Liner, an AI-driven search engine designed specifically for students and academics, has just secured a significant funding boost. The Seoul-based startup announced a $29 million (approximately Rs. 243 crore) investment from a group of major backers, including Samsung Venture, Intervest, and Atinum Investment. This latest investment underscores the growing demand for specialized AI tools that cater to the unique needs of researchers and students.
A Smarter Search for Scholars
Founded with the mission of providing credible, reliable information tailored for academia, Liner has emerged as a standout platform for students, researchers, and educators. While many AI tools on the market—such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Perplexity—are designed for general use, Liner takes a more targeted approach, filtering its search results from trusted academic sources like peer-reviewed papers, government databases, and scientific journals.
In a recent interview, Luke Jinu Kim, co-founder and CEO of Liner, emphasized the importance of credibility in academic research. “It’s a new type of search engine. There’s no junk, only valuable information,” said the 33-year-old Kim. Unlike general-purpose AI, Liner eliminates irrelevant content, ensuring students and researchers can rely on high-quality, pertinent results.
Expanding Global Presence, Focus on the US Market
Although headquartered in Seoul, Liner’s largest and most rapidly expanding market is the United States. Currently, the platform boasts over 10 million users, with a significant portion enrolled at prominent universities such as UC Berkeley, Texas A&M, and the University of Southern California. According to Kim, about two-thirds of Liner’s paying users are based in the US, making it the company’s top focus for growth.
Liner’s tool, launched in 2022, has gained a strong foothold in higher education, where accuracy and trust in information sources are paramount. Students can pose detailed, subject-specific questions such as, “What are the key literary devices in Hamlet’s ‘To be or not to be’ soliloquy, and what is their significance?” or “How do you calculate the heat loss through a wall based on thermal conductivity and temperature difference?” These types of queries highlight Liner’s ability to deliver in-depth, focused results across a wide range of academic disciplines—from literature to engineering.
Generative AI with a Purpose
Liner utilizes generative AI technology—the same foundational tech behind well-known bots like ChatGPT and Google Gemini. However, what sets Liner apart is its ability to curate and customize large language models to prioritize the validity and credibility of the information it retrieves. This makes it an invaluable resource for students and academics who require accuracy and precision in their research.
Liner’s journey began over a decade ago when Kim and his co-founder, Chanmin Woo, were undergraduates. They initially developed a browser extension aimed at highlighting only relevant search results. When OpenAI released ChatGPT in late 2022, Kim and Woo saw an opportunity to create an even more refined AI search engine—one that wouldn’t suffer from the “hallucinations” that can plague other AI chatbots. The result was Liner, a bot designed to cut through the noise and provide disciplined, trustworthy answers.
Raising Funds, Building the Future
With the recent Series B funding round, which includes contributions from LB Investment, Capstone Partners, and SL Investment, Liner has now raised a total of $33 million (roughly Rs. 277 crore). The startup is poised for growth, and as part of its expansion, it’s looking to scale its team. Liner already has around 40 employees globally and is actively hiring more team members for its San Francisco office.
The infusion of capital, along with the backing of industry giants like Samsung Venture, signals strong confidence in Liner’s future. As AI continues to evolve, tools like Liner—designed with a clear purpose and niche—are likely to play an increasingly important role in education and research.
Final Thoughts
With a growing user base, cutting-edge technology, and the backing of prominent investors, Liner is well-positioned to become a go-to AI search engine for scholars around the world. By focusing on reliability, credibility, and ease of use, the platform offers an alternative to more generalized AI tools, helping students and academics get to the information that matters most.