TR

What TR does

TR Corporation (주식회사 티알) is a privately held South Korean digital healthcare company founded in 2018 in Daejeon as a lab startup. The company develops and distributes AI-based smart healthcare products, anchored by three medical devices: The Spirokit, an AI/ML-driven portable digital spirometer for early COPD and respiratory disease diagnosis, validated through clinical trials at Vietnam National University Hospital and Chungnam National University Hospital and published in an SCI-level journal; Mechano Tape, a Class 1-certified medical compression band with insurance-claimable hospital sales coverage; and The Neb, an upcoming IoT-based nebulizer with replaceable cartridges, UV-C LED sterilization, and mobile app integration. The company also sells consumer sporting goods (Tape-Pro and foot-specific taping products) and offers B2B consulting services spanning prototype development, PCB and mobile app design, medical device certification, and startup acceleration.

The business operates across three revenue streams: medical device hardware sales (The Spirokit, Mechano Tape, The Neb), sporting goods hardware sales (Tape-Pro, foot tape), and professional services (startup consulting and global acceleration). Distribution combines direct hospital sales with channel partnerships — notably Daewoong Pharmaceutical (lung function tester supply contract, April 2026), TransGlobal Healthcare (TGH) for The Spirokit, and DIPS for AI-based respiratory disease diagnosis system distribution. The company pursues an event-heavy go-to-market motion, showcasing products at CES 2024, MEDICA 2023, KIMES, KHF2023, the Asia-Pacific Respiratory Society conference, and Singapore Big Data & AI exhibitions to drive top-of-funnel leads in Korea and international markets including Vietnam, Indonesia, Japan, Mongolia, and the United States.

TR has accumulated a substantial regulatory and certification footprint for an early-stage company — ISO 13485, ISO 9001, ISO 19471, GMP, and Class 1 medical device registration — and has received national recognition including the Food and Drug Administration Commissioner's Award to CEO Kim Byung-soo and the ICT R&D Minister of Science and ICT award in 2024. After a 2021 seed round from Future Science & Technology Holdings under the TIPS program and a 2023 strategic investment from AHealz, TR closed a 2.5 billion KRW (approximately USD 1.75M) Series A in October 2025 earmarked for international expansion and respiratory device development. The company is controlled by founder-CEO Kim Byung-soo and operates from a Daejeon headquarters and Seoul sales/marketing branch.

Name

TR

Legal name

주식회사 티알

Website

https://theresearcher.co.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TR Corporation is a South Korean digital healthcare company developing AI-based lung function testing devices, IoT-enabled nebulizers, and medical compression products. It serves hospitals, clinics, pharmaceutical distributors, and developing-country healthcare markets with respiratory diagnostic solutions and R&D consulting services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Respiratory Diagnostic Medical Devices

NAICS

Electromedical and Electrotherapeutic Apparatus Manufacturing (334510), Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing (339112), Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113)

SIC

Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841), Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845)

akta.pro primary industry

Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) & Spirometry Equipment (HLAHAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Remote Diagnostics & Point-of-Care (Connected Testing, Home Lab Devices) (HLACAPAK), Remote Diagnostics & Home Testing Devices (Connected POC/At-Home Diagnostic Readers) (HLAHACAL)

Keywords

• Respiratory medical devices
• AI lung function testing
• IoT nebulizer systems
• Medical compression bandages
• Digital healthcare diagnostics

Headquarters

HQ city

Daejeon

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Medical Device Sales: Sale of respiratory medical devices including The Spirokit, Mechano Tape, and The Neb nebulizer. Products are sold through hospitals, clinics, and distribution partners. Mechano Tape is already sold in multiple hospitals with insurance claimable coverage.
2. Consulting Services: Provides startup consulting, global acceleration, medical device certification, prototype development support, and business education. Services are delivered by experts across various fields to help companies reduce costs and achieve faster results.
3. Sporting Goods: Sale of premium sports tape products including Tape-Pro and foot-specific taping products for consumers and athletes.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

TR Corporation (주식회사 티알) develops and distributes AI-based respiratory diagnostic medical devices, IoT-enabled nebulizers, and biomechanical compression bandages for healthcare institutions. The company's flagship product, The Spirokit, is a portable AI-driven lung function tester that connects to smart devices for COPD screening, achieving accuracy comparable to university hospital spirometers. The company also sells sports tape products and offers startup consulting services covering prototype development, certification, and global acceleration.

