R2C Company Raises Bridge Funding from HYU Holdings to Scale AI-Powered Data Collection Platform

R2C Company, the startup behind data collection and participant recruitment platform Pickply, has secured bridge funding from HYU Holdings, the technology holding company of Hanyang University. The investment amount and valuation were not disclosed.

R2C Company operates Pickply, an app-tech platform that connects enterprises with consumers for data collection and survey participation. The platform tackles persistent challenges in real-world data acquisition—low response rates, questionable data reliability, and prohibitive costs—through precise participant matching technology. The company has built a user base exceeding 500,000 highly engaged participants.

The startup will use the new capital to pursue entry into the TIPS program, South Korea’s premier government-backed tech incubator. R2C Company also plans to expand R&D investments in its ontology-based AI agent, for which patent applications have been filed, while advancing its broader agentic AI platform capabilities. The enhanced platform aims to serve diverse clients ranging from large corporations and research institutions to graduate students conducting specialized studies.

A representative from HYU Holdings explained that the investment decision centered on R2C Company’s proven ability to collect real-world data at scale and its substantial pool of over 500,000 verified, high-quality users.

Dongho Kim, CEO of R2C Company, commented that the bridge funding would serve as a launchpad for TIPS program entry and accelerated technology development. “We’re committed to elevating our technical capabilities and establishing R2C Company as Korea’s leading data technology company,” Kim added.