CLAP

Name

CLAP

Legal name

(주)클랩 / CLAP Co., Ltd

Website

https://clap.co.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Display Materials

NAICS

Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (33441), Paint and Coating Manufacturing (325510)

SIC

Chemicals & Allied Products (2800), Semiconductors & Related Devices (3674), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)

akta.pro primary industry

Deposition Precursors (CVD/ALD Precursors, Metalorganics) (IMAEAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Thin-Film Deposition Materials (PVD/CVD/ALD Targets & Precursors) (HDAHAGAH)

Keywords

• Organic semiconductor materials
• OTFT display technology
• OLED retardation films
• Fingerprint-on-display sensors
• Specialty functional films

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Materials and Products Sales: Direct sales of organic semiconductor materials (OSC ink sets), OTFT substrates, liquid crystal materials, retardation films, and sensor products to display manufacturers and electronics companies.
2. Technology Licensing: Licensing of OTFT core patents, liquid crystal optical film technology, and process technologies to manufacturers in display and sensor industries.
3. Technology Transfer: Transfer of manufacturing know-how and production technologies for organic semiconductor materials and processes, including training and technical support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CLAP develops and supplies organic semiconductor materials (OSC ink sets), OTFT substrates and devices, photo-alignment liquid crystal films, OLED retardation films, fingerprint-on-display sensors, X-ray detectors, and specialty materials (BaZi blue light blocking, biodegradable, antibacterial). The company also licenses OTFT core patents and transfers manufacturing know-how to display manufacturers, sensor companies, and electronics OEMs worldwide. It operates three business units—Materials, Sensors, and Specialty Films—covering the full stack from material design and synthesis to film production and device integration.

Product overview

CLAP is a materials and sensor technology company specializing in organic semiconductors and OLED display solutions. The company operates three business units: Materials Business Unit (organic semiconductor materials and OTFT ink sets), Sensor Business Unit (fingerprint sensors, X-ray detectors, biometric sensors), and SF (Specialty Film) Business Unit (photo-alignment liquid crystal films, retardation films, coatable polarizers). CLAP offers a comprehensive portfolio including OSC materials, OTFT substrates, fingerprint on display sensors, X-ray detectors, optical films, and specialty materials (blue light blocking, biodegradable, antibacterial). The company also provides technology licensing and transfer services. Key technologies include FLEXERA brand materials, proprietary direct metal patterning, and BaZi UV blocking materials. CLAP serves display, sensor, and flexible electronics markets with both products and technology partnership services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FLEXERA: Brand identity for organic semiconductor materials, combining FLEX (Flexible) and ERA (a distinct era), representing CLAP's vision to lead the innovative organic semiconductor era

Products and services

• Organic Semiconductor Materials (OSC) High-mobility organic semiconductor ink formulations (p-type and n-type, mobility up to 4 cm2/Vs) for OTFT applications, applicable via spin-coating, slot-die, inkjet, and gravure printing methods. Sold to display manufacturers, sensor companies, and electronics OEMs for flexible semiconductor circuits.
• OTFT Ink Sets (C1000SP, C2000SL, C3000S) Complete ink sets for OTFT manufacturing including semiconductor, dielectric, and metal layer formulations optimized for various coating methods. Enables full OTFT process integration for display backplane and sensor manufacturers.
• Organic Thin Film Transistor (OTFT) Substrates Flexible organic semiconductor thin film transistor platforms enabling low-temperature (100°C) processing on plastic substrates (PET, PEN, PI) with 4-5 mask processes and mobility up to 4 cm2/Vsec. Used by display panel makers and sensor developers for flexible electronics.
• Fingerprint on Display (FoD) Sensor OTFT/OPD-based optical fingerprint sensor for OLED displays, featuring large-area (5x2.5cm), high-resolution (500dpi), ultra-thin (0.1mm or less) flexible form factor. Designed for integration under OLED panels in mobile devices, enabling multi-finger detection.
• Biometric Fingerprint Sensor Flexible capacitive fingerprint recognition sensors for security applications supporting FAP20 and FAP30 certification levels. Used in biometric authentication modules for security and access control applications.
• Flexible X-Ray Detector Flexible X-ray digital film sensors using OTFT technology, featuring unbreakable, curved, high-sensitivity detection for medical imaging applications. Serves medical device manufacturers requiring rugged, conformable X-ray detectors.
• Micro LED Display OTFT Backplane High-performance OTFT backplane for driving micro and mini LED displays with high mobility and advanced wiring/VIA processing technology on glass substrates. Designed for next-generation Micro LED display makers.
• Photo-alignment Liquid Crystal Film Liquid crystal films using photo-alignment technology for optical control in OLED displays, including anti-reflection films and retardation films (SFM-1, SFM-2). Provides optical control for OLED displays and under-display optical sensors.
• OLED Retardation Film Phase retardation films for OLED displays including reverse dispersion and +C plate variants, providing anti-reflection functionality to improve display contrast ratios. Replaces Japanese-sourced retardation films for OLED panel manufacturers.
• Coatable Polarizer Liquid crystal coating-based polarizers and retarder films for foldable OLED displays, enabling thinner and more flexible optical components than conventional stretched film polarizers. Serves foldable OLED display manufacturers.
• Materials for Direct Metal Patterning Proprietary materials and processes for direct metal wiring pattern formation, eliminating photoresist and etching steps in semiconductor manufacturing. Used by display and electronics manufacturers seeking simplified, eco-friendly TFT processes.
• BaZi Blue Light/UV Blocking Material Bis-aZide (BaZi) material exhibiting excellent absorption performance at 350nm to 450nm for blue light and UV blocking applications. Mixable with UV absorbers for adjustable absorbance up to 450nm. Used in display and consumer product applications.
• Biodegradable Materials Plastic-free platform solutions using biomass sources (lignocellulosic biomass, rice husk, cotton, microalgae) and bioplastics (PLA, PHA, PBS, PBAT) for sustainable packaging applications. Targeted at packaging manufacturers seeking eco-friendly alternatives.
• SilvArmor Antibacterial Material Silver-based antibacterial material for coating or polymer master batch applications, providing high antibacterial effect while maintaining transparency. Used in consumer and industrial product manufacturers requiring antibacterial coatings.
• Technology Licensing Services Licensing opportunities for CLAP's original patents related to organic semiconductor core materials, devices, and processes for applications including large-screen fingerprint sensors, flexible X-Ray films, and biometric sensors. Offered to qualified manufacturing partners globally.
• Technology Transfer Services Transfer of organic semiconductor technology for sensor solutions, including OTFT manufacturing process and establishment of sensor industry clusters through Open Sensor Fab approach. Includes training and technical support during transfer phase.

