IT Startups Row Hard as AI Support for SMEs and Small Business Owners Gains Momentum

Market Expected to Grow with Government Policies to Enhance Digital Capabilities of SMEs and Small Business Owners
Startups Support Small Business Owners’ AX with Diverse AI Features

IT startups targeting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and small business owners as their main customers are strategically strengthening the artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities of their services. This move comes as the government has identified the enhancement of digital capabilities for SMEs and small business owners as a key area of support this year, aiming to help reduce costs and improve work efficiency through the adoption of AI-based services. The Basic Act on Artificial Intelligence (Act on the Promotion of the AI Industry and Securing Trust) also includes provisions to support the adoption and utilization of AI by SMEs and small business owners.

According to the industry on January 28, the recently implemented Basic Act on Artificial Intelligence stipulates support for AI adoption funding and related training for employees of SMEs and small business owners. There is also a provision that SMEs and similar entities should be given priority when implementing various support measures related to AI technology and the AI industry. Combined with the government’s support for small business owners’ AI transformation (AX), the policy environment is expected to open up new markets for IT startups providing solutions to SMEs and small business owners.

Bizhouse Main Screen

As a result, related companies have become more active. They believe that strengthening AI features tailored to small business owners will help secure future sales channels. Mokoflex, which operates an integrated store management solution, recently launched the AI-based “Our Store Smart Review” to assist small business owners. This service was developed to relieve customers’ burden of writing reviews and to support the marketing activities of small business owners. Its key feature is generating expert-level receipt and blog reviews using a proprietary large language model (LLM) trained on review data. Mokoflex plans to sequentially introduce additional services for small business owners seeking to adopt the solution, including enhanced AI quality and a dedicated review image creation service.

MIRIDI, a design platform company, provides logo, menu, and product image creation features using the latest generative AI models on “Bizhouse,” which allows small business owners to purchase printed materials and more online. By describing an original photo or desired concept in text, users can obtain high-quality results without professional assistance, supporting small business owners’ AX. MIRIDI’s proprietary design-specialized AI engine, “MiracleNet,” analyzes design context in real time and recommends elements that match the work. According to MIRIDI, about 70% of Bizhouse users are small business owners, and the introduction of these AI features has resulted in a repurchase rate of over 80%.

Example of Cashini Service

Korea Credit Data, which operates the small business management service “Cash Note,” launched the AI agent “Cashini” last year to answer real-time questions from self-employed business owners. Cashini acts as an assistant, responding to questions necessary for store operations, such as sales comparisons with nearby stores, drafting promotional phrases, and creating menus for foreign customers. Unlike general AI chatbot services, Cashini reads store management data recorded through the Cash Note service in real time and provides customized answers.

An industry official stated, “The market for related solutions is rapidly growing in tandem with the government’s digital support policies for small business owners,” adding, “AI-based services are leading to actual cost reductions and work efficiency, and on-site feedback has been positive.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.