MADUP backs LEVER Xpert with $23M and moves into full-scale global growth
Marketing teams want AI that actually moves the numbers. MADUP says LEVER Xpert is built for that: end-to-end support across data, creative, and operations-already in use by Korean consumer brands across the U.S., Europe, and Southeast Asia.
Backed by a cumulative $23M and planning a KOSDAQ listing in the first half of 2026, MADUP is formalizing its U.S. push with a New York corporation by December 2025. The company has momentum across beauty, fashion, finance, and O2O services, pairing performance strategy, creative execution, and AI-driven workflows.
What LEVER Xpert actually does
- Ingests advertising and performance data, then analyzes it to surface what's working and what's waste.
- Evaluates creatives, recommends variants, and flags fatigue before it hits your CAC.
- Automates operational tasks and proposes media strategies to keep spend efficient and repeatable.
- Supports global execution across key regions: U.S., Europe, and Southeast Asia.
The AI agent isn't a point solution. It connects data analysis, planning, and operations in one workflow so teams can make faster decisions and scale across markets without adding headcount every quarter.
Why marketers should care
- IMC-ready: MADUP expanded from app marketing into integrated marketing and branding, which means creative, media, and CRM can be tied back to performance.
- Proven categories: Strong references with K-beauty and broader consumer goods-where creative iteration speed and channel mix sensitivity are make-or-break.
- Enterprise signals: Global work with Samsung Electronics, Olive Young, MUSINSA, and MEDIHEAL, plus U.S. client wins.
Global expansion with structure
MADUP is pushing into North America with practical support from the AI Innovation Accelerator (AIIA) run in collaboration with the NYU Stern School of Business. The team engaged in localized strategy reviews, expert webinars, and partner meetings in New York.
They also activated presence at industry events-including beauty-focused conferences and KOOM 2025-to build pipeline and partnerships. This creates a clearer go-to-market path for LEVER Xpert in the U.S.
Company footing
- Funding: $23M raised by 2022 at a $175M valuation (Stonebridge Ventures, Praxis Capital Partners, IMM Investment, Krossroad Partners, Shinhan Securities).
- Listing plan: Preliminary KOSDAQ listing review submitted in November 2025; targeting completion in H1 2026.
- U.S. buildout: New York corporation expected by December 2025.
- Mission: "For Your Innovative Growth"-data- and technology-led client growth across performance, tech, branding, content, and CRM.
How to use this if you lead marketing
- Audit your data flow: Ensure ad platform data, first-party events, and creative assets are clean, labeled, and accessible. AI is only as useful as your inputs.
- Operationalize creative learning: Set weekly creative review cycles. Ship variants based on performance patterns, not opinions.
- Automate the obvious: Offload bid adjustments, budget pacing, and fatigue detection to an agent. Keep humans on strategy and narrative.
- Plan for multi-market from day one: Standardize taxonomy, UTM, and naming so you can replicate wins across regions without rework.
Co-CEOs Ju-min Lee and Erick Lee put it plainly: "We will further speed up our global business expansion by leveraging LEVER Xpert's proven market competitiveness and our global network. We will also strengthen partnerships with local clients and global companies to make LEVER Xpert the global standard for AI marketing solutions and lead the market."
What to watch next
- U.S. case studies, especially in beauty and DTC categories where creative iteration and blended CAC matter most.
- Integration depth with ad platforms and analytics stacks-how easily teams can plug LEVER Xpert into existing workflows.
- NY-based partnerships and hiring that point to vertical focus and faster on-the-ground execution.
If you're building AI fluency across your team, this certification can help: AI Certification for Marketing Specialists.
Contact
MADUP - Hyonjae Yoo
+82-70-5142-8006
hjyoo@madup.com
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