HITS
HITS is a Seoul-based AI biotech founded in 2020 that provides physics-informed deep learning platforms (HyperLab and OmicsHorizon) for small-molecule drug discovery and life science research, serving pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic customers globally via SaaS, CRO services, and licensing.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersSeoul, South Korea
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What HITS does
HITS is a Seoul-headquartered AI biotech company founded in May 2020 that builds physics-informed deep learning platforms to accelerate small-molecule drug discovery. Its core product, HyperLab, is a web-based, browser-accessible platform integrating four modules: Hyper Screening (AI-powered virtual screening with a proprietary 11 trillion compound library and Hyper Screening X scale), Hyper Design (deep generative molecule design based on molecular fragments and scaffolds), Hyper ADME/T (physics-based prediction of solubility, LogP, hERG inhibition, CYP inhibition, metabolic stability, and PAMPA permeability), and Hyper Binding (drug–protein interaction prediction with 3D binding visualization). Underlying technology combines molecular dynamics, computational chemistry, and proprietary deep learning architectures including PIGNet and C3Net, with 18+ peer-reviewed publications and three filed patents as of 2021.
In April 2026 HITS launched a second platform, OmicsHorizon, an Agentic AI platform for life science research focused on bio data analysis automation. The company monetizes through three streams: a subscription SaaS offering (HyperLab with a free trial), Digital CRO / Joint Research professional services for pharma, and technology licensing. Go-to-market combines self-serve global PLG via HyperLab, direct enterprise sales in Korea, and international channel partnerships (eMolecules in the USA, Synple Chem in Switzerland). Customer segments are pharmaceutical and biotech companies (primary), plus academic and research institutions (secondary), including named engagements with MD Anderson Cancer Center, Samsung Medical Center, KAIST, and a domestic non-profit research institute.
HITS is venture-backed (Series A of ₩5.5B led by Korea Investment Partners in late 2021, followed by a 2025 round led by Google DeepMind) and has secured substantial Korean government support, including the AI Star Fellowship (₩11.5B through 2030) and selection for the MSIT AI Specialized Foundation Model Development project (K-Fold). Leadership is anchored by KAIST professor Woo Youn Kim as CEO and co-founder Jaechang Lim as CTO, supported by a team of 11–50 employees.
HITS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HITS
- Legal name
- HITS Inc.
- Website
- https://hits.ai
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- HITS is a Seoul-based AI biotech founded in 2020 that provides physics-informed deep learning platforms (HyperLab and OmicsHorizon) for small-molecule drug discovery and life science research, serving pharmaceutical, biotech, and academic customers globally via SaaS, CRO services, and licensing.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HITS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- AI Drug Discovery Software
- NAICS
- Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Software Publishers (5132), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)
- SIC
- Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- AI/ML Platforms for Drug Discovery & Experiment Optimization (HLAGAJAO)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Drug Discovery (Target ID/Validation & Hit Discovery) (HLAIALAA), Target Identification & Validation Platforms (omics-driven, chemoproteomics, genetic validation) (HLAAAIAI)
Keywords
Where HITS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seoul
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
HITS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- HyperLab SaaS Platform: Web-based AI drug discovery platform offered as subscription service. Free trial available for initial customer acquisition with conversion to paid tiers.
- Digital CRO Services: Joint research and technology CRO services for pharmaceutical and biotech companies requiring custom AI-driven drug discovery projects.
- Technology Licensing: Licensing of proprietary AI technologies and platforms to pharmaceutical partners for internal drug discovery programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Monthly | Free Trial for HyperLab platform |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
HITS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HITS builds and sells the HyperLab web-based AI drug discovery platform, which integrates virtual screening, AI-driven molecular design, ADME/T property prediction, and drug-protein binding analysis into a single browser-accessible workflow for pharmaceutical and biotech researchers. The company also offers the OmicsHorizon Agentic AI platform for life science research, plus Digital CRO / Joint Research services and technology licensing of its proprietary physics-informed deep learning models.
Product overview
HITS offers a dual-product portfolio: HyperLab is a unified web-based AI drug discovery platform combining four integrated modules (Hyper ADME/T for property prediction, Hyper Design for molecular generation, Hyper Binding for interaction analysis, and Hyper Screening for virtual hit discovery) accessible without software installation; OmicsHorizon is a separate Agentic AI platform for life science research focused on bio data analysis automation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- HyperLab: AI-powered drug discovery web platform offering tools for virtual screening, AI drug design, ADME/T prediction, and molecular property analysis.
- OmicsHorizon
Products and services
- HyperLab Web-based AI drug discovery platform integrating virtual screening (Hyper Screening), AI-driven molecular design (Hyper Design), ADME/T property prediction (Hyper ADME/T), and drug-protein binding analysis (Hyper Binding) into a unified workflow accessible from any PC via web browser without software installation. Target users are pharmaceutical and biotech researchers conducting hit discovery, lead optimization, and ADME/T profiling.
- OmicsHorizon Agentic AI platform for life science research providing bio data analysis automation to solve research bottlenecks and improve research productivity. Target users are life science research teams needing automated multi-omics and bio-data workflows.
