LABINCUBE Raises $9.9M Series B for MOF Materials

South Korean deep-tech innovator LABINCUBE has successfully closed a $9.9 million Series B funding round, propelling its mission to commercialize advanced porous materials derived from Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs). The investment, totaling KRW 14.7 billion, was spearheaded by strategic investor MetaBiomed, a prominent player in biodegradable medical materials. Existing backers, including BNH Investment, Union Investment Partners, and JKP Partners, also demonstrated continued confidence through follow-on investments.

This significant capital infusion will fuel LABINCUBE's expansion of its proprietary CUBRIX™ platform, a technology enabling precise molecular-level pore engineering. The company, founded by Professor Kyungmin Choi of Sookmyung Women's University, has already established itself as a pioneer, being the first globally to commercialize MOF materials – a class of crystalline structures recognized for their potential, highlighted by the 2025 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The CUBRIX™ system allows for the creation of porous structures with defined dimensions, facilitating highly selective adsorption, filtration, and controlled release of substances.

A key development accompanying the funding is a formal joint research and commercialization agreement between LABINCUBE and MetaBiomed. This strategic alliance aims to merge LABINCUBE's cutting-edge materials science with MetaBiomed's robust manufacturing capabilities. The collaboration will initially focus on developing next-generation polymer fillers and exploring applications within the medical device sector for global markets.

LABINCUBE's commercial viability is already evident across diverse sectors. In environmental solutions, its MOFAC material, integrated into LG Electronics' PuriCare air purifier, showcases the technology's ability to molecularly separate pollutants. Furthermore, the company's INCUBE material, designed for effective loading and sustained release of active compounds, underpins two successful skincare brands, Nuireh and PLLACUBE. These products are distributed internationally through direct exports and OEM partnerships in 32 countries, underscoring the broad market appeal of MOF-based innovations.

The company's trajectory has also earned it recognition as a "Baby Unicorn" by South Korea’s Ministry of SMEs and Startups, a designation reserved for high-growth potential enterprises. Professor Kyungmin Choi, now CEO of LABINCUBE, expressed optimism, stating, "The continued backing from our existing investors, combined with the addition of MetaBiomed as a strong strategic partner, further validates LABINCUBE’s technology and commercialization capabilities." He added, "Building on this Series B, we will advance our MOF-based materials platform and deliver breakthrough results with global competitiveness across the chemistry and biomedical sectors." The company previously secured approximately $3.4 million in its Series A round.