In a field dominated by global talent, one Korean AI startup has just outperformed 93 teams at a major OpenAI competition in San Francisco. Waddle’s win at the GPT-5 Hackathon not only validates its digital clone technology but also signals the growing reach of Korea’s AI-driven e-commerce solutions.
Korean AI Startup Waddle Shines: First Place at OpenAI GPT-5 Hackathon
Waddle, the Seoul-based AI startup behind the Gentoo shopping assistant, has taken first place at the OpenAI GPT-5 Hackathon in San Francisco, outperforming 93 teams from around the world. The event, co-hosted by OpenAI and Cerebral Valley, featured Waddle as the only Korean participant.
The win includes US$50,000 in OpenAI credits (about KRW 67 million) and an invitation to DevDay, OpenAI’s flagship developer event scheduled in October 2025.
Building GPT-5-Powered Digital Clone Technology in 24 Hours
Led by CEO Park Ji-hyuk with engineers Song Jin-tae, Han Sang-do Han, and Hwang Tae-baek, the four-person team developed a GPT-5-based prototype within 24 hours.
The solution creates digital clones of online store visitors, analyzes their purchasing patterns, and simulates targeted sales strategies before campaigns launch.
By leveraging conversation data between Gentoo and shoppers, the prototype can estimate the potential impact of new product arrivals, promotional events, and coupon campaigns in advance.
The judging panel—comprising representatives from Sequoia Capital, Conviction, and OpenAI—awarded Waddle the highest score for innovation and execution.
Gentoo: Multi-Agent B2B SaaS for E-Commerce
Gentoo is Waddle’s flagship multi-agent B2B SaaS platform, built to help online retailers guide purchase decisions.
Its AI-driven simulations enable businesses to forecast demand shifts, fine-tune marketing campaigns, and optimize inventory planning before products go live. This positions Waddle as a competitive player in global e-commerce AI solutions.
Global Expansion Plans Backed by Leading Venture Capital Firms
According to company disclosures reported in Korean media, Waddle signed an enterprise contract with OpenAI in October 2024 and has accelerated global expansion plans in 2025. The company is exploring distribution of Gentoo as a third-party app on platforms such as Shopify.
Waddle has raised approximately KRW 2.5 billion (about US$1.9 million) in total funding, including a pre-Series A round in April last year, with investment from Kakao Ventures and Bon Angels Venture Partners.
Waddle’s GPT-5 Hackathon Win Showcases Korean AI Competitiveness
Waddle’s success illustrates how Korean AI startups can compete — and win — in a global arena traditionally dominated by US and European players.
By combining digital clone technology, multi-agent SaaS, and GPT-5 integration, Waddle demonstrates how Korean startups can translate advanced AI capabilities into commercially viable e-commerce solutions with global market potential.
Waddle CEO Park Ji-hyuk noted,
“Turning an idea into a high-quality product within a limited timeframe shows our team’s execution capabilities and scalability. We will work with OpenAI to bring Gentoo to global e-commerce platforms and improve the shopping experience.”
– Stay Ahead in Korea’s Startup Scene –
Get real-time insights, funding updates, and policy shifts shaping Korea’s innovation ecosystem.
➡️ Follow KoreaTechDesk on LinkedIn, X (Twitter), Threads, Bluesky, Telegram, Facebook, and WhatsApp Channel.
🤝 Looking to connect with verified Korean companies building globally?
Explore curated company profiles and request direct introductions through beSUCCESS Connect.
