Press

Impact-based startup education company Underdogs announced on the 7th that it has acquired F-Lab & Company, which operates a practical developer education and mentoring platform, and will launch a full-fledged initiative to nurture talent in future technology fields across the AI and software (SW) industries and create social value. F-Lab is a company that has operated a 1:1 mentoring-based educational program designed to help junior developers grow into mid-level developers with practical skills. Mentor developers from the top 1% who come from major tech companies such as Naver, Kakao, Line, and Coupang directly design the curriculum and provide intensive feedback, with many graduates securing employment at major IT companies and unicorn startups, thus proving the educational effectiveness. Through this acquisition, Underdogs plans to combine its existing startup education expertise with F-Lab's practical developer nurturing system to strengthen convergence talent cultivation solutions that meet the demands of the AI and SW industries. In particular, amid the recent spread of generative AI technology, the company is focusing on providing substantive technology-based job opportunities to people from diverse backgrounds, including youth and non-majors. Underdogs CEO Kim Jung-hun stated, "F-Lab is a team that has successfully verified a structure connecting skilled developers to practical work sites, going beyond simple technical education. Through this acquisition, we aim to co-create a model where the social value-oriented education we have pursued connects with future industries and leads to job creation." The acquisition is also a key pillar of Underdogs' global strategy. Underdogs has already expanded its startup education curriculum to major Asian hubs including Japan and India, and plans to focus on cultivating local technology talent and forming regional networks based on F-Lab's customized mentoring and practice-oriented curriculum. Through this, the company plans to establish a region-based talent ecosystem suitable for the AI era and promote the expansion of social impact across Asia. Meanwhile, Underdogs is pushing forward with full-scale business expansion including this acquisition. The company recently successfully completed a pre-IPO worth 9 billion won and is improving overall business operations with a target of listing on Kosdaq in 2026. Going forward, the company is preparing to leap forward as an Asia-based ESG and impact solution specialist company. Source: Maeil Ilbo (http://www.m-i.kr)