Wantedlab's Q2 Operating Profit Swings to Black: AX Business Is Key Driver

HR tech company Wantedlab is attracting attention by recording better-than-expected results in the second quarter. Revenue jumped 21% from the previous quarter to 9.6 billion KRW, and operating profit reached 500 million KRW, successfully turning a profit. This positive change is analyzed as a result of a strategy that focused on the recruitment business and new business sectors, aligning with the demand for AI transformation (AX) from companies. In particular, the recruitment business sector posted 6.9 billion KRW in revenue, showing a 15% growth. Wantedlab accurately read the market trend of surging demand for AI talent in the AX era and is providing customized recruitment services using its proprietary AI talent pool. It is encouraging that the flat-rate model introduced last quarter has successfully settled in, securing revenue stability. In the new business sector, the AI agent builder 'Wanted LaaS' has established itself as a core growth engine. This platform allows for easy introduction and operation of various AI agents and is being utilized to transform existing education, gigs, and solution businesses into AX businesses. Currently, approximately 200 AI agents, including in-house agents, are actively operating, and are being utilized in university regular lectures and prompt-a-thon events in response to the demand for strengthening AI capabilities in academia and industry, gaining recognition for their value. Further significant growth is expected in the second half of the year with plans to build AX solutions for affiliates of large corporations. Wantedlab's presence is also solidifying in the global market. By providing AI matching infrastructure to 'Lapras', a Japanese IT talent matching platform, it played a crucial role in Lapras breaking its monthly break-even point within just one year of investment. Moving forward, it plans to accelerate business expansion in the Japanese HR market through AI matching and AI agent technology support. Lee Bok-ki, CEO of Wantedlab, announced that based on these achievements, the company will further expand investment in AI-based recruitment business, AX, and global new business sectors. Furthermore, he presented an ambitious goal to balance the proportions of the recruitment business and new businesses to a 1:1 level by 2026, revealing the aspiration to solidify its position as a leader in the HR market in the AI era.