Obelab
1 known investors
OBELAB develops fNIRS-based brain monitoring devices for research and clinical use, aimed at making brain function measurement more affordable and accessible. Its technology has been applied to areas such as depression and dementia, and its products are used by hospitals.
Also known as (주)오비이랩 · OBELAB · OBELAB Inc. · 오비이랩
Investors · 1
Company profile
researched Aug 2026OBELAB Inc. (Korean corporate name (주)오비이랩) is a South Korean neurotechnology company that develops portable functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) brain imaging systems for research and clinical markets. Its product family is branded NIRSIT and includes the flagship NIRSIT system, NIRSIT LITE in separate Kids and Adult versions, the patch-type NIRSIT ON, and NIRSIT SPORTS.
The systems measure hemodynamic changes in the brain by detecting light signals and applying digital signal processing. Company materials describe features including per-sensor and per-detector gain calibration completed in under a minute, sensor and detector positions aligned to fMRI MNI coordinates for signal-location compatibility, an additional gyroscope-based motion calibration layer, tablet-based recording and retrieval of brain signal data, and export of raw data to a PC for independent analysis. Application demonstrations published by the company cover N-back and arithmetic tasks, driving simulation, emotional video viewing, squatting, choice reaction time tasks and hyperscanning during gaming.
The company states a vision of becoming a leading brain big data company, providing affordable and convenient solutions to research and clinical markets and advancing the consumerization of brain monitoring. Alongside devices it offers brain-health programs, including a B-Check brain development assessment program and Talk Talk Brain senior and junior services.
Business model
OBELAB designs, manufactures and sells fNIRS hardware and accompanying software to research laboratories, hospitals and companies, with products offered on a quote basis through its website. It has extended beyond device sales into a Brain Health Service launched in 2021 and consumer-oriented brain programs such as Talk Talk Brain Senior and Junior services.
Revenue is generated from sales of NIRSIT-branded fNIRS devices to hospitals, laboratories and companies via quotation-based sales, together with brain health services and assessment programs.
Traction
The company reports hospital, laboratory and corporate users of its systems, KFDA approvals for NIRSIT (2017) and NIRSIT ON (2019), CE approval for NIRSIT (2020), and pilot clinical trials on depression and dementia begun in 2017. Mount Sinai Innovation Partners states that OBELAB has begun commercializing clinical applications.
Latest developments
In February 2025 Mount Sinai Innovation Partners named OBELAB to the Winter 2025 cohort of its Elementa Labs incubator, describing the company as advancing portable brain imaging with NIRSIT, having begun commercializing clinical applications, and working to enhance conventional NIRS technology with AI and other innovations. The cohort was noted as the program's first majority-international group, with OBELAB representing South Korea.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history
Market position
OBELAB is a South Korean supplier of portable fNIRS systems serving research and clinical customers, with regulatory clearances in Korea (KFDA) and Europe (CE) and a customer base spanning hospitals, laboratories and companies.
OBELAB positions NIRSIT as portable, wireless and app-guided, contrasting it with wired laboratory neuroimaging setups, and highlights technical elements including automatic gain calibration, MNI-coordinate-aligned optode placement, gyroscope-based motion compensation and user access to raw data. Mount Sinai Innovation Partners characterizes NIRSIT as a high-resolution fNIRS system and notes the company is enhancing conventional NIRS technology with AI and other innovations.
Technology
The NIRSIT platform uses functional near-infrared spectroscopy, measuring hemodynamic changes by detecting light signals from the brain and processing them digitally. Stated capabilities include sub-minute gain calibration of each sensor and detector, photogrammetry aligning sensor and detector positions with fMRI MNI coordinates, gyroscope-based motion calibration, tablet-based data saving and retrieval, and raw-data export for analysis on a PC. Form factors include a wireless headset-style device, the patch-type NIRSIT ON, and lighter NIRSIT LITE versions for children and adults.
Go-to-market
Products are marketed through the company's website with a request-a-quote workflow covering NIRSIT, NIRSIT LITE (Kids and Adult), NIRSIT ON and NIRSIT SPORTS, supported by demonstration videos of research tasks. The company also builds distribution through hospital and laboratory collaborations, international exhibitions, and participation in the Mount Sinai Elementa Labs incubator to develop its U.S. market entry, regulatory understanding and go-to-market approach.
Research laboratories, hospitals and clinical users, and companies; the site also references consumer-facing brain health programs for children and seniors.
Geography
The company is headquartered in South Korea, at 312 Teheran-ro, 13F, Gangnam-gu, Seoul. It has collaborated with hospitals in Korea since 2015 and with an overseas hospital since 2016, and holds both KFDA and CE approvals. Its participation in the Mount Sinai Elementa Labs Winter 2025 cohort is associated with international companies using the program as a foothold for entering the United States healthcare market.
History
The company was established in June 2013 and received government funding in April 2014, the same year it took part in its first international exhibition. It began collaborating with a Korean hospital in 2015 and with an overseas hospital in 2016, launching its first commercial product, NIRSIT, in August 2016. NIRSIT received KFDA approval in May 2017, and pilot clinical trials on depression and dementia began in December 2017. Development of the patch-type NIRSIT ON was completed in March 2018 and the device received KFDA approval and launched in June 2019. NIRSIT LITE Kids followed in September 2019 and NIRSIT LITE Adults in March 2020; NIRSIT obtained CE approval in June 2020. In January 2021 the company launched its Brain Health Service. In February 2025 OBELAB was announced as a member of the Winter 2025 cohort of Elementa Labs, the incubator operated by Mount Sinai Innovation Partners.
Compiled by commissioned research from 5 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Timeline · 15
launches, deals, and filingsOBELAB was named to the fifth Elementa Labs cohort run by Mount Sinai Innovation Partners in New York, an incubator used by international companies as an entry point to the U.S. healthcare market.
The company recorded government funding on its corporate history timeline.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 5
primary sources listed
- Obelabobelab.com · web
5 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Obelab do?
- South Korean maker of NIRSIT portable, wireless fNIRS brain-imaging systems for research and clinical use.
- Who are Obelab's investors?
- Obelab's investors include Kakao Ventures.