U2MedTek (UtoMedtech)
Category: AI in Healthcare
South Korean AI-powered medical device startup developing near-infrared imaging technology for rapid, radiation-free sinusitis diagnosis U2MedTek (UtoMedtech) was founded in 2017. The company is led by Yang-Seok Kim (김양석). Based in Ulsan, South Korea. Team size: 1-10. Total funding raised: ~$5.2M (₩2.5B Seed + $3.2M investment). Latest round: Seed. Key investors include Korea Development Bank (KDB), Kakao Healthcare, Korea Credit Guarantee Fund (KODIT), Hyundai Venture Investment, Smilegate Investment, UNIST Technology Holdings.
- Founded
- 2017
- Headquarters
- Ulsan, South Korea
- Team size
- 1-10
- Total funding
- ~$5.2M (₩2.5B Seed + $3.2M investment)
Value proposition
SinusView uses AI and near-infrared (NIR) light to diagnose sinusitis in 10 seconds without radiation exposure, offering a faster, safer, and more accessible alternative to CT and X-ray imaging
Products and solutions
SinusView (AI-powered NIR sinusitis diagnostic device), GlucoFit (digital blood glucose management service), parathyroid diagnostic technology (in development)
Unique value
World's first NIR-AI sinus imaging device; 10-second diagnosis with 80%+ CT correlation; zero radiation exposure; portable point-of-care form factor; addresses antibiotic overuse by enabling accurate viral vs. bacterial differentiation
Target customer
ENT clinics, primary care physicians, hospitals, and healthcare institutions; initial focus on Southeast Asian markets with limited radiology infrastructure
Industries served
Healthcare / Medical Devices / Diagnostics / Digital Health
Technology advantage
Proprietary NIR light transmittance analysis combined with AI algorithms that account for individual facial structure variations; 20 registered patents; radiation-free alternative to CT; 200,000+ cumulative clinical tests validating accuracy
How they differentiate
Only company using NIR + AI specifically for sinusitis point-of-care diagnosis; no direct competitor with same technology approach (claimed "zero competitors" in NIR-AI sinus imaging); addresses a specific gap between costly CT and low-accuracy X-ray for sinusitis
Main competitors
휴이노에임 (HuinoAim - AI clinical decision support), 티알 (TR / The Spirokit - AI lung function testing), 디앤씨바이오테크놀로지 (D&C Bio Technology - optical biosensors)
Key partnerships
KCL Medical Foundation (distribution), UNIST (R&D), LG Electronics (digital healthcare), LG Uplus (healthcare service), POSCO (employee health program), Selvas AI, LabGenomics, GenoCore, MybeneFit, Kosin University Hospital, Kakao Healthcare (medical data space project), MedTech Innovator APAC
Notable customers
KCL Medical Foundation (distribution partner), 70+ ENT clinics and hospitals in South Korea, LG Electronics (employee health programs), POSCO (employee health programs)
Major milestones
2017: Company founded, 2019: Selected for TIPS program, licensed SinusView patent from UNIST, 2020: $3.2M investment from UNIST Technology Holdings, partnership with LG Electronics, 2021: ₩2B investment (Smilegate Investment), 2024: SinusView launched, 2025: Distribution agreement with KCL Medical Foundation, 2026: MedTech Innovator APAC Korea 1st place (New Impact Korea Award), 2026: Selected for MedTech Innovator APAC 2026 Top 20 Accelerator Program, Indonesia regulatory submission, 200K+ cumulative tests, K-FDA Class II approval for SinusView, 70+ clinics deployed in Korea
Growth metrics
2023 revenue: ~₩4.3억 (~$330K); 70+ clinics deployed in Korea; 200,000+ cumulative sinusitis tests; 6 employees (May 2026); 20 patents registered
Market positioning
First-mover in AI-powered NIR sinusitis diagnostics; positioned as a cost-effective, portable alternative to CT for emerging markets; targeting antibiotic stewardship as a key value driver
Geographic focus
South Korea (home market, 70+ clinics); Indonesia (regulatory approval in progress, targeting Q3 2026); broader Southeast Asia expansion; Japan (dental oral lighting exports); global expansion via MedTech Innovator APAC network
Patents and IP
20 registered patents (as of 2025-2026); key patent licensed from UNIST (Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology) in Dec 2019 related to SinusView technology
About Yang-Seok Kim (김양석)
Ph.D. in related field; Founder & CEO of U2MedTek since 2017; UNIST-affiliated researcher; background in optical imaging and AI diagnostics
Latest news about U2MedTek (UtoMedtech)
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Official website: http://www.u2medtek.com