First Lab secures 3.1 billion won in investment, marking full-scale expansion into the Japanese and European markets.

First Lab, a water treatment equipment startup based on ultrasonic focusing technology, announced on the 7th that it has secured a total of 3.1 billion won in pre-A bridge investment from IBK Venture Investment, Future Play, Medici Investment, and IBK Capital. With this investment, First Lab plans to accelerate its expansion into the Japanese and European markets.

First Lab, established in 2022 as a research institute under the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, developed "CAVITOX," a water treatment device that utilizes focused ultrasound technology to decompose toxic perfluorinated compounds (PFAS). PFAS are fluorinated chemicals used in various industries, including semiconductors, secondary batteries, pharmaceuticals, and clothing, and are often referred to as "forever chemicals." They are known to increase the risk of carcinogenesis because they are not excreted when accumulated in the human body. Major countries, including the United States, the European Union (EU), and Japan, have already implemented strict regulations on their use.

First Lab's CAVITOX utilizes technology that breaks down PFAS through the "cavitation" effect generated by focused ultrasound. This technology is considered a new alternative to addressing the PFAS disposal problem, which has been virtually unsolvable beyond high-temperature incineration.

Hwangbo Min-seong, CEO of First Lab, said, “This investment is a recognition of CAVITOX’s innovativeness as a technology that responds to global environmental regulations,” and added, “Starting with Japan and Europe, we will accelerate our entry into the global market and create a global standard for sustainable water treatment technology.”

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