[IT Donga x SparkLabs] The Southeast Region ICT Innovation Square Expansion Project is overseen by the Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency and aims to foster digital talent in the Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam regions, promote the digital transformation of regional specialized industries, and build a startup ecosystem. IT Donga is introducing startups being nurtured by SparkLabs under this project.


The effectiveness of personalized (tailored) services has long been recognized. However, implementing them in practice has been difficult. Identifying the characteristics of each customer one by one and then developing and providing differentiated services tailored to them has entailed significant time and cost burdens. Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technology are addressing these issues. Personalized services that automatically analyze user data and generate customized information in real time are expanding beyond e-commerce and content recommendations into hobby and leisure activities.

ConnectZero (CEO Lee Seung-yeop), which operates the fishing app “Nakmat: The Taste of Fishing” (hereinafter Nakmat), announced that it is preparing an update for a personalized AI fishing information service. Based on some 80,000 cases of real-time catch (fishing results) data, the company plans to provide personalized strategies that reflect the user’s equipment, preferred species, fishing experience, and more. Nakmat currently offers an “AI Report” feature that provides detailed information on fishing trips to specific regions, and the company plans to introduce even more advanced AI services going forward.

“My Own Fishing Strategy” Generated and Analyzed by AI

The personalized AI service operates on the basis of Nakmat’s extensive accumulated catch data. When a user selects a specific spot, the AI analyzes data such as species, length, time of day, and tackle (fishing gear) for that area, as well as recent catch trends, and then provides a strategy summarized in natural language. It also suggests alternative spots or time slots that can be used when conditions are not ideal.

In other words, it analyzes which species are currently biting well in a user-designated area and what equipment should be prepared, and offers optimal advice. If the user’s owned equipment, tackle, or preference conditions change, the recommended fishing spots or times also change accordingly.

The expected benefits of the personalized AI service are clear. Novice anglers can obtain immediately actionable strategies on a single screen without having to analyze complex information themselves. Experienced anglers can receive more sophisticated recommendations that reflect their gear and preferences, thereby accelerating their trip (fishing outing) decisions and reducing uncertainty.

Peace of Mind for Anglers Who Want to Protect Their “Secret Spots,” Plus an Added “Gear Recommendation” Service

ConnectZero stated that while various data will be actively utilized, it will also implement personal data protection measures. Nakmat’s personalization features are provided only at the user’s request. Location and personal information are processed at a minimum, and users can directly control the disclosure range of their own spots. Even users who do not want their personal information shared externally or who do not wish to reveal their own “secret fishing spots” can use the service with confidence.


In addition, ConnectZero plans to add a service to Nakmat that recommends optimal fishing equipment when users provide information such as the species they wish to catch and their budget. The gear recommendation service is planned to proceed through the following process: users fill out an application form; a customized list of recommended gear and price quotes is prepared after review by former professional anglers and fishing shop operators; then product purchase, setup, and after-sales support are provided through specialized shops.

Step-by-Step Beta Testing from Next Year, Followed by Official Update

ConnectZero plans to roll out the gear recommendation service in January 2026, followed by a phased launch of the personalized AI service in the second half of the same year. In the first beta phase, the company will initially release the personalized report screen and features that display reliability and grounds (basis) for recommendations. The second beta phase will add features such as alternative spot and time suggestions and more sophisticated notifications. Following the official launch, ConnectZero stated that it plans to improve performance and strengthen integration with fishing tackle commerce.

Lee Seung-yeop, CEO of ConnectZero, said, “The goal of the personalized AI is to enable even novice anglers to check strategies on a single screen and act on them immediately,” adding, “It will accelerate trip decisions, reduce uncertainty, and enhance anglers’ satisfaction and revisit rates.”

Nakmat is currently available for free download on Google Play and the Apple App Store, and users can choose between a basic free service and a paid subscription service (Nakmat Pass).

IT Donga reporter Kim Young-woo (pengo@itdonga.com)

Popular News