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InvaLab’s Challenge Inspired by Patagonia: “Restoring Ecosystems with AI and Drones” [University of Seoul Campus Town]
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[Since 2022, the University of Seoul has led youth entrepreneurship and regional innovation under the vision of “The Most Seoul-Like Impact, the Most Global Value,” beginning with the Seoul Impact initiative. In particular, it provides focused support to startups in AI-driven urban innovation and social impact, fostering a sustainable startup ecosystem where technology and social value are in harmony. The university was selected as an excellent case in the regional revitalization category of the Seoul Campus Town program and received an A+ grade in the 2024 Seoul Campus Town performance evaluation. Accordingly, IT Donga introduces the growth stories and innovative achievements of AI startups being nurtured by the University of Seoul.]
“We will create a sustainable future in which nature and humans coexist, grounded in scientific evidence.”
Shin Wonhyeop, CEO of InvaLab / Source: IT Donga
The damage to ecosystems caused by abnormal climate conditions is becoming increasingly severe. Invasive plant species such as ragweed, bur cucumber, and Canadian goldenrod are spreading across Korea, threatening native species. With their rapid and aggressive reproductive capacity, these plants not only disrupt local ecosystems but also cause crop damage and negatively affect human health by triggering allergies. The range of affected areas continues to expand each year.
However, effectively managing invasive plants and restoring damaged ecosystems is no easy task. It requires extensive field surveys, specialized personnel, and continuous monitoring even after removal. Nature-tech startup InvaLab Inc. is stepping in to address these challenges using AI, drones, and IoT technologies. We met with Shin Wonhyeop, CEO of InvaLab, to hear about the company’s direction and goals.
An Unexpected Startup Journey Rooted in Biodiversity Expertise
Founded in 2023, InvaLab develops integrated solutions for controlling invasive plant species. CEO Shin Wonhyeop explained that the company name was inspired by the word “invasion,” meaning intrusion or encroachment. “It carries a dual meaning,” he said. “One is to prevent the invasion of invasive species, and the other is to penetrate unseen areas using remote sensing technologies to quantitatively assess biodiversity.” Biodiversity refers to the overall diversity of species, ecosystems, and genetic resources on Earth. It is critically important as the foundation for maintaining ecosystem functions.
Shin Wonhyeop, CEO of InvaLab, who majored in plant ecology, founded InvaLab with the goal of addressing challenges in this field through technology. / Source: IT Donga
September 7, the founding date of InvaLab, coincides with the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, designated by the United Nations (UN). First commemorated in 2020, the day aims to raise awareness of environmental pollution while promoting efforts to reduce pollution and create cleaner air. It is also meaningful as the first UN official international day proposed by the Korean government and is recognized as a national commemorative day.
CEO Shin Wonhyeop did not initially set out to become an entrepreneur. In 2018, as he was about to complete his master’s degree in plant ecology at Seoul National University, he secured an internship at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) regional office in Bangkok, Thailand, where he worked for about six months. During this time, he felt frustrated that although social and climate issues were accelerating, solutions progressed slowly due to organizational governance constraints—even when the necessary technologies existed. He also faced the practical concern that, due to frequent personnel rotations inherent to such organizations, he might not be able to continue pursuing his desired research. He later strengthened his expertise in the natural environment and ecosystem field, earning a Ph.D. in Landscape Architecture from Seoul National University in 2024.
Reflecting on his journey, Shin noted, “Plant ecology is a labor-intensive field centered on experts, but due to demanding fieldwork and relatively low compensation, the workforce has continued to shrink. From data collection in the field to analysis, the workload effectively doubles. There was a clear need to overcome this structure technologically. In seeking to solve this problem through technology and apply solutions more rapidly, founding InvaLab became a natural step.”
An Integrated Solution from Precision Diagnosis to Customized Action
InvaLab provides an integrated solution that adds science-based core technologies to natural ecosystem restoration. These core technologies are built on two pillars: precision diagnosis (monitoring) and customized action (restoration).
Precision diagnosis leverages remote sensing techniques that combine multispectral drone data with standard high-resolution drone imagery. InvaLab has currently achieved up to 95% accuracy in biological detection, enabling the quantification of living organisms even in areas invisible to the naked eye. Based on these diagnostic results, InvaLab produces and deploys its proprietary Seed Balls, enabling customized restoration actions. Accurately determining the appropriate function and quantity of Seed Balls required for restoration is itself a key technological capability.
Shin emphasized, “In the medical field, there are many imaging tools such as CT scans and X-rays, but what matters more is accurately diagnosing the images and prescribing the right treatment. InvaLab works the same way. We analyze drone imagery and ecological data to make informed decisions, determining the necessary functions and quantities of Seed Balls. That is where our proprietary technological strength lies.”
