Innovative Korean-American Companies Take Center Stage at the 8th Annual KAPAL Conference

The Korea-American Professional Association in Life Sciences (KAPAL) returns to Montgomery County next week to host its 8th Annual Conference November 1st and 2nd. This year’s collaborative event promises to be a showcase of cutting-edge technologies and groundbreaking innovations from Korean-American companies across various sectors. 

By Deeksha Surisetty | October 25, 2024

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The 8th Annual KAPAL (Korea-American Professional Association in Life Sciences) Conference is back November 1-2 at the Gaithersburg Marriott Washingtonian Center with the theme of “Drug Development: A to Z.”

The two-day conference will explore the various aspects that need to be considered throughout the process of developing new drugs or medical devices, while also discussing current investment trends in the U.S. biotech industry, along with the various benefits offered by Maryland and Virginia, the third-largest biotech hubs in the U.S.

A wide variety of topics will be explored from “Artificial intelligence in drug development: present status and prospects” to “IP protection and due diligence consideration in transactions” and “Overall investment market in the US” to “Customer Discover in the US” – the program is jam-packed with insights from dozens of expert speakers to include:  

• Ted Jeong, PhD, Founder & Managing Partner, Adelphi Ventures
• Luciana Borio, M.D. Venture Partner, ARCH Venture Partners
• Ian Ryu, PhD. Mentor-in-Residence, KIC DC
• Kenneth Huh, Product and Platform Integration Lead, BioTelemetry, Philips
• Hyeon-Cheol Park, PhD, Program Manager & Director of Research and Translation, Johns Hopkins Global Biotechnology Innovation Center 
• Jinguen Rheey, PhD, CEO, Gradiant Bioconvergence 
• Josh McLaughlin, JD. LLM, General Counsel, SK Life Science, Inc.
• Shahin Gharakhanian, MD, CEO, Shahin Gharakhanian Consulting, LLC. and Founder, Boston-Paris Biotechnology Summit
• Marci Aderiye, Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs, PPD
• Sung Park, JD, Counsel, Reed Smith LLP
• Jim Chung, Former Associate VP for Research, Innovation & Entrepreneurship at George Washington University

And while this year’s theme might be “Drug Development: A to Z,” collaboration is the primary goal for the 8th Annual KAPAL Conference.

Collaboration is the Name of the Game

KAPAL has brought together an array of organizations to ensure a more diverse and engaging program. Co-organizing this year’s Conference is the Korean Life Scientist Association of Maryland (KLAM), the Korean-American Scientists and Engineers Association Washington, DC Metro Chapter (KSEA-DC), and the Korea Innovation Center (KIC-DC). 

“KAPAL continues to be a vital hub for professionals in the life sciences, fostering innovation, collaboration, and growth within the Korean-American community and beyond,” said Jihoon Park, President at KAPAL and Mentor in Residence at the Korea Innovation Center Washington, DC. 

One of the most noteworthy points of impact is the addition of a Pitch Competition to this year’s program from KIC DC, part of the Korea Innovation Center under the Ministry of Science and ICT, Republic of Korea. Their mission is to support Korean tech startups in their journey of global commercialization, especially in the U.S. market. 

“The Tech Summit is an annual event where we invite promising Korean tech startups to pitch their ideas, engage in valuable networking, and attend startup-focused sessions,” Hyungjin Yun, Senior Manager, KIC DC shared. “This year, we’re excited to partner with KAPAL, an esteemed Korean-American organization in Maryland, to co-host the event.”

From advanced AI applications in healthcare to cutting-edge solutions in electric mobility and gene therapy, these companies represent the technological progress of startups and will serve as a showcase for these innovative firms, offering a unique glimpse into the future of biotech, healthcare, and beyond. 

Meet the companies participating to date.

HEI Corp.: Revolutionizing EV Battery Management

HEI Corp. is at the forefront of electric vehicle (EV) technology with their B2B software solution for battery care and evaluation. Their flagship product, “Biifore,” offers:

• Battery performance diagnostics within 1 minute after charging
• Current health status display and relative battery management level comparison
• User-friendly mobile app available on both App Store and Google Play

HEI Corp. is currently seeking partnerships with CPOs, e-Bus Fleets, Insurers, and Charger Manufacturers. They’re also looking to raise $8-10M in a Pre-A funding round.

EverEx Inc.: AI-Powered Rehabilitation for Musculoskeletal Patients

EverEx Inc. is transforming musculoskeletal rehabilitation with MORA (Mobile Orthopedic Rehabilitation Assistant). Key features include:

• AI-driven assessments and personalized video-guided rehabilitation
• Real-time feedback and cognitive-behavioral therapy integration
• Clinician dashboard for progress monitoring with AI data analysis

EverEx Inc. has already secured funding from prestigious investors like Samsung NEXT and LG Electronics. They’re currently seeking funding opportunities for their Series B round.

AURACARE: Pioneering Radiation Therapy for Companion Animals

AURACARE has developed the world’s first pet-specific radiation therapy device, LEP300. Their innovations include:

• 3D CRT with CBCT guidance & Orthovoltage X-ray energy for precise cancer treatment in pets
• Patella Luxation Preventive Brace for dogs
• Home-installable rehabilitation device for bed/wheelchair transfer with rehab functions

AURACARE is looking to raise $10M in their Series A funding round and seeking strategic partners for Sales & Service.

WEFLO: AI Solutions for Advanced Air Mobility

WEFLO specializes in AI solutions for predictive maintenance of electric mobility platforms. Their offerings include:

• Contactless inspection and predictive maintenance for drones, eVTOLs, and vehicles
• Smart Landing Pads and Stations
• Real-time health monitoring and AI Dashboards

WEFLO is currently raising a $7M Series A Round, with $3.5M already closed. They’re seeking partnerships with drone service providers and AAM manufacturers.

BeauBrain Healthcare: Early Dementia Diagnosis Through AI

BeauBrain Healthcare is advancing the field of dementia diagnosis with:

• AI-powered cognitive tests and brain image analysis tools
• Early, rapid, and economically viable diagnosis based on the ATN framework
• Digital therapeutics (DTx) for treatment and brain health management

BeauBrain Healthcare is preparing for a $10M Series A Round in 2025 and looking for partnerships with hospitals, medical equipment manufacturers, and imaging centers.

Bionsight: Revolutionizing Drug Discovery

Bionsight combines chemoproteomics and AI technologies to simplify drug-target interactions. Their achievements include:

• Partnership with Takeda via COCKPI-T program
• Strategic research collaborations with Biognosys and Bruker
• 2 international PCT filings and 6 domestic patents

Bionsight is seeking investor relations for their upcoming Series B funding round and partnerships with major US pharma companies.

Bio Design Lab: Advanced Viral Vector Platforms

Bio Design Lab focuses on developing cutting-edge viral vector platforms for gene therapy. Their innovations include:

• Genetically engineered viral vector components with improved safety profiles
• Vectors ~5 times more efficient than conventional ones on the market
• Customizable and optimizable solutions for various therapeutic applications

Bio Design Lab has raised approximately $9.25M in total investments and is expecting revenue through partnerships and out-licensing of platform technologies from 2025.

Don’t miss this opportunity to witness the future of biotech, healthcare, and mobility technologies, all under one roof while

• Exploring comprehensive exploration of the drug development process
• Networking with industry leaders
• And more

For more information on the 8th Annual KAPAL Conference, visit www.kapal.org or register via Eventbrite. KAPAL members receive a discount on conference registration (use discount code: KAPAL).

Interested in pitching?! Email Hyungjin Yun at hjyun[@]kicdc.org.