SUNNY SIDE UP (CEO Avril Han) participated in SLUSH 2022, an event for startups held in Helsinki, Finland from November 17 (Thursday) to 18 (Friday).

SUNNY SIDE UP is committed to becoming “THE SUNNIEST COMPANY ON EARTH FOR ALL ANIMALS,” modeled after Disney’s slogan, “THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH.”

The company’s first mission is to open an exclusive brand space for pets at the largest boutique store in the United States (rather than pet specialty stores), where global skincare brands compete. CEO Avril Han expressed her ambition to spread awareness that animals also need skincare with “Made in Korea” pet skincare brand products.

At this year’s SLUSH, the company showcased its AI-driven application for animal skin diagnosis.

The startup’s skin ointment for pets, ANIMARK Yellow Centella Salve, raised 6,318% of its target funding amount on the crowdfunding platform Wadiz in October 2022, marking the company's successful debut. The product, registered as a U.S. FDA quasi-drug for animals, has undergone four efficacy clinical tests (mitigating inflammation, improving hydration, strengthening skin barrier, and in vivo safety).

Furthermore, SUNNY SIDE UP has developed an AI remote skin diagnosis service for its users. The service, available free of charge for those who purchase ANIMARK, offers a 24-hour free diagnosis of the skin of customers' pets that helps pet owners decide whether to use the ointment or visit a vet.

Users can upload photos of skin lesion to receive an AI diagnosis of the seriousness of the skin problem. According to CEO Han, “The service helps pet owners save time and money from unnecessary visits to the vet by offering a primary diagnosis of the skin problem at home.”

SLUSH is a renowned Northern European global startup exhibition, first held in 2008, where startups from all around the world meet major investors in Europe and Finland. The companies participating in SLUSH 2022 took part in promoting their companies by running the K-STARTUP Pavilion, the side event “K-STARTUP Demo Day,” and networking with professional investors using a matchmaking tool.

[Helsinki, Finland=AVING & Lecafedugeek Special Report Team – Joseph Choe, Dongkwan Kim, Mokkyung Lee, Leo Thevenet]