Korean AI startup Wrtn attracts $18.3 mil. in investments

Lee Se-young, founder and CEO of Wrtn Technologies / Courtesy of Wrtn Technologies

Wrtn Technologies, a Seoul-based AI startup, raised 25 billion won ($18.3 million) from global investors in the United States, Japan and Korea through Pre-Series B funding, the local generative AI startup said Friday.

This investment follows the 15 billion won Series A round in June last year. In total, Wrtn has raised funds to 44 billion won.

With this round of funding, Wrtn said it plans to focus intensively on the advancement of its technology.

In March, Wrtn significantly updated its AI service Wrtn, emphasizing AI search as a core feature and enhancing various aspects of its service such as AI search, user experience and user interface.

Wrtn is also accelerating its expansion into the Japanese market by launching a Japanese version of its iOS app recently.

The launch of this app marks Wrtn's full-fledged strategy to target the Japanese market. Since the beginning of last year, the company has been running a dedicated team and advisory board to systematically prepare for the Japanese expansion and established a local subsidiary in Japan last November.

"Wrtn aims to be an AI service platform, enabling users to easily and conveniently receive the help they need," Wrtn's founder and CEO Lee Se-young said. "With this funding, we will focus on developing and enhancing products and services that the era demands."