[Edaily Reporter Kim Hyun-ah] Naver D2SF, the startup investment arm of Naver (#NAVER), has made a new investment in the AI security startup Aim Intelligence. This decision stems from the assessment that as the scope of AI applications—including generative AI, AI agents, multimodal AI, and physical AI—rapidly expands, AI security technology is establishing itself as a core infrastructure for the next generation.

According to industry sources on the 10th, Aim Intelligence is a specialized AI security company that supports enterprises in safely developing and operating AI. It provides security solutions that cover the entire process, from attack simulations that preemptively check for vulnerabilities in AI models to risk control during the operational phase.

Recently, as the adoption of AI accelerates in corporate environments, new forms of security threats—such as data breaches, unauthorized access, prompt injection, and model malfunctions—are surging. Consequently, establishing safety verification and control systems has emerged as an essential task alongside improving AI performance.

To meet this demand, Aim Intelligence has developed an AI security platform that covers the entire lifecycle of attack, verification, and control. At its core are the Red Team solution, which proactively detects AI vulnerabilities, and the Guardrail solution, which blocks risky behavior during operation. Drawing on its experience participating in safety projects at global AI research institutions such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta, the company is building a security framework applicable to industrial environments.

Its research capabilities are also a key strength. The company has published approximately 20 papers, primarily in the field of AI guardrails, and its research achievements have been recognized at major international conferences. Recently, it has expanded beyond the security of large language models (LLMs) and AI agents to develop physical AI safety technologies aimed at ensuring safety in physical environments, such as those involving robots.

Business results are also becoming visible. The company has secured paying clients across various industries, including enterprise, finance, and public institutions, and is currently working to enhance its solutions to meet industry-specific regulatory and compliance requirements based on experience accumulated in real-world operational environments.

Naver D2SF discovered Aim Intelligence through the Campus Technology Startup Competition in the first half of 2024, and this investment followed a period of incubation. The co-founding team consists of talent with experience in AI safety research and entrepreneurship, and they are recognized for their ability to quickly translate the rapidly evolving AI landscape into tangible products.

Yang Sang-hwan, Head of Naver D2SF, stated, “Aim Intelligence is a team that has rapidly commercialized a practical solution covering the entire AI security lifecycle,” adding, “We are also discussing collaboration with Naver’s internal security organization to ensure the implementation of safe AI.” He further commented, “Trust and track record are crucial in the security sector, and the achievements demonstrated by Aim Intelligence—which began as a student startup team—are highly impressive.”

Yoo Sang-yoon, CEO of Aim Intelligence, stated, “As AI expands beyond work tools to become part of industrial infrastructure—such as payment platforms, vehicles, and robots—AI security is becoming a necessity rather than an option.” He added, “With this investment as a springboard, we will grow into an AI security infrastructure company capable of safely developing, verifying, and operating generative AI, agent AI, and physical AI.”

Over 320 teams—the largest number in history—applied for the 2026 first-half Campus Tech Startup Competition recently held by Naver D2SF. With participation ranging from solo founders to high school student teams, the event is seen as a sign that the base for tech startups in the AI era is rapidly expanding. Naver D2SF plans to continue broadening its engagement with AI-native generation entrepreneurs to discover next-generation tech startups.