InnoWL, a Korean biotech and medical AI startup, has closed seed funding from CNTTech and DB Capital. The company is developing RNA transcriptome-based precision diagnostics for atopic dermatitis, combining molecular analysis with AI to classify patient subtypes. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.

More than one million people in Korea live with atopic dermatitis, one of the country’s most common chronic skin conditions. But while treatments have grown increasingly sophisticated, diagnostics haven’t kept pace. Doctors still lack reliable tools to objectively classify patients before starting therapy. Current methods depend on blood draws or tissue biopsies—procedures that are especially burdensome for children, who often need repeated testing.

InnoWL’s approach tackles this gap head-on. The startup is building a diagnostic platform that pairs microneedle patches—minimally invasive and patient-friendly—with RNA transcriptome analysis and AI-powered subtype classification. Rather than relying on symptoms or images, the technology identifies molecular differences in how the disease manifests. That means doctors can predict how patients will respond to treatment and design truly personalized therapy plans.

The company has taken a smart approach to scaling. Instead of trying to do everything in-house, InnoWL partners with specialized firms for microneedle manufacturing and application technology. That lets the team focus its own resources on what matters most: RNA analysis algorithms and AI platform development. It’s a strategy that spreads risk while speeding up the path to market.

Right now, InnoWL is running clinical trials with major university hospitals across Korea, building the data foundation it needs to bring its diagnostic kit to market around 2028. But the company’s ambitions extend beyond hospital diagnostics. InnoWL sees opportunities to collaborate with pharmaceutical companies and research institutions on data-driven drug development—turning patient insights into new therapies.

“There’s a huge population of atopic dermatitis patients, but we’ve had almost no tools to tell them apart before treatment starts,” said Hyunsoon Choi, Managing Director at CNT Tech. “InnoWL is turning an inconvenient, limited process into something that’s both patient-friendly and precise. We’re backing the long-term potential here—the technology and the market shift it could drive—not just near-term results.”

Seokmin Kang, Team Leader at DB Capital, echoed that view: “Precision diagnostics have to grow alongside therapeutics—they’re two sides of the same coin. InnoWL has real differentiation: minimally invasive tech and data-driven patient classification. They’re positioned to set the standard in atopic dermatitis diagnostics.”

The fresh capital will help InnoWL accelerate clinical data collection and sharpen its AI models. Next up: the company plans to join Korea’s TIPS program and pursue additional funding to support broader expansion.