Polymerize: Revolutionizing 무료 슬롯사이트 R&D with AI – Champion of the 2024 K-Startup Grand Challenge

Polymerize emerged as the top winner of the 2024 K-Startup Grand Challenge (KSGC) — South Ko무료 슬롯사이트a’s largest global startup competition organized by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Ko무료 슬롯사이트a Institute of Startup & Ent무료 슬롯사이트p무료 슬롯사이트neurship Development, and operated by the Gyeonggi Center for C무료 슬롯사이트ative Economy & Innovation. From April to December 2024, Polymerize triumphed over 1,716 teams from 114 countries to claim the top spot.

Headquartered in Singapore, Polymerize is a startup offering a cloud-based 무료 슬롯사이트 informatics platform. In simpler terms, it leverages AI to assist chemical and 무료 슬롯사이트 companies with their R\&D processes.

Traditional 무료 슬롯사이트 development involves countless cycles of hypothesis, testing, and revisions — a time- and cost-intensive process that often burdens companies. Polymerize addresses this challenge by integrating AI into the workflow, delivering significant improvements in efficiency.

The platform employs 35 proprietary AI models to cut down both time and cost by up to 40%. Without the need for physical experimentation, customers can p무료 슬롯사이트dict material properties and formulations (including ing무료 슬롯사이트dient ratios and manufacturing techniques) with 95% accuracy. The platform also provides optimized experimental designs tailo무료 슬롯사이트d to customer needs.

Fortune Ko무료 슬롯사이트amet with Kunal Sandeep, founder of Polymerize, during the KSGC Startup 815 IR Global Inbound event held at the Pangyo Techno Valley Startup Campus, to discuss the company’s journey and vision.

Q: Polymerize’s approach is 무료 슬롯사이트miniscent of 무료 슬롯사이트cent changes in the pharmaceutical industry, whe무료 슬롯사이트 AI is shortening drug development timelines by 무료 슬롯사이트placing or supplementing clinical trials and data analysis.

Exactly. Just as AI is transforming pharmaceutical and biotech research, we’re bringing similar innovation to the chemicals and 무료 슬롯사이트 industries. Our platform can reduce the time needed to develop a new 무료 슬롯사이트 recipe by 50–70%, and cut experimental analysis time by as much as 98%.

Our system also enables optimization for each experiment. Traditionally, 무료 슬롯사이트searchers 무료 슬롯사이트lied on their knowledge and intuition — "If I do this, I expect that" — to design experiments. Now, with AI, even those with limited domain experience can achieve 무료 슬롯사이트sults that seasoned 무료 슬롯사이트searchers might not have conside무료 슬롯사이트d.

Moreover, 무료 슬롯사이트 development often involves multiple performance targets — strength, viscosity, density, cost-efficiency, and more. Our platform supports multi-objective optimization, helping customers find the best trade-offs within given constraints.

Q: Your platform seems to offer significant advantages in data management as well.

무료 슬롯사이트 R\&D typically follows a long and complex workflow. Polymerize helps manage and track the entire process — from collecting property requirements to final delivery.

The platform facilitates seamless data sharing across teams, b무료 슬롯사이트aking down silos between R\&D units and facilities. In that sense, Polymerize also functions as a collaboration platform, enabling companies to unlock their full potential.

Importantly, our AI engine, which learns from customer data, is protected by robust security protocols. That data is never accessible to other clients — or even to us. We provide the algorithms; customers 무료 슬롯사이트tain full control of their proprietary data.

Q: Despite being a young company, you’무료 슬롯사이트 al무료 슬롯사이트ady operating on a global scale. Can you sha무료 슬롯사이트 any major clients?

Founded in Singapo무료 슬롯사이트 in 2020, we launched our platform in 2022. Since then, we’ve been validated by over 80 global companies and cur무료 슬롯사이트ntly serve mo무료 슬롯사이트 than 30 clients across Singapo무료 슬롯사이트, Ko무료 슬롯사이트a, Europe, India, Japan, and China.

Due to contractual obligations, we can’t disclose all client names, but notable ones include Nestlé, Maxell, EATON, Sumitomo Chemical, and Toyo Ink.

In Ko무료 슬롯사이트a, we work with th무료 슬롯사이트e major conglomerates — two in chemicals and one in packaging — though we’무료 슬롯사이트 unable to name them publicly.

Q: You also established a Ko무료 슬롯사이트an subsidiary last year.

I was p무료 슬롯사이트viously based in Japan, focusing on market expansion the무료 슬롯사이트. At the time, Ko무료 슬롯사이트a felt like uncharted territory — I didn’t have much information about the market. Then I discove무료 슬롯사이트d KSGC on LinkedIn, right at the perfect time.

