[For more diverse corporate information on the startup featured in this article, please visit Data Lab, the big data platform of Unicorn Factory, at Data Lab.]
Current imaging technologies used for cancer diagnosis include CT, MRI, and ultrasound. CT is evaluated as the first-choice option for diagnosing various lesions through three-dimensional scanning. However, it has limitations regarding radiation exposure, side effects from contrast agents, and achieving precise diagnoses. MRI is an examination that utilizes magnetic fields and high-frequency waves; while it avoids radiation exposure, its drawback is high cost. Ultrasound uses sound waves, offering high safety and low cost, but precise diagnosis is difficult due to resolution issues.
Several problems can also arise in the process of confirming whether a tumor is actually cancer. If cancer is suspected through imaging, an endoscope is inserted into the relevant organ to examine the interior, and tissue samples are collected for testing. However, it is difficult to observe the entire organ, and because tissue is collected at 2 cm intervals, the failure rate for early diagnosis is known to reach 25%.
Vidal Sonic, a faculty-founded startup from Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) established in August 2023, developed 'photoacoustic endoscopy' to solve these problems. The technology integrates photoacoustics—the phenomenon where light is absorbed when it encounters blood vessels—into existing ultrasound endoscopes, allowing for clear observation of microvessels in specific organs.
Additionally, a miniature rotating scanning method is added to observe the interior of the organ 360 degrees and visualize this as three-dimensional imaging. This allows for precise confirmation of vascular conditions, which is explained to significantly improve cancer diagnostic accuracy.
Yang Jun-mo, CEO of Vidal Sonic, stated, "Using photoacoustic endoscopy will raise the early cancer detection rate to 98~98%," and added, "After commercialization, as more vascular data accumulates, even more precise diagnoses will be possible."
Vidal Sonic raised a seed investment of 200 million won from Seonbo Angel Partners and is currently pushing forward with a Pre-Series A round. The investment funds are planned to be used for product licensing and commercialization. The current technology readiness level (TRL) is at TRL5, having completed the implementation of in vivo imaging using research prototypes. The company holds a total of 25 intellectual property rights, including 9 registered patents and 16 patent applications, centered on its core technologies.
The first target is the research equipment market. Through this, the company aims to accumulate initial use cases and references, with plans to expand into preclinical and clinical stages at universities, hospitals, and research institutional investors in the future. Yang (CEO) said, "We are confident that photoacoustic endoscopy is technically already complete," adding, "After going through Yangsan and the licensing process, we will develop into a bioimaging technology company."
Vidal Sonic will compete as a UNIST faculty Won Chang-eop-tim (CEO) in the finals of the '2026 K-Deep Tech Startup King of the Kings,' to be held on the 30th at Hall B Plus Stage, COEX, Seoul Samsung-dong (Spectator Application: https://forms.gle/McNBqdiBts8RJazVA).
Now in its fifth year, the King of the Kings is hosted by MoneyToday's startup media platform 'Unicorn Factory' and co-hosted by KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), DGIST (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology), UNIST (Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology), GIST (Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology), POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology), and KENTECH (Korea National University of Education).
The jury panel includes deep tech investment and commercialization experts from Samsung C Lab Outside, GS Vendors, Ecopro Partners, L&S Venture Capital, LB Investment, Blue Point Partners, Series Ventures, CNT Tech, Korea Technology Holding, and the R&D Special Zone Promotion Foundation.
Participants range from large corporate CVCs (corporate venture capital) to deep tech-specialized VCs, early-stage investment ACs (accelerators), and public technology commercialization institutional investors, comprehensively reviewing the commercialization potential and investment attractiveness of the technologies.
The finals feature a total of 12 teams, with six each from the faculty and student startup categories. The event is conducted in the format of actual investment recruitment IR (investor presentations), with 10-minute presentations and 10 minutes of Q&A per team. Evaluation is based on a combined score of technology (30 points), marketability (20 points), business viability (40 points), and team capability (10 points).
The Grand Prize will be awarded to one team each from the faculty and student startup categories. The two Grand Prize teams will receive the Minister's Award from the Ministry of Science and ICT, which is the Deputy Prime Minister's award, along with a prize money of 3 million won. Four Excellence Award teams will receive the R&D Special Zone Promotion Foundation Lee (President) Award and 1 million won in prize money, while six Encouragement Award teams will each receive the MoneyToday CEO Award and 500,000 won in prize money.
Winning teams will be provided with benefits such as linkage to CVC open innovation and bonus points when participating in the Global Digital Innovation Network (GDIN) overseas expansion program. Regardless of winning status, all 12 finalist teams will receive support for a one-year follow-up scale-up program, including corporate promotion, expert consulting, and networking with investment firms.
<5th K-Deep Tech Startup King of the Kings Spectator Application>
-Date: October 30 (Fri) 9:30~17:00
-Location: COEX Hall B PLUS STAGE, Seoul
-Target: Deep tech field startups and investment VC reviewers
-Hosts: KAIST, DGIST, UNIST, GIST, POSTECH, KENTECH, MoneyToday Unicorn Factory
-Application: https://forms.gle/McNBqdiBts8RJazVA
[MoneyToday Startup Media Platform Unicorn Factory]
in FUTURE
