Iyuno

About Iyuno

In 2002, David Lee founded what would become Iyuno in South Korea, starting with a simple service: using free software to create subtitles for local DVD companies. Seeing the shift to cable television, Lee developed MediaTrans, a platform that automated subtitle delivery, quickly capturing the vast majority of the Korean market. A move to Singapore in 2006 positioned the company for expansion across Southeast Asia. The company's growth was methodical; it would enter a new market, initially use a local vendor, and then establish its own operations with the profits. This playbook, combined with the explosion of global streaming platforms, set the stage for major expansion. The first institutional funding arrived in 2018, 16 years after its founding. This capital injection was followed by a 2019 merger with BTI Studios, a large European competitor. A defining moment came in March 2021, when Iyuno acquired its largest rival, SDI Media. The move, backed by investors including SoftBank Vision Fund 2 and Altor, created the industry's largest pure-play media localization provider, eventually rebranding simply as Iyuno. By early 2022, after another significant funding round, the combined company was valued at $1.2 billion, servicing the world's top entertainment studios and streaming platforms.