Korean startup Hypernova, operator of the AI phone-English service Heyling, has secured investment from its early-stage backer SpringCamp. The company was also recently selected for the TIPS (Tech Incubator Program for Startups), a government-backed initiative led by South Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups.

TIPS is South Korea’s flagship accelerator that identifies high‑potential technology ventures and supports their global expansion. Through the program, Hypernova can access up to approximately USD 500K(KRW 700 million ) in R&D funding, plus further support for overseas marketing and commercialization.

Heyling enables learners to practice real‑life English conversations by placing natural phone calls with a conversational AI companion that adapts to the user’s emotions and context. Beyond acting as a tutor, the service positions itself as a long‑term learning partner, automatically generating personalized review content after each call to boost engagement and retention.

Since launch, Heyling has posted standout metrics, including a paid‑conversion rate roughly four to five times higher than conventional English‑learning apps—key factors in its TIPS selection.

With the new backing, Hypernova plans to intensify R&D on immersive dialogue technology and personalized learning features, accelerate localization for overseas markets, and recruit additional AI talent.

“AI is rapidly reshaping the long‑static edu-tech market,” said Hypernova CEO Hyun‑moo Park. “Leveraging the TIPS platform, we aim to assemble top talent and deliver world‑class AI learning experiences as we grow into a global player.”