Amipharm, a developer of injectable treatments for localized fat reduction, has raised 20.5 billion won ($14.7 million) in a pre-IPO round, according to venture investment data platform TheVC on the 16th. The amount exceeded its original 15 billion won target by 5.5 billion won. The National Growth Fund, managed by Korea Investment Value Asset Management, invested 5 billion won, with NH NongHyup Bank, Magna Investment, Hyundai Technology Investment, IBK Capital, Daishin Securities and Hyundai Investment Partners also participating.
Amipharm is developing AYP-101, an injectable that uses soybean phosphatidylcholine (SPC) as its main ingredient to induce apoptosis in fat cells and break down fat. The company completed domestic Phase 1, 2 and 3 trials and applied for marketing approval with the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in May, where the application is under review.
Amipharm will use the proceeds to secure approval for AYP-101, launch the product and build production capacity. It also plans to expand indications to conditions such as cellulite and to pursue next-generation fat-reduction injections and global clinical development. The company is undergoing a technology assessment for a special listing track and aims to list on the KOSDAQ in the first half of 2027.
Robot Sensor Startup Aidin Robotics Raises 16 Billion Won
Aidin Robotics, a robot sensor startup, has raised a combined 16 billion won from HD Hyundai Robotics and Samsung Venture Investment. HD Hyundai Robotics invested 13 billion won and Samsung Venture Investment 3 billion won. Aidin Robotics previously raised 4.5 billion won in a Series A round in 2022 and 15 billion won in a Series B round in 2024.
Founded in 2019, Aidin Robotics develops and manufactures sensor solutions that allow robots to detect force and touch with precision. Its flagship product is a six-axis force-torque sensor that measures the force and rotational power required for robot movement. The company exports to 10 countries including Germany, France, Spain, China and Japan.
With the investment, Aidin Robotics will work with HD Hyundai Robotics to develop robot products combining force and tactile sensors with control technology. It plans to develop a five-fingered robotic hand tailored to shipbuilding and heavy industry work for use in humanoid robots, as well as solutions to automate surface treatment tasks such as polishing and grinding.
AI Speech Rehabilitation Firm Golden Brain Care Secures Seed Funding
Golden Brain Care, a company developing artificial intelligence-based speech rehabilitation solutions, has secured seed funding from Series Ventures. The amount was not disclosed. Founded in 2026, Golden Brain Care is developing Brain Friends, an AI speech rehabilitation platform for patients who have difficulty communicating due to neurological conditions such as stroke, brain injury and dementia.
Brain Friends is a rehabilitation management service that covers everything from language function assessment to customized rehabilitation training, performance data analysis and caregiver reports. It uses AI to quantitatively analyze patients' speech, facial movements and response data, and applies on-device AI technology to process sensitive voice and video information on the device itself.
Golden Brain Care has released a minimum viable product (MVP) of Brain Friends and is conducting field testing. The company plans to verify its business model in the public voucher and institutional software-as-a-service (SaaS) markets before expanding into the licensed digital therapeutics field.
