Deeply

What Deeply does

Deeply Inc. is a Seoul-headquartered audio AI company founded in 2017 by CEO Suji Lee (KAIST electrical engineering, signal processing) that has built a proprietary sound AI platform branded "Listen AI." The company develops its own transformer-based deep learning models trained on a claimed 13.9TB non-verbal sound dataset (42 sound types, 50,000+ hours annotated) and a 2.1-million-hour industrial noise foundation model, with the platform deployed on edge devices, on-premise servers, or cloud configurations. Deeply monetizes Listen AI through three offerings: Listen AI Industrial for end-of-line and in-process manufacturing quality inspection (motor noise, connector fastening verification, glass breakage, predictive maintenance, pressure-valve safety), Listen AI Safety for real-time emergency sound detection in public spaces and transit, and a Custom Solution for tailored acoustic detection needs. The technology has been validated at 97–99.87% accuracy across industrial use cases and 98% F1-score via TTA certification, with deployments in automotive, semiconductor, petrochemical, rail (KORAIL KTX), construction (Lotte Construction), gaming (Kangwon Land), and Korean/Singaporean public-sector accounts (Incheon Transit, Government Sejong Complex, HTX).

The business operates primarily on annual subscription licensing for the Industrial and Safety solutions, supplemented by one-time hardware sales (specialized microphones, AI Sound Box edge servers, Listen AI Monitoring System dashboard) and project-based custom solution engagements that follow a 5-step implementation process (consultation → sound environment review → development → real-world testing → deployment). An OpenAPI and SDKs (Embedded C++, Android, Python) enable OEM/embedded distribution into customer devices such as security cameras and PLC/MES systems (Siemens, Mitsubishi). Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales with no apparent resellers, supported by an Industrial PoC inquiry funnel and an active event presence at CES, Intersec, Automate, SECON, eGISEC, and AI TECH; expansion into North America (Automate 2026) and Singapore (HATCH / HTX) is the current strategic priority, backed by a $1.65M seed round closed in June 2026 led by Devsisters Ventures.

Operationally, Deeply is an early-stage private company with 11–50 employees, headquartered at 2F, 30, Baekbeom-ro 24-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul. Its strategic pivot from earlier safety/consumer applications into industrial manufacturing quality inspection (made in 2024) is the central business decision that defines its current trajectory, and a follow-on expansion into predictive maintenance ("Listen Machine," March 2025) extends the platform's wallet share within existing manufacturing accounts. With limited disclosed revenue and a small team, the company is best characterized as a deep-tech seed-stage venture whose investability hinges on the defensibility of its acoustic data flywheel, its ability to scale North American field sales, and whether land-and-expand economics within global OEM accounts can support a step-up to Series A.

Name

Deeply

Legal name

Deeply Inc.

Website

https://deeplyinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Deeply Inc. is a Seoul-based audio AI company that develops the Listen AI platform for industrial manufacturing quality inspection, public-safety emergency sound detection, and tailored acoustic AI solutions, selling subscription software plus proprietary edge hardware to enterprise customers in automotive, semiconductor, petrochemical, rail, and government sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Acoustic AI Software

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

End-to-End Enterprise AI Platforms (MLOps & Model Lifecycle Management) (HDAEANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

On-Device Speech & Audio AI (wake word, ASR, enhancement) (HDAAAJAF), Model Serving, Inference & Deployment Platforms (APIs, Edge/On-Prem) (HDAEANAC), Edge AI Deployment, Orchestration & OTA Model Updates (HDAAAJAI)

Keywords

• Acoustic AI software
• Industrial quality inspection
• Sound anomaly detection
• Public safety monitoring
• Predictive maintenance