Product overview

TR Corporation is a digital healthcare company that develops and distributes AI-based smart healthcare products. Their product portfolio centers on three medical devices (The Spirokit for AI-based lung function testing, Mechano Tape compression band, and The Neb IoT nebulizer) complemented by sporting goods (Tape-Pro and Foot Tape) and business consulting services supporting startups with prototyping, circuit design, app development, and medical device certification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Spirokit: AI-based digital respiratory disease detector (portable spirometer / lung function tester) for early diagnosis of COPD and other respiratory conditions. Developed jointly with university hospitals; accuracy comparable to hospital-grade spirometers. Certified as GMP and Class 1 medical device.
• Mechano Tape
• The Neb
• Tape-Pro
• 발테이프로 (Foot Tape)

Products and services

• The Spirokit AI-based digital lung function testing device (portable spirometer) for early COPD diagnosis. Connects to smart devices for convenient respiratory disease screening with accuracy comparable to hospital-grade spirometers. GMP certified as a diagnostic medical device.
• Mechano Tape Class 1 medical device compression band providing elastic pressure support for joints and muscles, helping prevent blood pooling and providing stability during physical activity. 100% domestically developed and produced with National Health Insurance coverage in Korean hospitals.
• The Neb IoT-based next-generation nebulizer with replaceable single-use cartridges for various oriental and Western medicines, featuring UV-C LED sterilization and mobile app integration providing usage alarms, usage history, and drug abuse prevention.
• Tape-Pro Premium biomechanical sports tape made from spandex-nylon blended fabric with 4-way stretch, offering six times greater tension compared to cotton-based alternatives. Supports joint stability and athletic performance enhancement.
• Foot Tape (발테이프) Pre-cut foot-specific taping product designed to reduce foot fatigue during daily activities and sports, providing lightweight, comfortable support tailored to weight-bearing feet.
• Startup Consulting Services Prototype development support (mechanical design, PCB fabrication, Android/iOS app development), startup consulting, global acceleration, medical device certification support, and business education services delivered by experts to help startups reduce costs and achieve faster results.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly identical error rate compared to precision lung function testers installed in major university hospitals
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Daewoong PharmaceuticalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 April 2026TR signed a supply contract for lung function testers with Daewoong Pharmaceutical. This partnership enables distribution of TR's medical devices through Daewoong's pharmaceutical distribution network.
• DIPSminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 2 April 2026TR was selected by DIPS for AI-based respiratory disease diagnosis support system distribution, expanding access to healthcare institutions.
• Mongolia Archi Medical SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 November 2024TR signed MOU with Mongolia Archi Medical School for The Spirokit affiliated hospital installation and Mongolia domestic market expansion cooperation.
• Vietnam National University HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 October 2023TR obtained clinical trial approval for The Spirokit lung disease screening device in partnership with Vietnam National University Hospital.
• Chungnam National University HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 October 2023TR obtained clinical trial approval for The Spirokit lung disease screening device in partnership with Chungnam National University Hospital.
• TransGlobal Healthcare (TGH)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 7 September 2023TR signed a product supply contract with TransGlobal Healthcare for The Spirokit, the world's first AI-based COPD diagnostic device, at TGH's headquarters in Gyeonggi Yongin.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cosmed: Cosmed is an Italian manufacturer of pulmonary function testing equipment (spirometry, lung diffusion, body plethysmography) and metabolic carts — a direct competitor in the PFT equipment category where TR's Spirokit competes.
• Vitalograph: Vitalograph manufactures clinical and screening spirometers and respiratory diagnostics widely used in hospitals, occupational health, and clinical trials — directly comparable to TR's spirometry and COPD screening focus.
• PARI Pharma: PARI is a leading manufacturer of nebulizers and inhalation drug-delivery devices, including connected/eFlow variants — directly comparable to TR's The Neb IoT nebulizer in target use case and customer segment.
• MIR (Medical International Research): MIR is a global specialist in portable, smart-device-connected spirometers (Spirobank, Spirodoc) for primary care, occupational health, and telemedicine — competing head-to-head with TR's Spirokit across the same portable/connected use cases.
• ndd Medical Technologies (EasyOne): ndd Medical Technologies is a leading manufacturer of portable, PC- and app-connected spirometers (EasyOne line) used for COPD and pulmonary function screening — directly comparable to TR's Spirokit in form factor, clinical use case, and target customers.

Broad incumbents

• ResMed: ResMed is a global leader in respiratory and sleep medicine, with connected devices and cloud platforms for COPD and sleep-disordered breathing — comparable to TR's broader respiratory-management ambitions though operating at vastly greater scale.
• Vyaire Medical: Vyaire Medical is a large incumbent respiratory diagnostics company offering a full portfolio of spirometry, PFT, and ventilation products — competing with TR in the broader respiratory diagnostics category from a much larger scale.
• OMRON Healthcare: OMRON Healthcare is a major respiratory device maker with portable nebulizers and connected respiratory monitoring products sold globally — comparable to TR on connected respiratory hardware, though at significantly larger scale.
• Philips Respiratory Care: Philips offers a broad respiratory-care portfolio including hospital-grade spirometry, ventilators, and connected respiratory monitoring — relevant to TR's connected respiratory-device roadmap as a wide-scale incumbent competitor.

Emerging players

• Alveofit: Alveofit is an emerging digital lung-health company offering portable, app-connected spirometers for COPD and asthma screening in emerging markets — overlapping with TR's value proposition around affordable, portable AI-based lung function testing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds7 records

Investors10 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TR