Cloto
Category: AI in Government / Public Sector
AI-powered GovTech SaaS platform for government project cost management, research administration, and startup operational support Cloto was founded in 2023. The company is led by Lee Hyun-seok (이현석). Based in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Team size: 11-50. Latest round: Seed.
- Founded
- 2023
- Headquarters
- Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
- Team size
- 11-50
Value proposition
Cloto operates Hello Unicorn, an AI-powered research administration and project cost management SaaS that automates government grant execution, labor cost calculation, error detection, and compliance management for startups and SMEs, reducing administrative burden by up to 75%.
Products and solutions
Hello Unicorn (GovTech SaaS for government project cost execution, RCMS/IRIS integration, labor cost calculation rate calculator, project cost error detection engine, business data analytics, Growth Partner matching); Seemple (on-demand Q&A information trading community app)
Unique value
AI-driven pre-execution error detection for government project costs — catches calculation errors, compliance risks, and settlement issues BEFORE submission to RCMS/IRIS systems, reducing clawback and penalty risks for startups
Target customer
Startups and SMEs in South Korea that receive government-supported projects and R&D grants (TIPS, K-Startup, etc.), as well as accelerators, VC firms, and government agencies
Industries served
Government Technology (GovTech), Startup Operations, Research Administration, SME Support
Technology advantage
Proprietary business data analysis algorithms combined with sLLM (Small Large Language Model) for real-time analysis; accumulated 40,000+ government project execution cases and 3,000+ client companies' operational data; AI-powered project cost error detection engine with pre-execution validation
How they differentiate
Unlike traditional manual/Excel-based management or fragmented government systems, Cloto provides an integrated AI-powered SaaS that automates the entire lifecycle — from pre-execution error checking to post-settlement compliance — with real-time analytics, Growth Partner matching, and a cumulative database of 40,000+ execution cases
Main competitors
Traditional government project cost management (Excel/manual); RCMS/IRIS government systems; Other GovTech administrative service providers
Key partnerships
CNT Tech (TIPS operator); Draper Startup House Korea; Toss Payments; Suncheon National University (AI/AIX industry-academia collaboration); Sc모트 (Sc모트); EasyTask; 세무특공대 (Tax Special Forces); Kangwon National University Technology Holding Company
Notable customers
3,000+ startups and SMEs using Hello Unicorn; TIPS program companies; Kangwon National University Technology Holding Company; partnerships with 12+ AC/VC firms as official operating partners
Major milestones
Founded May 2023; BEP reached within 2 months; 2024 H1 revenue grew 280% YoY; Selected for OpenData X AI Challenge by Ministry of SMEs and Startups (2025); Won Excellence Award at 2025 GovTech Startup Competition; Selected for Gwangju AI Voucher Program; Launched labor cost calculation rate calculator (May 2026); Announced AI operations transformation (2026)
Growth metrics
Revenue: ~₩730M (2025), ~₩602M (2024), ~₩295M (2023); 280% revenue growth in H1 2024 vs prior year; 3,000+ cumulative client companies; 40,000+ government project execution cases; 12 employees (2026); BEP reached within 2 months of founding
Market positioning
South Korea's leading GovTech platform for startup and SME government project cost management, positioning itself as an "AI Operating OS" that evolves from simple administrative outsourcing to a comprehensive business intelligence and risk prediction platform
Geographic focus
South Korea (primary); expanding to Japan (preparing since May 2024, planned visit June 2025), with future plans for Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore
About Lee Hyun-seok (이현석)
Serial entrepreneur; previously failed startup experience; graduated from Gangwon Creative Economy Innovation Center's Re:Born program as top company; appointed as mentor for 2024 Re:Born Mentor Group 2
Official website: https://hellounicorn.site/