FUSTLAB, a Korean startup developing water treatment equipment (CAVITOX) through ultrasonic focusing technology, has secured approximately USD 2.3 million(KRW 3.1 billion) in bridge funding. The investment round included participation from IBK Venture Investment and Medici Investment.

Established in 2022 as a research spin-off from the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, FUSTLAB is creating a sustainable manufacturing ecosystem by efficiently decomposing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), toxic compounds that have become a pressing environmental issue, through ultrasonic focusing technology.

PFAS, commonly known as Teflon, is used across numerous industries including semiconductors, secondary batteries, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, textiles, and cookware such as frying pans. These substances act as carcinogens when even trace amounts enter the human body, as they do not get eliminated, prompting strict regulations in the EU, United States, and Japan. While PFAS are inexpensive and widely used, there are currently no decomposition methods or alternative substances available except for incineration.

FUSTLAB has developed ‘CAVITOX,’ which can efficiently decompose PFAS, and is actively pursuing business expansion. The company recently established a Japanese subsidiary and is collaborating with major Japanese corporations. Through a partnership with Hyundai Corporation’s German subsidiary, FUSTLAB has installed a CAVITOX demo room in the Frankfurt region of Germany. Additionally, the company plans to conduct pilot tests with global pharmaceutical companies, major Japanese enterprises, and European water treatment firms in the first half of 2026.

With this investment, FUSTLAB plans to actively pursue business expansion in the Japanese and European markets. The company has already been collaborating with global and Japanese major corporations, has exported its equipment, and is pursuing full-scale market entry through partnerships with local enterprises.