[Tech Startup Story] Urbanbase: A Global AR/VR Startup Story

Jinwoo Ha, CEO of Urbanbase, shares the company’s journey of becoming a leading player in digital transformation for indoor space information, powered by its distinctive expertise in augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR).

Urbanbase is a 3D spatial data platform company that owns proprietary technology capable of automatically converting 2D architectural floor plans into 3D models in just a few seconds. By training its AI on hundreds of thousands of floor plans and architectural regulations, Urbanbase now holds comprehensive apartment data across Korea. The virtual home environments created by Urbanbase achieve over 95% accuracy compared to real-world spaces.

With the rapid growth of non-face-to-face industries and increased time spent indoors, Urbanbase has gained significant attention. Through services such as 3D home interior simulations, which allow users to experience home design in virtual spaces, and an AR Viewer that enables easy deployment of augmented reality environments, Urbanbase collaborates with major home appliance, furniture, and interior brands including LG Electronics, Fursys Group, and Ace Bed.

From its early days, Urbanbase prepared for global expansion by securing technology patents in the United States, Europe, and Japan. Today, overseas revenue accounts for more than 70% of the company’s total sales. In January 2021, Urbanbase announced the launch of spatial consulting services by introducing its 3D interior technology into stores operated by Nitori, Japan’s leading furniture company with annual revenues of KRW 6.7 trillion. Looking ahead, Urbanbase plans to further expand into markets such as Japan, the United States, Singapore, and Indonesia.