Finders AI wins $1.13M deep-tech TIPS grant for AI checkouts
What's the deal? South Korean computer vision startup Finders AIDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has been selected for the Ministry of SMEs and StartupsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →' 2026 TIPS deep-tech R&D track, securing up to US$1.26M (roughly $1.13 million) over three years. The grant, backed by operating partner Kkeullim Ventures, will fund upgrades to its AI self-checkout system, VCO (Vision Check-Out).
What does it do? VCO uses cameras and AI to recognise multiple items at once and build a payment list without barcode scanning. That makes it suited to bakeries and cafeterias selling unlabelled goods like bread or lunch boxes, and it works in both staffed and self-service formats.
What's the money for? The company plans to develop an AI model that combines 2D images and 3D shape data to better identify stacked or irregularly shaped products. It also aims to simplify new-product registration and slim down its AI models to cut hardware costs.
What's the endgame? Finders AI argues that high prices on vision-AI checkouts from overseas leaders have limited their spread across the Asia-Pacific region. By pairing lower cost with better accuracy, it intends to expand supply in that market.
By the numbers: Founded in 2020, Finders AI has raised US$10.6M to date. It has commercialised both fully unmanned stores — used by CU, GS25, and 7-Eleven SingaporeDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → — and VCO, which runs in Korean bakeries, cafeterias, and in Japan. This is its second TIPS selection, after a 2022 general-track project rated "excellent."
What could go wrong? The award is a combined private-plus-government deep-tech grant rather than a new funding round, and its payoff hinges on whether the work actually translates into wider store adoption and lower costs.
The signal: The grant underlines government support for homegrown retail automation as Korean vendors try to undercut pricey foreign checkout hardware. "In the deep-tech track, we will capture both accuracy and cost for AI checkouts to lead the global unmanned retail market," co-chief executive officer Ham Myeong-won said.
Read more: venturesquare.net
Image credit: Finders AI
