[For more diverse corporate information on the startup featured in this article, please visit the Unicorn Factory big data platform 'Data Lab'.]
Anyone who has tried creating images or videos using generative AI (artificial intelligence) has likely experienced the frustration of the AI failing to properly render a desired scene. Repeatedly modifying prompts and regenerating content increases not only time but also costs. The AI introduced to improve work efficiency ends up creating new tasks instead. In team-based work, such inefficiencies can be doubled.
Use 30-plus AI models affordably in one place
Koo Ju-won, CEO of Elba, identified the root cause of these problems as AI not receiving sufficient "context," meaning the user's intent and the background of the task. He explained that even if team members share work goals and backgrounds, AI must understand the situation and perform tasks based solely on a few prompts and attached files, often resulting in outputs that differ from the original planning intent or context.
Koo (CEO) began developing "Youvico," an AI-based content creation workflow platform, to solve these problems, officially launching it last April. Koo (CEO) is also a 13-year veteran YouTuber. He started YouTube as a hobby in high school, and Elba currently operates 15 channels with a total of 3 million subscribers. Motivated by the inconveniences felt through numerous video production experiences, he launched the development of Youvico in 2024.
Youvico brings content production into a single workspace. It is a platform that supports AI in understanding and producing results based on materials and conversational context accumulated during a project, allowing team members to upload documents such as PDFs, PPTs, videos, and images, and exchange opinions. In particular, it enables the use of over 30 AI models in one space, minimizing work time. Koo (CEO) stated, "Currently, even when creating a single video, we plan with Claude, create images with ChatGPT, produce the video with KingAI, and process the voice with ElevenLabs, combining outputs from multiple AIs," adding, "The ability to perform such tasks in a single space is Youvico's strength."
In addition to convenience, it offers price competitiveness. Using Youvico eliminates the need to individually subscribe to multiple AI services. Elba has signed API supply contracts with global companies to procure generative AI at low prices and provide the service. It is explained that cost reduction effects of up to 80% can be achieved for professional editors. In particular, instead of prepaying for large volumes of API costs, the company established a post-payment structure where it pays costs after receiving fees from customers, reducing the burden on working capital as users increase.
Since launching its service last April, Youvico has secured over 4,800 users without special marketing, approximately 70% of whom are overseas users. This is due to supporting around 10 languages, including English, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and Spanish, with global expansion in mind from the early stages of the service. Koo (CEO) said, "Overseas users have come in because AI recommended Youvico," adding, "It means that even to AI, its performance and efficiency are excellent."
"Goal: Leap as a SW/platform sold overseas"
Elba has secured a "cash cow" (source of cash generation) through in-house and commissioned content production. Its major currently operating YouTube channels include "Just One Minute" (1.15 million subscribers), "Knowledge Story" (670,000), "Just One Minute Japan Edition" (590,000), and "Hell Training TV" (490,000). In addition, Elba manages YouTube channels for major defense and financial corporations or produces promotional content. Dino Lab's help was significant in Elba signing contracts with major large enterprises. It is explained that the know-how accumulated while operating Dino Lab's YouTube influenced collaborations with other large enterprises.
Koo (CEO) aims to transform into a global software and platform company through technological advancement of Youvico and strengthened marketing, rather than remaining a simple content production company. To this end, it is currently promoting investment fundraising. He stated, "In our country, semiconductors and cars are sold well globally, but service companies that earn foreign currency globally based on IT are relatively few," adding, "I want to create at least one model showing that startups can succeed with a global goal."
[MoneyToday startup media platform Unicorn Factory]
in FUTURE
