SparkLabs signs investment letter of intent with MetaPass

Sparklabs announced on the 6th that it had signed a letter of intent to invest in Metapass, a startup based in the Naju Innopolis Campus in South Jeolla Province.

Innopolis Campuses are a government initiative to support locally led innovation and growth in smaller municipalities. The program designates and develops R&D special zones around key local technology institutions. Six areas—Ansan, Gimhae, Jinju, Changwon, Pohang in North Gyeongsang Province, and Cheongju in North Chungcheong Province—were first designated as Innopolis Campuses in 2019. Today, 12 areas nationwide have the designation, including Cheonan, Asan, Gunsan, Gumi, Naju, Ulsan, Ulju, and Seoul’s Hongneung district.

Sparklabs is participating in an Innopolis Campus accelerator program managed by the INNOPOLIS Foundation. It focuses on finding promising aspiring entrepreneurs and startups in the campuses, providing seed funding and incubation, and connecting them with follow-on investment to support their growth. As part of the program, Sparklabs has signed a letter of intent to invest in Metapass, a startup based in the Naju Innopolis Campus, and will support its efforts to commercialize its business.

Metapass, a company selected for the Naju Innopolis Campus in South Jeolla Province, provides a service that uses drone platforms to efficiently collect, analyze, and manage data on defects at solar power plants. It has built a platform that automates inspections using high-precision autonomous drones and AI, replacing checks previously conducted by on-site personnel using manually operated drones. The platform also helps improve the safety and extend the service life of renewable energy facilities through systematic maintenance.

Sparklabs CEO Eugene Kim said, "Through this Innopolis Campus accelerator program, we are creating sustainable business partnerships to help promising local startups thrive. Sparklabs will continue to provide strong support to identify and nurture promising startups in local communities and expand regional startup ecosystems."