South Korean startup CONPORTLAB, which develops manufacturing operations management AX (AI Transformation) solutions, has secured a pre-Series A investment from Kakao Ventures. 

CONPORTLAB develops solutions that automate operations management and enable AI transformation (AX) based on manufacturing data. Its technology integrates and standardizes disparate data—from equipment and production lines to IT systems—into AI-readable assets. Leveraging this, the company provides integrated systems essential for manufacturing operations, including MES (Manufacturing Execution System), EAM (Enterprise Asset Management), QMS (Quality Management System), and EMS (Energy Management System), combined with AI-driven automation features. These capabilities help manufacturers of all sizes move beyond digital transformation to accelerate AI transformation.

For small and mid-sized factories that still rely heavily on manual processes and skilled workers, CONPORTLAB enhances productivity and reduces defect rates with AI-based quality tracking, AI-driven control condition recommendations, and predictive maintenance powered by data.

The company’s flagship no-code AX platform PORTA consists of:

• PortaCON: devices that collect equipment and sensor data
  
• PORTA Neurobase: a real-time data integration and analysis engine
  
• PORTA Studio: a web-based no-code development tool
  
• PORTA Apps: a manufacturing operations management system with integrated AI agents
  

PORTA shortens infrastructure deployment from several months to less than three days and reduces costs to one-fifth, dramatically lowering adoption barriers. It is already being used in projects such as the Korean smart factory initiative of Japan’s largest electronic components manufacturer, a major domestic interior materials supplier, and SMEs across automotive parts, food, and packaging.

By addressing long-standing compatibility and usability challenges in traditional manufacturing, CONPORTLAB aims to fundamentally strengthen the competitiveness of the national manufacturing industry. With this funding, the company plans to reinforce its position as a key AX innovation partner for manufacturers—expanding from SMEs, where adoption has been hindered by high costs, to large enterprises seeking productivity gains. ComfortLab also aims to revitalize the domestic sector, which struggles with population decline and skilled labor shortages, while accelerating its global market entry amid the worldwide trend toward AX adoption.

The leadership team includes CEO Ki-jung Kim, with experience at TmaxSoft, Doosan Enerbility, and SAP Labs in industrial systems, Vice President Hana Kim, a global marketing expert formerly at Hancom Group and CTO Sung-geun Lee, a cloud and systems software specialist from TmaxSoft and SAP Labs

The team has collaborated for over a decade, building strong teamwork and extensive system engineering expertise in complex manufacturing environments. Their strength lies in delivering complete end-to-end solutions—from hardware installation to networks and data platforms—optimizing automation across the factory floor.

Young-moo Kim, Investment Director at Kakao Ventures, stated  “As a manufacturing powerhouse with vast untapped potential in industrial AI, South Korea positions ComfortLab to drive innovation through Data Edge Integration. By unifying factory operations into a single language with Object Ontology, ComfortLab is building the foundation for sector-wide transformation that goes far beyond automation.”

CONPORTLAB CEO Ki-jung Kim added  “For manufacturing to advance, innovation in SMEs—which make up 99% of the sector—is essential. ComfortLab is developing AX solutions that the field truly needs and aims to grow into the ‘Palantir of Korea,’ shaping the future of global manufacturing.”