Korea’s vision AI startup Superb AI eyes IPO in H1, 2026

South Korea’s promising vision AI platform developer Superb AI Inc., which has recently added generative AI to its business portfolio, is seeking to go public in the first half of 2026, the company announced on Thursday.

It said Samsung Securities Co. has been chosen as the lead underwriter of its initial public offering in two years.  

Founded in 2018 by Kim Hyunsoo, Superb AI offers a comprehensive, one-stop computer vision AI platform, which simplifies the process of dataset curation, management, model training, diagnostics and deployment, according to the startup.

Vision AI enables computers to interpret and analyze visual data and derive meaningful information from digital images, videos and other visual inputs.

Superb AI said its program is versatile, powering various fields ranging from autonomous driving and augmented reality/virtual reality to security, construction and manufacturing sectors with advanced AI.

The company hopes to secure enough ammunition for its long-term growth through an upcoming IPO, its co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Kim said on Thursday.

EXTRA FUNDING BEFORE AN IPO

Before the planned IPO, Superb AI is also seeking to raise additional funds to recruit global talent who can reinforce its research & development capability for vision AI.

“We will add more experts with various skills and knowledge with fresh funds to be raised this year to upgrade our technology,” said Kim.

Superb AI has raised a total of $27.6 million in funding through four rounds since its inception, according to Crunchbase. Its lastest Series B round was completed in September 2022 with a fund of $16 million.

Duke University and KT&G Corp. joined the last funding round as new backers. Other investors include Premier Partners, Korea Development Bank and Stonebridge Ventures.

Superb AI has joined a generative AI race by adding the much-hyped AI technology to its business portfolio.

It is also working with Korean fabless AI chip startup Rebellions Inc. to develop an edge AI-based AI model for customers reluctant to use the software as a service (SaaS) program for security reasons.

Superb AI has a global headquarters in San Francisco, CA, and also runs offices in Seoul and Tokyo.

Write to Joo-Wan Kim at kjwan@hankyung.com


Sookyung Seo edited this article.