- Digital CRO / Joint Research Services Custom AI-driven drug discovery research services for pharmaceutical and biotech partners requiring joint research projects or contract research, leveraging HITS' physics-informed models, generative design capabilities, and ADME/T prediction expertise. Engagement is typically initiated through the website contact form for dedicated enterprise scoping.
- Technology Licensing Licensing of proprietary AI technologies and platforms (including physics-informed models and the HyperLab platform) to pharmaceutical partners for use in internal drug discovery programs. Licensing terms include royalty arrangements negotiated per partner.
Quantifiable outcome
- 11 trillion compound screening capability with Hyper Screening X
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use HITS
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
HITS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability7 records
Feature6 records
HITS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Synple ChemcoreGlobal sales partnership signed with Synple Chem (Switzerland) in August 2025 for international distribution of AI drug discovery solutions.
- eMoleculescoreStrategic partnership (MOU) and global sales partnership signed with eMolecules (USA) in May 2025 for international distribution of HyperLab platform. Also signed global sales partnership in August 2025.
- KAIST Research TeamcoreAI Star Fellow Project collaboration with KAIST research team, Samsung Medical Center, and Naver Cloud to develop AI models for disease reasoning, diagnosis, and new drug discovery. Government funding of 11.5 billion KRW through December 2030.
- Samsung Medical CentercoreAI Star Fellow Project consortium partner for developing AI models for disease reasoning, diagnosis, and new drug discovery with KAIST and Naver Cloud.
- Naver CloudcoreAI Star Fellow Project consortium partner providing cloud infrastructure for AI model development alongside KAIST and Samsung Medical Center.
- MD Anderson Cancer CentercoreSuccessfully discovered hit compounds using HyperLab platform with MD Anderson Cancer Center in January 2025, demonstrating international enterprise customer success.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
HITS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Insilico Medicine: Insilico Medicine is a leading AI-driven drug discovery company combining generative chemistry, target identification, and clinical development. It is a direct peer to HITS in AI/ML-enabled small molecule discovery, virtual screening, and Digital CRO offerings.
- Atomwise: Atomwise operates the AtomNet platform for AI-powered virtual screening and small molecule design, serving pharma and academic partners globally. It competes head-on with HITS's Hyper Screening and Hyper Design modules.
- Schrödinger: Schrödinger provides physics-based computational chemistry and ML-augmented molecular simulation platforms used widely in pharma drug discovery. Overlaps with HITS's physics-informed AI approach and ADME/T prediction capabilities.
- Exscientia: Exscientia is an AI-driven precision medicine company offering end-to-end small molecule design and discovery services to pharma. Directly comparable to HITS's generative AI drug design and CRO model.
- XtalPi: XtalPi combines AI, quantum physics, and robotics for drug discovery and materials innovation. Directly comparable to HITS on physics-informed AI, virtual screening, and small molecule design.
- BenevolentAI: BenevolentAI applies AI to drug discovery and target identification across multiple disease areas. Comparable to HITS's target ID and hit discovery workflows, with a SaaS plus pipeline business model.
Broad incumbents
- Recursion Pharmaceuticals: Recursion combines high-throughput experimental biology with AI/ML for drug discovery across multiple therapeutic areas. While broader and wet-lab-centric, it is a relevant incumbent in AI-enabled small molecule and phenotypic discovery.
- Isomorphic Labs: Isomorphic Labs (Alphabet) is an AI-first drug discovery company built on DeepMind's AlphaFold. As a well-capitalized AI drug discovery peer, it sets a benchmark for the physics-informed, foundation-model approach HITS is pursuing with K-Fold.
Emerging players
- Iambic Therapeutics: Iambic (formerly Entasis) develops AI-driven small molecule therapeutics with physics-informed models. Comparable to HITS in approach and stage, with overlapping pharma partnership model.
- Cradle Bio: Cradle uses generative AI for protein engineering and drug discovery, with a developer platform model. Comparable to HITS's AI design and biologics-adjacent modality extension, though more focused on proteins.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
HITS social profiles
Digital presenceHITS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HITS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
HITS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds3 records
Investors10 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HITS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about HITS
What does HITS do?
HITS builds and sells the HyperLab web-based AI drug discovery platform, which integrates virtual screening, AI-driven molecular design, ADME/T property prediction, and drug-protein binding analysis into a single browser-accessible workflow for pharmaceutical and biotech researchers. The company also offers the OmicsHorizon Agentic AI platform for life science research, plus Digital CRO / Joint Research services and technology licensing of its proprietary physics-informed deep learning models.
Is HITS a public or private company?
HITS is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was HITS founded?
HITS was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is HITS based?
HITS is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, in the Asia region.
How does HITS make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. HyperLab SaaS Platform is the primary driver. The others are digital CRO Services and technology Licensing.
Who are HITS's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Insilico Medicine, Atomwise, Schrödinger, Exscientia, XtalPi and BenevolentAI. Broad incumbents are Recursion Pharmaceuticals and Isomorphic Labs. Emerging players are Iambic Therapeutics and Cradle Bio.
Does HITS have an API?
No public API is recorded for HITS.
What industry is HITS in?
HITS's product category is AI Drug Discovery Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGAJAO, AI/ML Platforms for Drug Discovery & Experiment Optimization, with a secondary code of HLAIALAA, Drug Discovery (Target ID/Validation & Hit Discovery). Its NAICS code is 541714 and its SIC code is 8731.