ChatGPT·Gemini at once… 'All-in-One' AI Platform Sought Overseas as Well

[For more diverse corporate information on the startups mentioned in this article, you can view them on Unicorn Factory's big data platform 'Data Lab'.]

"MonoGPT is an 'all-in-one' AI platform that allows users to utilize various latest generative AI (artificial intelligence) models, from ChatGPT to Gemini, in one place."

Lee Gi-moon, CEO of the AI and edutech startup MonoFlow, introduced its core service, MonoGPT, in this manner. The strength of the service, which integrates and provides multiple AI models on a single platform, is also reflected in the company name 'MonoFlow'. Lee said, "ChatGPT excels at writing, Google's Nano Banana at image generation, Claude at coding, and Perplexity at source verification." He added, "Since each model has different performance and characteristics, users need to select the AI that best suits their purpose. MonoGPT is a service that makes this possible on a single platform."

Founded in 2022, MonoFlow is a company specializing in the integrated operation of AI and edutech subscriptions. Currently, it offers more than 25 AI models through MonoGPT alone. Lee stated, "From the user's perspective, the strength lies not only in having a wide range of choices but also in the ability to quickly experience the latest AI models with just a MonoGPT subscription, without needing to create separate accounts for each."

The impetus for Lee to conceive the generative AI subscription business model (BM) stemmed from the practical difficulties he witnessed as a reporter covering public institutional investors. Majoring in management science at KAIST, he worked as a reporter at Chosun Ilbo for 11 years after graduation. Through this experience, he learned that while the demand for cultivating AI talent and utilizing AI among schools and local governments (public institutional investors) was growing, there were significant hurdles in adopting generative AI to meet these needs.

Lee noted, "To subscribe to overseas edutech software services or AI services, payment must be made in dollars, and prices can fluctuate due to exchange rate changes, requiring managers to submit separate reports each time they make a payment." He added, "Furthermore, it is cumbersome for institutional investors to create individual accounts for each employee and manage authentication and usage status."

Lee pondered how to solve these issues and teamed up with two developer friends who majored in AI-related fields to found MonoFlow. The first service they launched was a purchasing agency service called 'MonoPRO' (MonoPro).

Initially, MonoFlow pioneered the B2G and B2B markets by introducing and operating overseas subscription-based AI and SaaS (Software as a Service) on behalf of schools and public institutional investors through MonoPRO. Later, recognizing the need for an integrated AI platform optimized for institutional investor environments beyond simple purchasing agency services, they launched their own developed service, 'MonoGPT,' in 2024.

MonoGPT is a multi-AI platform that allows institutional investors to utilize multiple generative AI models, such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity, all on one screen with just a single subscription. Users can simply choose from over 25 types of generative AI models as needed.

Especially, its strength lies in the added security and control features. Lee emphasized, "MonoGPT is not merely a service that aggregates various AI models; it is designed so that institutional investors can use it with peace of mind." He further added, "In particular, for public institutional investors, it is crucial that sensitive information does not transfer to overseas servers. When requested by an institutional investor, we provide functions to block and mask users' personal and confidential information."

It also provides customized environments for each institutional investor. For example, educational institutions are additionally provided with input/output filtering functions to prevent harmful content from being exposed to students. Another distinctive feature is the credit-based recharge system rather than an account-based one. Instead of purchasing expensive individual accounts where only some personnel use them as in the past, institutional investors recharge a certain amount of credits and distribute them among their members. This allows more people within the budget to use AI. Additionally, managers can monitor usage by user and department, as well as model utilization status, in real-time via a monitoring dashboard.

Lee stated, "From the administrator account, credits can be allocated or reclaimed for specific users." He explained, "For instance, if a specific department within a company uses AI more heavily, the account administrator can allocate more credits to that department."

Thanks to various strengths such as providing security and control functions, MonoFlow has currently secured over 7,500 customers, including public and educational institutions and companies nationwide. Revenue is growing rapidly, improving by more than double each year, and operating profit has maintained a consistent profitable trend from 2023 to the present.

External support also played a significant role in this process. Last year, MonoFlow was selected for the Early Startup Package Support Project operated by Gwangju Creative Economy Innovation Center (hereinafter Gwangju Changgyeong).

Lee said, "Gwangju Changgyeong did not simply provide business funds but also offered extensive support including mentor connections and marketing assistance." He added, "When we conducted surveys targeting corporate clients to enhance our service, they supported us in drafting questions and conducting the survey, which was a great help." Through this, early-stage startups received significant assistance in understanding market demands and setting business directions more precisely.

Responses are also beginning to emerge overseas. Recently, MonoFlow signed a supply contract for 'MonoGPT' with a webtoon production company in Singapore, securing its first overseas customer. Taking this as an opportunity, MonoFlow is exploring the possibility of expanding overseas, focusing on the Asian market.

Lee stated, "In the future, we will spread MonoGPT, which has strong security tailored for institutional investors, enabling companies and public institutions to use generative AI more easily. In the long term, we aim to expand into global markets and leapfrog as a global AI all-in-one platform."

[MoneyToday Startup Media Platform Unicorn Factory]