Leesol Selected as a “Baby Unicorn” in Korea’s 2025 Government Startup Program

Healthcare startup Leesol announced on the 28th that it has been officially selected for the Korean Ministry of SMEs and Startups’ “2025 Baby Unicorn Program.”

Leesol was recognized for both its growth potential and technological competitiveness, based on its AI-powered electroceutical technology combined with personalized neurofeedback solutions for mental healthcare.

A total of 217 startups applied for the program this year, and 50 companies were ultimately selected, representing a competition ratio of approximately 4.3 to 1. Companies selected for the program are referred to as “Baby Unicorns,” meaning startups with strong potential to grow into unicorn companies (with valuations exceeding KRW 1 trillion).

The Baby Unicorn Program is one of the Korean government’s flagship scale-up initiatives designed to discover and nurture promising startups with strong technology and growth potential.

Selected companies receive a wide range of tailored support, including:

• Up to KRW 300 million in market expansion funding

• Up to KRW 5 billion in special guarantees from the Korea Technology Finance Corporation

• Global consulting and investor relations (IR) support

• Overseas expansion programs
  

Since its founding in 2017, Leesol has been pioneering the mental healthcare market through its Sleepisol wearable device series, which integrates microcurrent-based neuromodulation technology with AI-powered biometric signal analysis algorithms.

Its flagship product Sleepisol is designed to stimulate the release of sleep-related neurotransmitters such as serotonin, melatonin, and GABA, helping improve sleep disorders and potentially contributing to dementia prevention.

The product is currently sold in Korea, Japan, and the United States, and has passed safety standards established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) following clinical studies conducted at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital.

Koo-sung Kwon, Co-CEO of Leesol, commented:

“Being selected as a Baby Unicorn is meaningful because it officially recognizes the technological capabilities and clinical data Leesol has accumulated in the innovative field of brain health. We will continue to grow as a digital electroceutical company leading the global healthcare market.”

Leesol was previously selected for the Deep Tech TIPS program through a recommendation from New Paradigm Investment, an official TIPS program operator under the Ministry of SMEs and Startups.

Source: Maeil Business Newspaper (MK)
https://www.mk.co.kr/news/it/11328969