Quantifiable outcome

• Process steps reduced to 1/3 of conventional methods using proprietary Crosslinker technology
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• KOTRA (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 28 February 2022Participated in KOTRA-organized Korea Pavilion startup exhibition booth at MWC 2022 Barcelona, providing international visibility and investor networking opportunities.
• Gachon UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 15 December 2021Established organic semiconductor R&D center at Gachon University IT Convergence Hall with 1 billion KRW donation. 400 square meter research facility targeting March opening. Focus on fingerprint recognition, biosensors, and flexible semiconductor components.
• ETRI (Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 December 2021Joint development of high-performance fingerprint recognition sensors with ETRI and POSTECH. Developed innovative organic photodetector technology using bis(fluorophenyl azide) doping, resulting in publication in Materials Horizons journal.
• POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 December 2021Academic research partnership with POSTECH for organic semiconductor sensor development. Joint research with ETRI on fingerprint recognition sensor performance improvement using novel electrode structures.
• BASFcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 June 2019Strategic partnership with German chemical company BASF including technology transfer agreements and equity investment. BASF transferred liquid crystal optical film technology (Patterned Retarder) for OLED under-panel sensors in June 2019, and OTFT InkSet technology and patents in November 2019. BASF became a shareholder providing ongoing technical support during technology transfer phase.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SmartKem: UK-based company developing organic semiconductor (OTFT) inks and materials for flexible displays and sensors. Directly comparable to CLAP in OTFT materials chemistry and target end-uses (flexible displays, fingerprint/medical sensors).
• Novaled (Samsung SDI subsidiary): Specialist in organic semiconductor materials (dopants and transport materials) for OLEDs, now part of Samsung SDI. Directly comparable to CLAP on organic semiconductor chemistry for OLED and adjacent display/sensor applications.
• FlexEnable: UK-based pioneer of flexible OTFT technology for displays, sensors, and biometrics. Directly comparable to CLAP on OTFT backplanes, low-temperature processing on plastic substrates, and under-display/fingerprint sensor applications.

Broad incumbents

• LG Chem: Korean chemical major supplying OLED materials, retarders, and polarizers to LG Display and other panel makers. Comparable as a broad incumbent in display materials, including the LC/retardation film categories CLAP targets.
• JSR Corporation: Japanese specialty chemicals producer supplying display materials including liquid crystals and semiconductor-related chemistries. Comparable to CLAP's LC optical film and semiconductor-related materials business as a broad incumbent.
• Merck KGaA (Performance Materials / EMD Electronics): Global OLED materials and liquid crystal leader supplying OLED emitter/host materials, photo-alignable LC, and retardation films. Overlaps with CLAP's LC optical films and OLED retardation film portfolio as a deeply established broader incumbent.
• DuPont: Global specialty materials supplier with display and electronic materials businesses, including OLED and flexible electronics offerings. Comparable to CLAP as a broad incumbent in display/electronic specialty materials.
• Idemitsu Kosan: Japanese materials supplier with leading positions in OLED materials and liquid crystals used in displays. Comparable to CLAP's OLED materials and LC film business as a broad incumbent.
• Sumitomo Chemical: Japanese chemical company with a leading position in OLED emitter materials and organic semiconductor-related chemistry. Comparable as a broad incumbent in display and organic-semiconductor materials with deeper R&D resources.

Emerging players

• Heliatek: German pioneer in organic semiconductor-based devices (organic photovoltaics) using vacuum-deposited small-molecule organic films. Comparable to CLAP as an emerging player in the broader organic semiconductor materials and device ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=oeFGTQTniUc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clapglobal
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 CLAP