Nearthlab was founded in 2015 by a team driven to explore what lies Near the Earth. Co-founders Jay Choi (CEO) and Youngsuk Chung (CTO) — who first met in high school and graduated together from KAIST’s Department of Aerospace Engineering — started with a bold ambition: transforming facility safety inspections using AI-powered autonomous drone software. Since then, Nearthlab has integrated its flight technology into a full-stack platform, protecting lives and critical infrastructure across defense, and industrial inspection.
About Nearthlab
About Us
The Explorers of What
Lies Near the Earth
Our Story
Our Approach
We believe drones represent the next major evolution in Earth observation, carrying forward the legacy of satellites. By combining advanced computer vision and AI algorithms with cutting-edge digital twin solutions, Nearthlab converts raw physical data into fast, accurate, and actionable insights. From data collection to final decision-making, we drastically reduce time and costs while upholding a fundamental principle: the best technology must be the easiest to use.
Our Mission
Just as satellites in Low Earth Orbit opened new horizons for humanity, our mission is to capture data from an even closer perspective — Near Earth. We bring a new vantage point to the world, laying the groundwork for a safer and smarter future.
Our Vision
Protecting what matters most. We believe technological advancement should fundamentally serve people. At Nearthlab, we leverage Physical AI to safeguard what matters most: life, safety, and our shared future.
Aerial Intelligence by the Numbers
- 40+
Countries in Commercial Operation
- 100K+
Cumulative Blade Inspections
- 99.9%+
Mission Success Rate
- 126
Patent Portfolio (37 Registered · 89 Pending)
Our robust IP estate includes 126 patent filings (37 granted · 89 pending), 46 trademarks, 12 design registrations, and 7 software copyrights. We’ve secured an end-to-end patent barrier across perception, navigation, guidance, and control—creating a defensible moat across our entire autonomous flight stack.
Our Team
About 50% of Nearthlab's team are engineering experts driving AI and data science forward. We blend deep technical rigor with talent from surprisingly diverse fields—from fighter pilots and defense veterans to venture capitalists and fashion innovators. United by a shared mission, this unique cross-industry collaboration powers everything we build.
Jay Choi CEO (Co-Founder)
B.S. and M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from KAIST; formerly an industrial systems engineer at Doosan Heavy Industries. Brings hands-on experience operating large-scale, mission-critical industrial systems.
Youngseok Chung CTO (Co-Founder)
B.S. and M.S. in Aerospace Engineering from KAIST; formerly a flight control software engineer at Satrec Initiative. Brings a track record developing space-grade precision flight control software.
Company Overview
- Company Name
- Nearthlab Co., Ltd.
- CEO
- Jaehyuk Choi
- Founded
- May 14, 2015
- Headquarters
- 3F, AJ Building, 9 Jeongui-ro 8-gil, Songpa-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea (05836)
- Overseas Subsidiaries
- Nearthlab America, Inc. (USA) / Nearthlab Europe GmbH (Germany)
- General Inquiries
- T. 02-566-1574 · E. business@nearthlab.com
Company History
2026
- Won the DAPA Rapid Acquisition Program contract as part of the LIG D&A–Nearthlab consortium (June 2026)
- Approved for KOSDAQ preliminary listing review; pursuing IPO within the year
2025
- Developed XAiDEN, a swarm strike solution
- Signed a $10M mass-production contract with the UAE — the largest single export by a Korean defense drone company
- Received the $3 Million Export Tower Award
- Received the Korea Technology Grand Award (Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Award) and the 106th IR52 Jang Young-sil Award
- Became the first company in Korea to earn Excellent Drone Operator certification
- Achieved an 'A·A' technology evaluation rating (meeting KOSDAQ Technology Special Listing requirements)
- Won the US Edison Awards, an iF Design Award (Gold), and the CES Best of Innovation Award
2024
- Developed KAiDEN, a hard-kill counter-drone solution
- Won an iF Design Award (Gold) in Germany and a Red Dot Award in the Design Concept category
- Named to Fast Company's 'The World's Most Innovative Companies 2024' in the Robotics category
- Selected as a World Economic Forum (WEF) Technology Pioneer
- Selected for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups' 'Global Innovative Startups 1000+' initiative
- Won Grand Prize in the 'Killer Drone' and 'Attack Drone' categories at the 3rd Minister of National Defense Cup Dronebot Challenge
- Signed Nearthlab's first KAiDEN defense contract, with Singapore
- Received the $2 Million Export Tower Award
2023
- Named to Forbes Asia's 100 to Watch
- Selected as one of the '100 Defense Innovation Companies'
- Selected for Microsoft Accelerator’s GrowthX program at COP28, UAE
2022
- Received the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport Award for contributions to drone industry development
- Won a gold medal in the international Kaggle AI competition
- Raised Series C funding
- Named a CES 2022 Innovation Award Honoree
- Achieved AA rating as an Inno-Biz (technology-innovative SME)
- Expanded services to more than 25 countries
2021
- Received the Minister of Environment Award (Environment & Energy Grand Prize)
- Selected for the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Drone Regulatory Sandbox program
- Signed an autonomous drone inspection solution contract with GE
- Entered the European wind farm inspection market
- Established subsidiaries in Germany and the US — signed contracts with all three of the world’s largest wind turbine OEMs: Siemens, Vestas, and GE
2020
- Surpassed KRW 10 billion in cumulative funding
- Signed a contract to supply autonomous drones to SoftBank, Japan
- Entered the onshore and offshore wind farm inspection markets in the US and Taiwan
- Signed an autonomous drone inspection solution contract with Vestas
- Commercialized its autonomous wind turbine inspection solution
2019
- Demonstrated autonomous drone inspection at the Yeonggwang Wind Farm completion ceremony, attended by Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon
- Signed a mutual growth cooperation agreement with Korea East-West Power
- Named one of 'Seoul's Leading Startups' by TNW
- Achieved safety inspection coverage of more than 50% of Korea's wind farms
- Signed a contract to supply its in-house-developed autonomous drones to Siemens Gamesa
2018
- Launched an autonomous drone for wind turbine safety inspection
- Participated as the private-sector drone company in the government's Innovative Growth public-private inspection meeting
- Helped launch the Korea Drone Industry Association; raised Series A funding (surpassing KRW 3 billion cumulative)
- Delivered an invited technology presentation at NVIDIA GTC 2018
- CEO Jaehyuk Choi named an IT & Tech Power Leader by Forbes Korea
2017
- Launched industrial drone services (an AI-based autonomous drone facility safety inspection solution)
2016
- Received seed funding from Bon Angels and FuturePlay
2015
- Nearthlab founded
- Participated as an autonomous drone developer in the 'Future Growth Engine Challenge Parade,' hosted by the Minister of Science, ICT and Future Planning
Awards & Certifications
- 2023Forbes Asia '100 to Watch'
- 2024Davos Forum Technology Pioneers
- 2024Selected for Ministry of SMEs and Startups' 'Global Innovative Startups 1000+'
- 2025First in Korea to Earn Excellent Drone Operator Certification
- 2025US Edison Awards
- 2025iF Design Award (Gold)
- 2025Fast company 'Most Innovative Companies'
- 2025Korea Technology Grand Award (Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Award)
- 2025106th IR52 Jang Young-sil Award (Korea's most prestigious industrial technology award)
Certifications held: ISO 9001, ISO 27001, '100 Defense Innovation Companies,' Inno-Biz (Technology-Innovative SME) AA rating, Excellent Drone Operator certification