Naver D2SF Makes New Investment in Motion Capture Startup 'Moobin'

Naver continues its startup investments despite the global market crisis.

Naver's startup nurturing organization, D2SF, announced on the 13th that it has made a new investment in the real-time markerless motion capture startup "Movin" (CEO Choi Byeol-i). Movin is a startup discovered through Naver D2SF's campus technology startup contest and is rapidly growing globally by leveraging its technological capabilities.

Movin is developing real-time markerless motion capture technology that does not require separate equipment such as markers or trackers. Existing motion capture technology captures movements by attaching markers to people or objects, requiring specialized equipment worth hundreds of millions of won. However, Movin has built an AI model based on its own dataset that can realize precise 3D motion in real time using only a single LiDAR sensor.

In particular, the method of implementing real-time motion capture using LiDAR sensors among markerless solutions is a rare technology even in the global market. A related paper was also accepted at "Pacific Graphics 2023," one of the world's top four academic conferences in the field of computer graphics.

Currently, Movin is enhancing "MOVIN3D Studio" with the goal of launching a CBT in the first half of next year. It is actively discussing collaborations with related companies in live commerce, virtual content, and is also concretizing cooperation points with Naver.

Throughout this year, despite the still rigid global investment sentiment, Naver D2SF has discovered early-stage technology startups through various methods. It has continued strategic investments by operating diverse programs such as ▲Campus Technology Startup Contest ▲Open recruitment for new investments themed on generative AI ▲and converting to a continuous application process for investment review across all fields.

Movin, which received investment this time, was selected as a team in the preliminary startup stage through the campus technology startup contest in the first half of this year, and after incubation in July, it established a corporation and connected to investment. During the incubation period, Movin was based at D2SF@Bundang, utilizing the infrastructure of 1784 to build motion datasets, and is currently discussing collaboration through close exchanges with Naver's ETECH organization. Movin is the second team, after Odd Eye, to be discovered and invested in by Naver D2SF through the campus technology startup contest this year.

Additionally, D2SF has strengthened AI synergy between Naver and startups by linking its systematically built investment portfolio across the AI ecosystem to Naver Cloud's "AI RUSH 2023." Furthermore, D2SF celebrated the IPO of CrowdWorks, with which it has maintained continuous collaboration since its first investment in 2017, marking the first fruition of its support for startup growth since its founding.

Yang Sang-hwan, leader of Naver D2SF, stated, "Movin, which we first met through the campus startup contest, is a team distinguished by its differentiated technology, rapid execution, and youthful energy. Given the fast growth shown during the incubation period, we expect it to grow even more significantly in the future." He added, "In 2024, Naver D2SF will actively discover and invest in startups challenging new technologies and products."