NatureBlitz and NatureX are InvaLab’s flagship solutions. / Source: InvaLab
InvaLab’s flagship solutions include ▲NatureBlitz ▲NatureX. NatureBlitz is a customized Seed Ball product designed for the restoration and rehabilitation of degraded areas. Seeds are selected based on the principles of functional competition among native species and combined with suitable soil and nutrient materials to create tailored formulations. Backed by two related patents and nine SCI-indexed journal publications, InvaLab possesses one of the country’s leading alternative plant technology capabilities. The solution addresses the fragmentation of conventional management methods, reduces the risk of on-site accidents through drone operations, and enables work in areas with restricted access.
Another distinguishing feature of InvaLab is its separate operation of monitoring drones and seeding drones. For monitoring, the company uses small drones equipped with LiDAR or multispectral sensors, while seeding operations are carried out using large agricultural drones with a payload capacity of over 25 kg. The impeller module used for seeding is also an in-house technology developed by InvaLab.
Lastly, NatureX is a platform currently under development that provides spatial quantitative data generated through remote sensing in the form of Software as a Service (SaaS). It visualizes accumulated spatial data and enables its use in corporate ESG performance evaluation and non-financial risk management. By applying digital twin technology, NatureX also supports long-term spatial management decision-making. Shin Wonhyeop emphasized, “InvaLab’s differentiation lies in not simply planting trees in degraded areas, but in quantitatively measuring which organisms are added and how much carbon credit increases, and then returning greater outcomes and value to society as social value.”
A Necessary Yet Unfamiliar Field: Challenges in Persuasion
InvaLab was founded by CEO Shin Wonhyeop together with three master’s- and doctoral-level researchers from Seoul National University’s Graduate School of Environmental Studies and Graduate School of Engineering, and has since grown into a team of seven. Along the way, the company distinguished itself by winning the Grand Prize at the 2023 Innovation Camp Startup Competition and the Top Prize at the 2024 CBC Korea Startup Competition. In 2024, InvaLab was also selected as an early-stage startup under the Startup-Centered University Program run by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development, and further secured support through the Startup Growth Technology Development Program (Didimdol) and the TIPS program.
In the process of developing its proprietary technologies, InvaLab went through numerous trials and errors. Beyond the pressure of securing top talent, the company also faced challenges in persuading clients and investors about the relatively unfamiliar fields of ecosystem restoration and biodiversity.
Shin Wonhyeop explained, “Ecosystem restoration is not a market crowded with active competitors, which means the cost of finding demand and convincing customers is actually higher. Continuously quantifying an opaque and hard-to-measure market, and demonstrating how socially meaningful outcomes can be delivered through technology, remains a key challenge for InvaLab.”
Nevertheless, InvaLab is overcoming the difficulties of pioneering the ecosystem restoration market by leveraging its proprietary technologies and actively participating in open innovation and proof-of-concept (PoC) programs with government agencies and private companies. Through collaborations with various partners, the company is also building a strong network. Recently, InvaLab brought on board a designer to strengthen customer-friendly branding. Shin noted, “I felt that if the term ‘biodiversity’ sounds difficult, then InvaLab’s mission might also feel distant. That’s why we believed it was important to create a more approachable, customer-friendly impression.”
Recognized on the Global Stage, Aiming for International Expansion
This year, InvaLab represented Korea at the global startup competition Creative Business Cup 2025, held in Copenhagen, Denmark, where it won second place. InvaLab’s nature-based ecosystem restoration solution was thus recognized as a viable business model on the international stage, signaling a positive outlook for the company’s global expansion.
InvaLab represented Korea at the global startup competition Creative Business Cup 2025, where it won second place. / Source: InvaLab
This milestone helped clarify InvaLab’s goals even further: to grow into a global biodiversity management company. In particular, the company aims to provide resilience-based restoration plans that prevent recurrence after large-scale disasters in regions frequently affected by wildfires, such as California in the United States and British Columbia in Canada. Shin explained, “It’s not just about removing trees, but about planning environments with firebreak forests, less flammable tree species, and biodiversity-informed designs that enhance resilience.”
InvaLab does have overseas competitors such as Flash Forest in Canada and Dendra in Australia, but these companies are also relatively young startups, around five years old, and are still in the validation phase. Shin emphasized, “InvaLab doesn’t think of itself as selling products or services, but rather outcomes. Like Patagonia, we differentiate ourselves by sharing our corporate vision with customers. In that sense, InvaLab dreams of becoming Korea’s Patagonia.”
Restoring damaged nature and building a sustainable future is no longer a choice but a necessity. With this conviction, InvaLab continues to grow with the ambition of becoming a company that leads a sustainable future where nature and humans coexist.
Meanwhile, InvaLab was selected this year as a resident company of the AI Impact Lab at the University of Seoul Campus Town. Shin said, “After being selected as an AI Impact Lab resident company, we received commercialization funding, which helped advance InvaLab’s products and solutions. We also had opportunities to apply for and participate in seminars tailored to InvaLab’s needs. In addition, we are receiving a wide range of support from the University of Seoul Campus Town, including mentoring and consulting.”
Source : https://www.donga.com/news/It/article/all/20251028/132651413/1
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