DataAlliance
Category: AI Infrastructure
A distributed GPU sharing economy platform (GCUBE) that aggregates and monetizes idle computing resources from various sources to provide affordable high-performance AI infrastructure. DataAlliance was founded in 2016. The company is led by Kwang-beom Lee. Based in Seoul, South Korea. Team size: 20-50. Total funding raised: $2.2M+. Latest round: Pre-Series A. Key investors include TS Investment, Naver Cloud.
- Founded
- 2016
- Headquarters
- Seoul, South Korea
- Team size
- 20-50
- Total funding
- $2.2M+
Value proposition
Reduces AI training and inference costs by up to 90% versus hyperscale cloud providers by aggregating idle GPUs into a secure, containerized distributed environment (gcube).
Products and solutions
GCUBE: Distributed GPU sharing and rental platform, Smart City AIoT: Edge AI infrastructure for urban monitoring and safety, Sharing Economy ICT Platform: Blockchain-based resource tracking and reward system, Edge-AIoT Platform: Integrated network infrastructure for localized AI processing
Unique value
Implements a true 'sharing economy' for AI hardware by crowdsourcing idle GPUs from disparate sources like PC rooms, households, and enterprises into a unified cloud-like resource.
Target customer
AI startups and independent developers seeking cost-effective compute, PC room owners and enterprises with underutilized GPU hardware, and smart city planning authorities.
Industries served
Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Smart City & Urban Infrastructure, Internet of Things (IoT)
Technology advantage
Utilizes proprietary virtualization and containerization technology to eliminate security vulnerabilities (such as those found in standard Windows WSL) typically associated with shared hardware, ensuring enterprise-grade data privacy.
How they differentiate
DataAlliance differentiates via gcube, which crowdsources idle GPUs from PC rooms, households, enterprises, and partner clouds into a unified distributed network, with proprietary virtualization/containerization for enterprise-grade security on shared hardware—claiming up to 90% lower AI compute costs than hyperscalers, plus multi-country patents on resource allocation/reward systems.
Main competitors
Vast.ai, Salad.com, Moreh, Akash Network
Key partnerships
Naver Cloud: Strategic partner / Open Innovation and GPU resource scaling, FPT Smart Cloud (Vietnam): MOU for joint GPU AI infrastructure and Asia market expansion (Nov 2025), Sungkyunkwan University: MOU for GPU server infrastructure sharing and AI research/talent (Apr 2026), Bucheon City: Smart City Challenge / urban AIoT projects, South Korean Government (MOLIT/MSIT/MSS): R&D and DIPS Super-Gap Startup support, ETRI / Korea Automotive Research Institute: AI infrastructure and GPU cluster collaboration (reported 2026)
Notable customers
Toonsquare (AI content creation), Bucheon City (Smart City projects), FPT Smart Cloud (Vietnam partner), Naver Cloud (Strategic partner)
Major milestones
Launched gcube as Korea's first distributed GPU sharing platform (closed beta/partnership with Naver Cloud Aug 2024; commercial expansion 2025), Secured strategic investment and Open Innovation partnership with Naver Cloud (Aug 2024), Signed MOU with Vietnam FPT Smart Cloud for Asia GPU infrastructure (Nov 2025), Won CES 2026 Innovation Award in Artificial Intelligence for gcube (announced Nov 2025), Secured 3B KRW ($2.2M) Pre-A from TS Investment (late 2025; announced Jan 2026), WIS 2026: exhibited gcube; Grand Prize at New Technology/New Product presentation (Apr 2026), MOU with Sungkyunkwan University for GPU resource sharing and AI research (Apr 2026), Selected for Ministry of SMEs and Startups DIPS Super-Gap Startup Project – AI track (Jun 2026)
Growth metrics
Commercial gcube operations post-2025; VentureSquare reports cumulative sales ~2.75B KRW after Seoul Startup Hub Seongsu move; Edaily (Feb 2026) cites ~50,000 GPUs secured via partners (Naver/AWS/FPT etc.); ~28 employees (THE VC, Jun 2026); DIPS Super-Gap selection Jun 2026; planning Series A H2 2026 for US expansion.
Market positioning
Leading 'sharing economy' AI infrastructure provider in South Korea, bridging the gap between high GPU demand and underutilized consumer/enterprise hardware.
Geographic focus
South Korea (HQ), Vietnam (via FPT partnership), and North America (target market).
Patents and IP
Holds core patents for transparent data recording and reward systems that facilitate fair compensation for computing resource providers.
About Kwang-beom Lee
Serial entrepreneur: co-founded listed robotics firm Robotis and connected-car startup Ubridge before founding DataAlliance in 2016. First-generation Korean IoT expert; former Chairperson of OCF (Open Connectivity Foundation) Korea Forum; background in ICT sharing-economy models and smart-city/AIoT infrastructure before pivoting DataAlliance to distributed GPU cloud (gcube).
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Official website: https://www.data-alliance.com/