wellness app teams, whether they address problems that are difficult to solve using only the basic functions of operating systems.
Shield AI's Valuation Rose 140% in 14 Months
- Shield AI secured $2 billion in funding, recognizing its valuation at $12.7 billion.
- Because it participates in existing weapons systems through software, small teams considering entering the defense industry can start by developing and verifying specific modules instead of complete products.
- Even after proving the technology, separate calculations are needed for funding to sustain until winning government contracts and for handling export controls.
How to Hire Mavericks for Ultra-Fast Growth
- Bland AI secured a total of $65 million after receiving a Series B investment just 10 months after its founding.
- The company cites hiring "mavericks" as the secret to rapid growth, but there is a difference between people with strong individuality and those who can solve problems when things get complicated.
- What matters in early team hiring is not just finding standout resumes but working together to assess problem-solving ability and trust.