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Listen AI Industrial — Machine Quality Inspection: Subscription-based licensing of the Listen AI Industrial solution for end-of-line (EOL) quality inspection and in-process quality control (IPQC). Sold as a bundled solution including microphones, analysis servers, and the monitoring software (Listen AI Monitoring System). Revenue is recurring through annual contracts with enterprise manufacturers. Deployment configurations include PLC · MES integration and on-premise server setup. After initial introduction at one production line, customers increasingly expand to additional lines, creating a land-and-expand revenue dynamic.
2. Listen AI Safety — Emergency/Risk Detection: Subscription-based licensing of the Listen AI Safety solution for real-time emergency sound detection in public spaces and facilities. Configuration options include Edge, On-Prem, and Cloud deployment. The company also sells specialized hardware including microphones and edge servers as part of the bundled offering. Revenue is recurring with annual billing cadence.
3. Custom Solution — Tailored Sound AI: Fully tailored solution built for specific customer environments and sound detection requirements. The 5-step implementation process (Inquiry/Consultation → Sound Environment Review → Development → Real-World Testing → Integration/Deployment) suggests project-based or milestone-based revenue, potentially with ongoing support contracts post-deployment.
4. Hardware Sales (Proprietary Microphones and Edge Servers): Deeply supplies complementary hardware including specialized microphones (high-frequency microphones, vibration-detecting microphones, noise-filtering microphones) and the AI Sound Box / edge analysis server. This represents a one-time hardware sale component alongside recurring software licensing.
5. API/SDK Licensing: The company exposes Listen AI via OpenAPI and provides SDKs (Android, Embedded C++, Python) enabling customers to integrate sound analysis capabilities into their own products and systems. This suggests a potential API-usage-based or licensing revenue stream for developer/OEM integrations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Deeply develops and sells the Listen AI Sound AI platform, a proprietary acoustic intelligence software product that performs real-time sound event detection, anomaly detection, and sound classification for industrial manufacturing quality inspection (motor noise, connector fastening, equipment wear) and public safety applications (screams, falls, glass breaking, distress calls). The platform is delivered as three software solutions — Listen AI Industrial, Listen AI Safety, and Custom Solution — bundled with proprietary hardware (specialized microphones and AI Sound Box edge server), supporting edge, on-premise, and cloud deployment models and integrating with PLC/MES systems, CCTV, and notification channels via APIs and SDKs.

Product overview

DEEPLY is a sound AI technology company offering the Listen AI platform with three core solutions: Listen AI Industrial for manufacturing quality inspection, Listen AI Safety for emergency and risk detection, and Custom Solution for tailored sound detection. The platform processes audio from specialized microphones and edge devices, analyzing sounds through proprietary AI models to detect anomalies, classify events, and generate real-time alerts. Supporting components include the AI Sound Box hardware, specialized microphones, and the Listen AI Monitoring System dashboard. Solutions are deployable via Edge, On-Premise, or On-Device methods, and integrate with PLC/MES systems, CCTV, and notification channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Listen AI: Sound AI solution for industrial and safety applications including quality inspection, defect detection, and emergency situation recognition
• Listen AI Industrial
• Listen AI Safety

Products and services

• Listen AI Industrial Machine quality inspection solution that analyzes sounds from motors, connectors, and equipment to detect defects and anomalies at final production stages. Replaces manual auditory inspections with automated sound analysis, achieving 97–99%+ accuracy on assembly lines. For enterprise manufacturers in automotive, semiconductor, petrochemical, glass, robotics, and heavy industry.
• Listen AI Safety Emergency and risk detection monitoring solution that identifies sounds such as screams, shouts, glass breaking, and distress calls in real-time. Detects 10+ types of emergency non-verbal sounds and distress phrases like 'Help me' and 'Please help', with instant alerts via KakaoTalk, SMS, email, and webhooks. For government agencies, transit authorities, and public safety organizations.
• Custom Solution Fully tailored sound detection offering enabling customers to detect and analyze specific sounds of their choice in their chosen environments. Follows a 5-step implementation process (Inquiry/Consultation → Sound Environment Review → Development → Real-World Testing → Integration/Deployment). For organizations with specialized sound detection requirements not met by standard products.
• Listen Machine Sound and vibration classification solution for analyzing abnormal data and supporting equipment condition responses, including predictive maintenance and non-destructive inspection of finished products in manufacturing environments.
• AI Sound Box Proprietary edge hardware device for sound capture and processing. Paired with three specialized microphones designed for high-frequency detection, vibration detection, and noise-filtering in noisy sites. Part of the bundled Listen AI hardware + software stack.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60%+ annual labor cost savings per production line from Listen AI Industrial deployment
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

AI capability5 records

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting, secondary and minor.

