Doryan Ahn, CEO of IRO — “Through the platform, Korea will lead core values”
IRO founder Doryan Ahn on the vision behind the remote evaluation platform and its blockchain-based review model.
Doryan Ahn, CEO of IRO, has visited 73 countries and previously worked at Samsung, KOTRA, Kim & Chang, Gyeonggi Provincial Government and Decathlon. He likens IRO to “a scoring group for entrance-exam essays that issues a certified score.”
IRO runs non-face-to-face evaluations connecting companies and individuals and issues certificates for products, projects and brands. Scores of 7.0 or higher link to overseas export and investment; lower scores receive expert consulting. It works as an accelerator connecting businesses to a global network through evaluation, awards, certification and screening.
The idea came from the field. Across multiple sectors, Ahn saw that Korean companies struggle to attract genuine buyers and investors through trade shows, and that international buyers and investors prequalify companies via verified brand credentials before agreeing to meet. That insight led him to build a transparent screening platform using blockchain, AI and big data to connect credible Korean products with global buyers and investors.
Results followed quickly. Within seven months of founding, IRO generated about ₩70 million in sales and secured a ₩45 billion investment letter of intent. It operates 12 regional headquarters in Korea, 15 advisors, 15 global marketers and 10 committee chairs, with 500 judges across 25 countries — alongside ₩10 billion in investment screening and placement in Chinese department stores.
On technology, IRO built a blockchain-based judge-verification system and filed a patent for a “blockchain-based IRO information management system and method” (application no. 10-2020-0078436). Judge ratings shift with examination results, reducing manipulation risk while keeping expertise objective rather than credential-based. The business model grew from Doryan Solutions, founded in Malaysia in 2016, around four overseas-business factors — People, Item, Marketer, Buyer/Investor — and a ranking formula (P × I × M × B).
Looking ahead, Ahn aims to expand to over 10,000 judges across 100 countries within two years, establish entities in Australia and the US, and partner with major malls and investment groups. Evaluation, awards, certification and screening matter in every field — wine, diamonds, coffee, ships — and IRO members, he believes, will lead high-value areas such as patents, copyrights and NFTs.