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Deep-tech companies lead new startup class
Orange Planet, the startup foundation backed by South Korean game developer Smilegate, announced on the 16th that it selected 12 companies for its second-half 2026 program.
The startups were chosen through document reviews, in-depth interviews and presentations. Eight will join Orange Garden, which supports prospective founders and early-stage businesses, while four more established companies will enter the scale-up-focused Orange Farm program.
Orange Planet said it introduced priority sectors reflecting global venture investment trends. The selected companies work in areas including digital health care, personalized medicine, humanoid robots, physical AI and data center energy efficiency.
Medical, robotics and AI products
Health care startups include Vbody, whose Neurobody Engine and V-Scanner use AI to reconstruct and analyze the human body in 3D, and Evom AI, which is developing AI infrastructure for the early diagnosis of heart disease. Persly is building an AI agent trained on medical records to support critically ill patients, while Dadadoc Healthcare is developing an AI-powered pediatric telemedicine platform that connects with medical devices.
Secore Robotics’ Real3D Gym helps robots recognize three-dimensional spaces using video. Daedal Games is developing COGGS, an engine that automatically generates games from prompts, while StealCut offers technology designed to detect AI-generated content and defend against deepfakes.
The remaining companies include Sterry, which operates the creator fan-event platform Waruru; Sleebiz, whose Sellerbiz platform brokers e-commerce business sales and transfers; Aristo Intelligence, developer of the AI-agent memory and context-sharing service Membase; Cheongbang Korea, which uses bee-derived ingredients for its bee:nuvo K-beauty and wellness brand; and Harper, an AI career agent that matches workers with new jobs through conversation.
Workspace, mentoring and potential investment
Selected teams can receive up to one year of free office space at Orange Planet’s Gangnam center in Seoul. The program also provides stage-specific expert guidance, one-on-one mentoring and networking with experienced founders and alumni companies.
Smilegate Investment, the foundation’s investment partner, will give priority consideration to early-stage investments of up to 500 million won per team. Orange Planet also plans to connect eligible startups with TIPS, a South Korean government program that supports technology startups selected through private-sector investment.
Orange Planet Center Director Seo Sang-bong said the foundation focused on identifying promising companies across deep-tech fields including medicine, robotics and AI. He said the goal is to help technically capable startups refine their businesses and develop into global unicorns.
More than 450 startups supported
Orange Planet has identified and supported more than 450 startups over the past 12 years. Its alumni companies have a combined valuation exceeding 4.08 trillion won.
In the program’s previous first-half recruitment round, 458 companies applied, producing an average competition rate of 25 applicants for each available place. AI, robotics and other deep-tech businesses also accounted for many of those applicants.
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