Persona AI (CEO Seungjae Yoo), a provider of AICC (Artificial Intelligence Contact Center) and Edge AI services based on core AI technology, announced that it has been selected for the "2025 Preliminary Unicorn" program hosted by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups. This selection is official recognition of Persona AI's unique technological prowess and sustainable growth potential, signifying the company's establishment as a key player in the domestic and international AI industries.

Since its founding in 2017, Persona AI has proven its expertise in this field by launching Korea's first subscription-based cloud AICC in 2020. Building on this success, the company has attracted investment from SK Telecom, Hyosung Ventures, Naver Cloud, and others, bringing its total investment to approximately KRW 30 billion.

Furthermore, by enhancing its proprietary AI engine, "SONA," the company has secured a competitive edge in the globally acclaimed edge AI field. Specifically, it has developed an ultra-lightweight AI model, powered solely by the CPU (no GPU required) and capable of performing all functions without an internet connection, using proprietary technology. This model won a CES Innovation Award earlier this year.

Persona AI's lightweight AI engine can be utilized without the need for large-scale data center servers or internet connectivity, minimizing constraints in real-world usage environments and significantly increasing the popularity and practicality of AI. Designed to process all computations on-device, it improves response speed and significantly reduces the risk of hacking or information leaks by eliminating external data transmission. These characteristics provide a powerful competitive edge in everyday devices like laptops and home appliances, as well as in areas where real-time response and security are crucial, such as smart homes, autonomous vehicles, and robots.

Business performance is also growing rapidly. Persona AI recorded sales of KRW 2.4 billion in 2021, KRW 2.8 billion in 2022, KRW 9.5 billion in 2023, and KRW 10.4 billion in 2024, continuing explosive growth. Sales are projected to exceed KRW 12 billion in 2025.

With this designation as a potential unicorn, Persona AI plans to further strengthen its lightweight AI engine and solution competitiveness. It will also accelerate its domestic and international performance by providing domain-specific services to various industries, enhancing customer experience, supporting AX (AI Agent Experience), and collaborating and developing on-device hardware. Simultaneously, the company plans to expand its investment in global markets and next-generation technology development.

Yoo Seung-jae, CEO of Persona AI, said, "Being selected for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' preliminary unicorn program is a great honor. I believe it is a recognition of Persona AI's potential despite fierce competition. We will use this opportunity as a springboard to play a leading role in the global market and, with our innovative AI technology and agile planning capabilities, leap forward as a company that contributes to the development of the national AI industry and the implementation of sovereign AI."

Meanwhile, the Special Guarantee for Pre-Unicorn Startups is a program led by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups that provides up to 20 billion won in scale-up funding per company, aimed at fostering global unicorn companies. This year, a total of 79 companies applied, resulting in a competition rate of 5.3 to 1.

Intern reporter Han Areum han.areum2@joongang.co.kr

[출처:중앙일보] https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/25363673