Edutech Sling Finally Selected for Google's 'AI First' Program

Edutech company Sling is gaining attention for providing an innovative learning experience through its tablet learning app 'Orzo,' designed for middle/high school students and civil servants. Sling has proudly been selected for Google's prestigious program, 'Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First' (hereinafter referred to as AI First). AI First is an accelerator program operated by Google that selects and supports promising domestic startups, from seed to Series A investment, that are leading in AI technology. This year marks its second iteration. Among the total of 11 companies selected this time, Sling was the only edutech company to be named, once again proving its technological prowess and growth potential. Orzo, Sling's core asset, goes beyond simple digital problem-solving based on its independently developed AI problem recognition engine. The conversational AI tutor, 'Orzo AI Coach,' maximizes learning efficiency by providing personalized problem-solving approaches and detailed explanations to individual students in real-time. Thanks to this differentiated technological capability, Orzo has surpassed 800,000 cumulative downloads and achieved the #1 spot in the App Store's free education app category during the new school year season in March this year, maintaining its top position ever since. Sling, participating in the AI First program, plans to further advance Orzo's AI technology based on Google's full support. By utilizing dedicated mentorship for each AI technology stage, expert consultation in areas such as product, business, and leadership, and Google Cloud credits, it plans to develop new AI problem-solving features for users in both domestic and global markets and accelerate innovation in learning experiences. Ahn Kang-min, CEO of Sling, stated, "Through this program, we will advance our AI technology and build an Orzo optimized for user experience." He added, "By actively leveraging Google's global market penetration know-how, we will gain strong momentum for Sling's focused entry into overseas markets." Meanwhile, prior to this AI First selection, Sling was consecutively selected for the 'Google for Startups Cloud Program' (2023) and the Google Play 'Changgu Program' (2024), consistently receiving recognition from Google for its business performance and unique technological capabilities.