Featured in the "Companies of Interest" Section of The Korea Economic Daily.

HCLAB: Developing Lifestyle Healthcare Products Using IoT Technology.

Yule Kim Representative of HCLAB

• The HipKeeper and BackKeeper cushions, embedded with 32 FSR pressure sensors, assist in maintaining proper posture
  

• Developing the "RemKeeper" that aids in deep sleep using EMFIT sensors and vibration elements

[Korea Economic Daily Job&Joy = Reporter Jinho Lee] HCLAB is a startup that develops posture correction and sleep-related lifestyle healthcare products using Internet of Things (IoT) technology. Representative Yule Kim founded the company in August 2019.

Representative Kim stated, "HCLAB stands for 'Human Care Laboratory. HCLAB is a company created with the goal of providing services that enhance human health."

HCLAB's first products are the functional cushions HipKeeper and BackKeeper, each incorporating IoT technology into a seat cushion and a backrest cushion, respectively. The products consist of a memory foam cushion (hardware) that helps maintain correct posture and an application (software) that provides customized content based on the user's back pain area.

The products are equipped with 32 FSR pressure sensors. These sensors check the user's sitting time, seating posture, movements, and habits. If the posture is poor or strains the pelvis or back, the product detects this and sends a posture correction signal through slight vibrations. Moreover, the product can measure not only the user's front, back, left, and right postures but also detailed postures like crossed legs. The sensors collect user data in real time and transmit it to a mobile app via Bluetooth. Users can obtain personalized posture correction information through this app.

HCLAB is currently developing a new product, "RemKeeper," that aids in sleep and waking up. RemKeeper collects data on breathing and heart rate during sleep using EMFIT sensors and vibration elements. It is designed to assist in both deep sleep and waking up.

"Unlike existing sleep IoT products that merely track and display sleep data, HCLAB's biggest distinction is in providing practical help for deep sleep and waking up. It is not in the form of a bed or mattress, but rather in a strap form that is expandable and easy to move, also offering competitive pricing." After the product launch, Representative Kim plans to conduct marketing based on the customer base secured through the posture correction products.

How did Representative Kim start his business? "I started the business with a project item from the lab during my undergraduate studies. As it is an IoT manufacturing business, a significant amount of funding was required in the early stages of the business, which was supported through university and government grants. Given the use of IoT technology, extensive communication was necessary with specialists in both hardware and software fields, as well as with partner companies."

After starting the business, Representative Kim said, "I feel rewarded when I receive feedback that customers have improved their lives by using our products."

HCLAB is comprised of a team of masters and PhDs from KAIST. Regarding future plans, Representative Kim said, "We are preparing a SaaS platform that not only serves as a hub for our own IoT products but also for other companies' healthcare devices."

HCLAB was selected for the Kwangwoon University Campus Town project, recognizing its business potential. The Campus Town project is a collaboration between universities and local areas to support the economic revitalization of areas near universities. Campus Town resident companies receive benefits such as lease cost support for facilities, free use of shared office equipment, partial support for utility and facility operation costs, and are assigned dedicated office spaces or co-working spaces considering their needs and characteristics, along with various entrepreneurship support programs.

Establishment Year: August 2019

Main Business: Healthcare·IoT manufacturing, software development, and supply

Achievements: Launch of HipKeeper Original·Pro in 2020, ICT technology venture company certification in 2020, Seed investment attraction in 2021, launch of BackKeeper Original·Pro in 2022, preparation for the establishment of a U.S. corporation, and preparation for the launch of RemKeeper Pro in 2023.

Web: https://magazine.hankyung.com/job-joy/article/202310062105d