Actnova, a South Korean startup specializing in AI SaaS solutions, has secured 3.3 billion won in pre-Series A funding. The company has developed ‘Actverse,’ which is the industry’s first AI SaaS solution for animal behavior testing.
This investment, led by Hana Ventures with participation from A Ventures and Fast Ventures, follows Actnova’s previous securing of 500 million won in seed investment from Kakao Ventures after winning the CES Innovation Award in 2022.
Actnova analyzes behavioral symptom tests primarily conducted on animal models for drug development targeting brain diseases such as dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Through the use of machine learning technology, Actnova quantifies complex behaviors previously unquantifiable with existing products, introducing automated solutions that streamline the symptom diagnosis process, previously reliant on visual recording.
This investment was primarily spurred by Actnova’s overseas expansion efforts, including collaborations with MIT and the Broad Institute, as well as its proven track record of supplying to major domestic companies and launching new SaaS products, which attracted significant interest from international customers.
In the past year, Actnova established business agreements with the Korea Brain Research Institute and Daegu Medivalley. It also collaborated with South Korea’s Ministry of Food and Drug Safety to analyze addictive behaviors linked to new illicit substances.
Actnova plans to utilize this investment to lay the groundwork for the global operation of Actverse. Actnova CEO Kim Dae-gun stated in a release on Feb. 7, “Through this investment, we aim to become another global startup within the domestic bio industry.”
