Paul Red

About Paul Red

Poled emerges from a unique origin, having spun off from the Hyundai Motor Group's in-house venture program in March 2019. The company was founded by Lee Hyeong-mo, who serves as the CEO, and other researchers with over a decade of experience in Hyundai's R&D division. This deep-rooted background in automotive engineering and safety standards provided the foundational expertise for the company's direction. Lee, a mechanical engineering major who joined Hyundai's R&D headquarters in 2005, channeled his experience as a father and an engineer to address the safety concerns of child transportation. This journey from corporate researchers to startup founders was driven by a desire to apply rigorous automotive safety principles to the juvenile products market.

The company operates in the baby and child care products market, focusing on creating items that prioritize safety and comfort. Its business model revolves around the direct-to-consumer sale of its products through its own e-commerce platform and other online retailers. The target clientele is parents and caregivers who are looking for child products engineered with a strong emphasis on safety, backed by extensive testing. Poled has demonstrated significant growth since its inception, expanding from a small team to over 60 employees within its first year and securing Series B funding. The firm's revenue reflects this trajectory, with reported sales of 22.4 billion KRW in 2023 and 19.9 billion KRW in the first half of 2024. The company is also expanding its presence globally, with operations in Japan and Taiwan.

Poled's product portfolio is centered around child safety and lifestyle items. A flagship product is the 'All-Age 360' car seat, designed for children from birth to 13 years old, which undergoes numerous actual car crash tests to ensure its quality. Another key product is the 'Airluv' stroller and car seat ventilation cushion, which has sold over 300,000 units within three years of its launch. The 'Airluv' line includes different models like the Donut, Lollypop, and Oreo, which vary in features such as the grade of HEPA filter and fan design to offer different levels of air purification and cooling. The company also offers the 'Pixel' line of customizable baby appliances, such as UVC LED sterilizers and formula dispensers, and the 'Hugbear' line for bath products. Additionally, Poled produces non-PVC play mats. A significant selling point for their products is the application of automotive engineering principles, such as utilizing a racing car's bucket seat structure in their lightweight 'Racer' portable car seat to enhance side-impact protection.