• Singapore Home Team Science & Technology Agency (HTX)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2025Deeply was selected for Singapore's 'HATCH Dimension X Cohort 5' innovation program and is collaborating with HTX and local Singapore government agencies on a PoC project to integrate Listen AI's real-time emergency sound detection (screams, 'help me') into Singapore's public safety systems. The technology is positioned for smart city and smart surveillance systems. Demo day presentation scheduled for July.
• National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA) — Singapore IT Support CentersupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 9 April 2025NIPA's Singapore IT Support Center is supporting Deeply's PoC with the Singapore government, helping Korean AI companies gain recognition in global markets and facilitating successful collaboration with international government agencies.
• Incheon Transit CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeployed Listen AI emergency detection solution in 10 restrooms at Incheon National University Station as part of a demonstration project for 'Emergency Situation Detection for Subway Restrooms Using Sound-Based AI.' The transit corporation designed this project to establish rapid situation assessment and response through AI, and has announced plans to gradually expand the solution across its facilities.
• KORAIL (Korea Railroad Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKORAIL employs Listen AI to monitor traction motor sounds for high-speed KTX trains, detecting malfunctions and abnormalities and predicting failures before they occur. Deeply collects all sounds generated when various parts malfunction and builds them into big data for predictive maintenance of rail vehicles.
• Kangwon LandsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerListen AI installed for conflict detection and preemptive safety management in Kangwon Land casino facilities, detecting altercations and distress sounds to enable immediate intervention by security staff.
• Lotte ConstructionsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerLotte Construction uses Listen AI's noise monitoring solution to detect sounds exceeding regulatory limits at construction sites, identifying potential safety risks, enabling early intervention, and minimizing noise-related complaints.
• Government Sejong ComplexcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListen AI installed at the Government Sejong Complex Sports Center (pool, gym, restrooms) and other facilities where CCTV cannot be installed. The system monitors blind spots and detects emergencies such as screams, glass breaking, and distress calls, alerting security personnel. The complex sees up to one million visitors annually. The Multifunctional Administrative City Construction Agency plans to expand the technology to more areas.
• Korea University HospitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeeply is collaborating with Korea University Hospital on a project to track the daily routines of depression patients, monitoring activities such as regular exercise and meals through sound analysis.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Audio Analytic: UK-based sound event detection company providing AI-based acoustic monitoring for smart home, IoT, and public safety applications. Directly comparable to Deeply's Listen AI Safety product line in deploying sound classification AI across consumer and enterprise use cases.
• Picovoice: On-device voice and audio AI platform offering wake-word, ASR, and sound recognition models that run at the edge. Closely comparable to Deeply's edge-deployed Listen AI architecture and SDK distribution model for embedded audio AI.

Broad incumbents

• SoundHound AI: Public voice AI company offering speech recognition, natural language understanding, and sound analytics across automotive, restaurant, and IoT. Overlaps with Deeply on enterprise audio AI but operates at much larger scale with a broader product portfolio.
• Cognex: Established public company and global leader in machine vision for industrial automation and quality inspection. Represents the incumbent solution Deeply's Listen AI competes against or complements in factory QC applications.
• Keyence: Japanese industrial automation and inspection equipment leader selling sensors, measurement systems, and microscopes to manufacturers globally. Represents the entrenched incumbent that Deeply must displace or partner with to win factory inspection deals.
• Uptake: Industrial AI software platform providing asset performance, predictive maintenance, and operational intelligence for heavy industry and rail. Comparable as a broader industrial AI incumbent that overlaps with Deeply's predictive maintenance positioning.
• Brüel & Kjær (HBK): Established manufacturer of sound and vibration measurement instruments, acoustic analyzers, and condition monitoring systems for industrial applications. Represents the legacy instrumentation incumbent whose hardware-plus-software stack Deeply's AI-based approach potentially disrupts.

Emerging players

• Falkonry: Industrial AI company focused on time-series anomaly detection and predictive maintenance for manufacturing and energy. Comparable to Deeply's predictive maintenance and equipment aging diagnosis use cases for Listen AI Industrial.
• Landing AI: Industrial AI platform founded by Andrew Ng providing visual inspection and quality control solutions for manufacturers. Comparable as a competing modality (vision vs. sound) for automated factory QC and an indicator of demand for AI-based manufacturing inspection.
• Sensory: Voice and sound AI company offering on-device speech recognition, wake-word, and sound identification SDKs for embedded applications. Comparable to Deeply's edge audio AI / embedded SDK approach, particularly for OEM integrations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/deeplyinc
• Facebookfacebook.com/deeplyinc

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors4 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 Deeply