AI Poppet, a technology that reads life through data and changes the standard of pet care with AI.
-Notice the innovation that moved the system and the case where technology changed the industry.
Building an AI healthcare ecosystem that extends from companion dogs and cats to horses.
The threshold for hospitals is high, and pets' abnormal signals are subtle. One company is capturing these small moments of anxiety through data and transforming them into everyday care. AI for Pet, an AI-based pet healthcare company, is redefining care with its "TTcare" service, which analyzes pets' eyes, skin, teeth, and gait with a single smartphone, connecting diagnosis and consultation.
From 25-year data analyst to AI entrepreneur
"I wanted to create technology that cares for life using AI."
AI Poppet's origins stemmed from a researcher's concern about predicting disease using data. CEO Heo Eun-ah, a former LG CNS employee, is Korea's first-generation data analysis expert. She worked with the National Health Insurance Service and others on disease prediction algorithms and researched "data-based health technology." However, human medical data was restricted by privacy regulations.
"At that time, a veterinary professor I know told me there were still many gaps in companion animal healthcare. My dog was also getting older at the time. I thought, 'What if we could use AI to assess an animal's health?' That was the starting point."
CEO Heo decided to start his own business in his fifties. He formed a team of five experts in technology, AI, planning, design, and sales. "If I were younger, I might have given up midway. But what I've learned over 25 years of professional life is that 'you just have to persevere until the end.'"
AI Poppet jumped into the field from the start. We visited 40 animal hospitals and 30 shelters nationwide, taking images of pets' eyes, skin, teeth, and gait. We helped with cleaning and played with abandoned dogs, building trust by becoming familiar with them and fostering trust with them, especially those anxious about unfamiliar environments.
The data collected in this way began at 500,000 images, and has since been continuously expanded through partner hospitals, currently encompassing 2.5 million disease-specific images. By using only real images for training, rather than synthetic data, the AI achieved a diagnostic accuracy of over 95%.
"AI's accuracy ultimately comes from real data. There are clear limitations to reproducing subtle signs in pets using synthetic data."
The birth of Korea's first 'AI animal medical device'
In late 2020, AI Poppet completed a prototype that used AI to analyze a pet's eyes for abnormalities when photographed with a smartphone. However, shortly after launch, Google suspended the service, claiming it constituted a "medical procedure." The problem was that the concept of a software-based veterinary medical device didn't even exist yet.
"I went directly to the government and explained that software can also be considered a medical device."
Ultimately, CEO Heo persuaded the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to change the system itself. As a result, TT Care became the first company in Korea to receive approval for a veterinary software medical device. It was a moment of transformation for the industry.
"Innovation isn't just about technology. Real innovation begins when you can persuade the system."
The veterinary community initially expressed concerns that AI would replace medical care. AI Poppet recruited faculty from Seoul National University and Konkuk University veterinary schools as advisors, building trust in the medical field and even developing solutions for hospitals. Currently, TT Care is used not only as a B2C service for guardians but also as a B2B service for veterinarians.
"AI detects the signs first, and the veterinarian completes the final touches. This increases treatment efficiency and reduces anxiety for pet owners."
Expanding healthcare from horses to people
AI Poppet, in collaboration with the Korea Intelligence Information Society Agency (NIA) and the Korea Racing Authority (KRA), developed an "Equine Gait Analysis AI Model." This technology can analyze a horse's gait and diagnose lameness using just a smartphone video. No wearable devices are required. Simply capture the horse's front, side, and rear with a camera, and the AI analyzes the movement of each joint frame by frame to identify any abnormalities. This technology is recognized worldwide as a unique "vision-based large animal healthcare AI."
CEO Heo Eun-ah said, "The strides of a single racehorse are directly linked to the value of hundreds of millions of won. However, until now, this has been based on subjective judgments based on the veterinarian's perspective. AI provides objective data. Accurate diagnosis ultimately protects both the lives of horses and the sustainability of the industry."
This technology goes beyond simply analyzing a horse's gait. Based on the bio-movement data accumulated by AI, it will eventually be expanded to analyze the health, weight changes, and exercise levels of dairy cows. In particular, it is expected to be a solution that can directly contribute to the early detection of disease and improved productivity in the livestock industry.
CEO Heo emphasized, "The AI vision model we've developed is species-agnostic. The morphological characteristics and movement patterns of living things are built on a common algorithm. Understanding this structure can connect healthcare for companion animals, large animals, and even humans."
We also aim to build a long-term global bio-AI network. We are currently sharing data and collaborating with veterinary universities and research institutes in Malaysia, the United States, Europe, and other countries.
"We currently diagnose diseases by looking at animals' eyes, but soon, we will be able to diagnose fatigue and stress by looking at human eyes. We started with pets, but we are ultimately moving toward becoming a technology company that cares for 'all life.'"
CES Innovation Awards for three consecutive years and recognition of technological prowess in the global market.
AI Poppet has won Innovation Awards for three consecutive years at CES 2022, 2023, and 2025. In 2025, it won for its racehorse gait analysis solution, "TTCare Equine." Furthermore, AI Poppet received a Silver Award in the Insurtech category at the Qorus Innovation in Insurance Awards 2025, demonstrating its technological prowess in the global insurance and fintech industries. This case demonstrates that AI technology can extend beyond simple diagnostics to encompass the insurance, home care, and data ecosystems.
"At first, I thought CES was just a consumer electronics show. But with the help of Changjinwon and a global accelerator, we took on the challenge and were recognized for both social value and technological innovation. I think our philosophy of AI caring for life resonated. Thanks to this award, even overseas pet tech companies are now familiar with the term 'AI for Pet.'"
The company is currently building a network of partnerships with global markets, including the United States, Europe, Malaysia, and Brazil, with the goal of becoming a global pet care leader.
The Future of Care and a New Ecosystem
CEO Heo Eun-ah says.
"AI isn't a technology that replaces people. It's a technology that reduces the number of hours veterinarians have to leave work late because they're busy organizing charts. It's a technology that helps guardians connect data taken at home with the hospital in real time, ensuring even the smallest abnormalities aren't missed. That's the role of AI."
Also, AI Poppet's philosophy is clear.
CEO Heo Eun-ah's belief in "AI-powered technology to care for life" is more than just a slogan. It's embedded in every moment: reading illness in a pet's eyes, improving treatment efficiency at the veterinarian's fingertips, and reducing the anxiety of their owners. AI-Popet's AI will only be complete when technology understands emotions and data becomes the language of care.
AI Forpet is currently conducting a Series A bridge round and is pursuing partnerships with overseas insurance companies and global pet brands. CEO Heo stated, "Starting with our service partnership with KT, we are poised for full-scale sales growth in the B2B and B2H markets." He added, "Our next step is to integrate AI-based treatment, insurance, and home care into a single ecosystem." He added, "We will simultaneously expand across three pillars: technology, industry, and policy, to ensure that Korean AI pet tech establishes itself as a global standard."
His voice was calm but firm.
"The technology is now ready. All that remains is to create the moment when technology becomes a 'market.'"
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