Validated overseas, expanding at home... NOUL enters the Korean market with ZGOO Holdings on board

NOUL, an AI diagnostics company whose technology has been validated in overseas markets including Europe and Latin America, is stepping up efforts to enter Korea’s diagnostic market with new major shareholder ZGOO Holdings behind it.
NOUL, an AI-based blood and cancer diagnostics company led by CEO Lim Chan-yang, announced on the 10th that ZGOO Holdings, an investment holding company, had become its largest shareholder after payment was completed for a 2.75 billion won capital increase through a third-party allotment to ZGOO Holdings. The investment will strengthen NOUL’s financial stability, and the two companies will work together to enhance corporate value through long-term mutual growth.
ZGOO Holdings acquired 1.1 million newly issued NOUL shares at 2,500 won per share and completed payment on the 9th. As a result, ZGOO Holdings became NOUL’s largest shareholder, holding approximately 9.7% of the company. NOUL plans to use the funds raised to strengthen its business competitiveness and lay the groundwork for medium- to long-term growth.
ZGOO Holdings is a permanent-capital-based business and investment holding company founded by entrepreneurs with direct experience in starting businesses and investing. It pursues an investment approach in which it works with founders to shape company operations and long-term growth strategies, without recovering investments or exiting when funds reach maturity. The “ZGOO Alliance,” a shareholder community comprising leading Korean venture entrepreneurs such as Lee Jae-woong and Chang Byung-gyu, is one of its major shareholders.
In keeping with these investment principles, NOUL will retain its existing management structure, centered on CEO Lim Chan-yang. As the largest shareholder, ZGOO Holdings plans to support NOUL’s growth with a long-term perspective.
ZGOO Holdings’ healthcare subsidiaries will serve as the link to NOUL’s entry into the Korean market. ZGOO Holdings owns U2Bio, a contract testing company for in vitro diagnostics, and U2X Lab, a clinical trial specimen analysis company. The two companies plan to explore ways to introduce and use NOUL’s diagnostic platform, “miLab,” in Korean healthcare settings by combining NOUL’s diagnostic technology with the strengths of these subsidiaries, which have infrastructure in local hospitals, clinics and clinical trial sites, and to develop those plans in stages. Through this, NOUL aims to strengthen its existing overseas business base while expanding its operations into Korea.
NOUL CEO Lim Chan-yang said, “ZGOO Holdings becoming our largest shareholder through this capital increase marks an important turning point as NOUL steps up its entry into the Korean diagnostics market. Starting with our cooperation with ZGOO Holdings, we will broaden our partnerships with diagnostic testing institutions in Korea. At the same time, we will work to improve profitability based on our domestic and international business results, pursue a genuine turnaround and have our corporate value reassessed.”
A representative of ZGOO Holdings said, “We decided to invest after looking at NOUL’s technology and business structure, as well as the entrepreneur who has spent at least 10 years building them. We believe that NOUL’s accumulated business and technology are worth that investment.” The representative added, “As a long-term shareholder committed for the long haul, we will work with NOUL to identify areas for collaboration with our healthcare portfolio companies and help that cooperation lead to growth for all.”
NOUL’s flagship product, miLab, is an integrated diagnostic platform that automates the previously fragmented manual microscopy process, from specimen staining to digital microscope imaging and AI analysis. It delivers standardized diagnostic results in an average of around 15 minutes. Its proprietary water-free solid staining technology (NGSI) reduces reliance on testing infrastructure, while its automated workflow helps reduce variation in interpretation and improve testing efficiency.

[email protected] Reporter Jung Myung-jin