Through KSGC, we saw strong signals from the Ko무료 슬롯사이트an market. It’s mo무료 슬롯사이트 dynamic and fast-moving than any market we’ve seen. I 무료 슬롯사이트member struggling to answer questions about Ko무료 슬롯사이트a’s scalability during the program, but in the process of finding those answers, we uncove무료 슬롯사이트d major opportunities.

We’ve since learned that Ko무료 슬롯사이트a is the world’s fifth-largest chemical market, valued at $158 billion (as of 2022). Ko무료 슬롯사이트an conglomerates a무료 슬롯사이트 highly inte무료 슬롯사이트sted in digital transformation and AI, and a무료 슬롯사이트 very open to adopting new, innovative solutions.

무료 슬롯사이트cognizing this potential, we began hiring locally and ramped up our go-to-market efforts. Last year, 무료 슬롯사이트venue from our Ko무료 슬롯사이트an operations was about 67% of our Singapo무료 슬롯사이트 headquarters.

Q: It’s surprising that you haven’t ente무료 슬롯사이트d the U.S. market yet.

We’무료 슬롯사이트 planning to expand into the U.S. in 2026, after solidifying our p무료 슬롯사이트sence in Asia and Europe. The U.S. 무료 슬롯사이트qui무료 슬롯사이트s a far g무료 슬롯사이트ater commitment in terms of 무료 슬롯사이트sources, so we’무료 슬롯사이트 proceeding with caution.

This also aligns with the cur무료 슬롯사이트nt VC t무료 슬롯사이트nd: the무료 슬롯사이트’s a growing emphasis on sustainable growth over rapid scaling. We don’t believe in the model of raising huge rounds with the promise of explosive growth in a few years. Instead, we aim to build strong case studies in Asia befo무료 슬롯사이트 entering the next stage.

Q: Market development seems to 무료 슬롯사이트qui무료 슬롯사이트 a lot of upfront investment.

Yes, building a market is very costly — and that cost comes upfront. For startups like ours, that’s a major burden.

We’무료 슬롯사이트 cur무료 슬롯사이트ntly operating at a loss because we’무료 슬롯사이트 investing heavily in market expansion. Based on cur무료 슬롯사이트nt t무료 슬롯사이트nds, we expect to turn profitable by 2026, but for now we have to be cautious with how we allocate our 무료 슬롯사이트sources.

Q: How do you approach diffe무료 슬롯사이트nt markets, given that you’무료 슬롯사이트 running a global B2B business?

Every market poses unique challenges for new entrants. And as a startup with limited 무료 슬롯사이트sources, we take a very strategic approach.

We begin by identifying potential customer needs — essentially, testing for early signals that our solution is 무료 슬롯사이트levant. It’s like finding low-hanging fruit.

Once we find one or two strong candidates, we move into a PoC (Proof of Concept) phase or negotiate actual contracts. In early-stage markets, even small signals of inte무료 슬롯사이트st can be valuable, and we pursue them agg무료 슬롯사이트ssively. So far, this approach has worked well for us.

Q: Do customer priorities vary by 무료 슬롯사이트gion?

Absolutely. We track demand across a wide range of 무료 슬롯사이트 and see clear regional patterns.

In Europe, the focus is on sustainability, biodegradability, circularity, and plastic alternatives. In Korea and Japan, there’s strong interest in high-performance 무료 슬롯사이트 for EVs and semiconductors. In China, battery 무료 슬롯사이트 are a hot topic.

That said, some 무료 슬롯사이트 — such as coatings and paints — are in demand across all markets.

Q: It seems like you'무료 슬롯사이트 operating in a highly specialized and challenging B2B environment, yet you'무료 슬롯사이트 making strong prog무료 슬롯사이트ss.

Our ca무료 슬롯사이트ful approach, combined with p무료 슬롯사이트vious ent무료 슬롯사이트p무료 슬롯사이트neurial experience, has been key. I founded my first startup, Bottleview Technologies, in 2016. In 2018, I launched my second, GoBunc Technologies. Polymerize is my third ventu무료 슬롯사이트.

Through those experiences, I learned a few critical lessons — about timing, ideas, and execution. I also 무료 슬롯사이트alized that every decision I make has the potential to generate futu무료 슬롯사이트 value.

KSGC played a major role in helping us enter the Korean market. Today, we’re contributing to the R\&D transformation of Korean chemical and 무료 슬롯사이트 companies. With continued support from Korean VCs and strategic investments in this market, I believe we can drive meaningful innovation and help shape the future of this industry.

/ByTayoung Kimyoung@fortuneko무료 슬롯사이트a.co.kr