[Maeil Business] A Startup Built by Young People Born in 1999 Becomes an AI Blue Chip

- Dalpha AI's founders are four classmates from Seoul Science High School and Seoul National University's College of Engineering
- Built custom AI agents for businesses
- Raised 13.3 billion won in their second year of founding
- Experienced their first failure as college sophomores
- Promised to "build up our skills and meet again in five years"
- 400-plus projects with 160 companies
- Moving quickly to expand overseas, including to the U.S.

"Our first venture, started together by four classmates in our sophomore year of college, ended in failure. But instead of giving up, we agreed that we'd each gain more experience and meet again in five years. The four of us reunited and re-launched in January 2023."

An artificial intelligence (AI) startup founded by four people born in 1999—who joined forces after graduating from Seoul Science High School and Seoul National University's College of Engineering—is emerging as a 'blue chip.'

Kim Do-gyun, CEO and co-founder of 'Dalpha AI,' a startup that develops custom AI agents for businesses, said in a March 9 interview with Maeil Business, "In just over two years since founding, we've carried out more than 400 AI projects with over 160 companies," adding, "We will focus on delivering even more advanced services."

Born in 1999, CEO Kim graduated from Seoul Science High School and mastered AI while double-majoring in mathematical sciences and computer science at Seoul National University. Dalpha AI was not Kim's first venture. As a college sophomore, he launched a lifestyle application (app) for university students, together with four classmates who had graduated from the same high school and attended the same university. They rented a small studio apartment near Seoul National University Station to use as an office. But they shut the business down after just a year.

Kim recalled, "After running the company for a year, I felt we lacked too much experience," adding, "We parted ways with a promise: that we'd each study more and gain more experience, and meet again in five years."

With a firm belief that 'AI will change the world,' the four spent their time building experience before reuniting in January 2023 to found Dalpha AI. Those five years turned all four co-founders into AI experts. Alongside CEO Kim, Business Lead Yoo Seon-bin, R&D Lead Myung Gi-beom, and Operations Lead Kwon Eui-jin co-founded Dalpha AI.

Dalpha AI provides integrated solutions—from business-process analysis to algorithm development—so that companies can put AI to practical use in their work. Rather than standardized solutions, its strength lies in quickly designing and implementing AI agents optimized to each individual company's needs.

Co-founder and Business Lead Yoo said, "We're achieving results in collaboration with a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, commerce, marketing, and beauty," adding, "Our strengths are that it takes just five weeks to build a custom AI agent for a company, and we can do it at 50–60% of the cost of competitors."

Kim emphasized, "With China's AI rising at a fearsome pace, the direction Korean AI companies should take is individually tailored agents," adding, "Building on our experience in Korea, we'll achieve great results in the U.S. as well."

The four co-founders are now turning their eyes overseas. They have moved to Los Angeles (LA) in the U.S. with a small team to launch their global business. Dalpha AI has first started a new AI agent venture for Amazon sellers.

Kim and Yoo were recently named together to Forbes' 'Asia 30 Under 30' list. As investors who recognized the AI blue chip rushed in, the company raised 13.3 billion won in just over two years since its founding.

Source: A Startup Built by Young People Born in 1999 Becomes an AI Blue Chip

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