- The Era of API Flood: 'Management and Automation Are Competitive Advantage'
- Targeting the integrated management market with APINEX and CertBear
- Aiming to expand beyond API management to AI agent orchestration
[Photo Caption] From left: Director Kim Yong-hyeok, CEO Jang Young-hwi, Director Lee Yeon-ju
“Since the cloud era was dawning, I predicted that APIs would become widespread. Furthermore, having managed various projects over 13 years of web server development, research, and design, I was confident in creating a product with outstanding technology.”
webaresoft (CEO Jang Young-hwi) is a middleware specialist company providing API management solution APINEX and SSL/TLS certificate management solution CertBear. CEO Jang founded webaresoft in 2021, leveraging his experience working at a company that holds over 50% market share in the middleware and WAS markets. It was not a decision made alone. While discussing a startup CTO role with his team members, the idea emerged to "take on a challenge with our own domain." He stated, "Everyone supported the founding, from my family to my outstanding team members with whom I had worked closely for a long time to produce great results," adding, "We decided to establish a direction to build technology-based products centered on API Gateways, and ultimately decided to launch the company."
For the first two years after founding the company, they devoted themselves entirely to product development. Thanks to their focus on technological prowess, they received word from a public institution considering adopting APINEX (formerly OSORI APIM) even before the product was commercialized, and subsequently decided to adopt APINEX just two weeks after the kickoff meeting. CEO Jang said, “At the time, the biggest concern was, ‘To whom and how should we sell the product that was in the planning stage?’ but a client company appeared who agreed on the necessity of the product even before it was developed,” adding, “Over the next three years, I participated in the project and was able to sequentially conceptualize the solution.”
The era of API proliferation… the need for integrated management solutions will grow
While APIs can be viewed simply as functions, the emergence of structures such as microservices, cloud services, and AI is increasing their utilization, making the management and control of each individual API crucial.
APINEX is an integrated API management solution that provides features for developing and operating APIs quickly and easily. As a Rust-based solution, it offers API creation and history management, account and permission management, load balancing, flow control, and monitoring functions. CEO Jang stated, "Over the past 10 years, the volume of API calls has grown approximately 100-fold," adding, "As the number of businesses building services or solutions by calling APIs increases, the need for integrated management has grown to comprehensively manage what APIs exist, who can use them, and how much they can be used."
In addition, webaresoft changed the product name and updated the technology through the rebranding of APINEX (formerly OSORI APIM) earlier this year. CEO Jang stated, “We aimed to quickly convey information about the solution by securing a more intuitive product name through the rebranding,” adding, “We also carried out a technology update that allows us to additionally provide API Generator functionality.”
[Caption] SSL Certificate Integrated Management Solution CertBear
December 2025, CertBear Launch… Aiming to Seize the Early Market for SSL Renewals
Webaresoft has expanded its business model from API management to certificate management, an area of operational risk. The renewal cycle for SSL/TLS certificates, which was previously about one year, is becoming increasingly shorter to enhance security. In particular, the renewal cycle changed to 200 days after March 15 of this year, and will be reduced to 47 days on March 15, 2029. CEO Jang explained the certificate renewal market, stating, "Approximately 80% of service interruptions are related to certificate expiration," and added, "As the validity period shortens, the frequency of certificate issuance and renewal increases, inevitably leading to higher management costs and risks."
In response to these market changes, Webaresoft launched CertBear, an integrated SSL certificate management solution, last December. CertBear facilitates the integrated management of certificates, including collection, monitoring, and renewal. SSL/TLS certificates protect data transmission over the Internet and verify the trustworthiness of a site. They encrypt data between the browser and the web server to prevent the exposure of personal information, such as login passwords and credit card details, and block access to phishing or counterfeit sites by verifying the authenticity of a website.
In particular, it is anticipated that companies will consider adopting integrated SSL certificate management solutions like CertBear starting in the second half of the year, when certificates issued since March of this year begin to expire. CEO Jang explained, “Recently, inquiries regarding the adoption of CertBear have exceeded 30 in the past three months,” adding, “As inquiries from client companies increase, we expect the need for automation solutions to rise over time.”
[Photo Caption] Jang Young-hui, CEO of webaresoft
We will expand our business into the fields of AI agents and AI orchestration.
“In the early days of the business, we had to start with basic explanations of API management or gateways to introduce our company. However, nowadays, simply saying ‘API business’ requires no further explanation. I believe this directly and indirectly demonstrates the growth of the API market.”
Given the rapid growth of the API market, webaresoft is actively expanding into overseas markets as well as the domestic market. Targeting Southeast Asia as its primary focus, the company is currently conducting Proof of Concepts (PoCs) in countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore. Notably, in March of this year, the company secured a PoC project for a smart farm initiative led by the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. CEO Jang stated, "We have been steadily preparing English manuals, installation guides, and demo sites for our overseas expansion starting in 2025," adding, "We will further expand our business scope based on our diverse international references."
Webaresoft plans to solidify its references with financial institutions and large corporations in the domestic market, aiming for 3 billion won in revenue this year. Furthermore, the company is preparing for the era of AI agents rather than focusing solely on API management. CEO Jang explained the direction of future technological advancement, stating, "In the era of AI agents, the actual execution of tasks such as sending emails or processing payments is required, which implies a connection with APIs. We will expand the API management capabilities in which Webaresoft possesses expertise to extend into AI agent orchestration."
I believe that for a company to grow, the growth of all employees, including the CEO, is essential. Company growth is synonymous with the growth of its people. While we have achieved significant results, there are still trials and errors and challenges. To continue growing, I will always maintain a humble attitude of learning.
기사 바로가기 : https://www.venturesquare.net/1072711/
출처 : venturesquare (https://www.venturesquare.net/)
박초롱 스타트업기자단(editor@venturesquare.net )
#CertBear #SSL인증서 #TLS인증서 #인증서관리 #위베어소프트 #webaresoft #HTTPS인증서
“Since the cloud era was dawning, I predicted that APIs would become widespread. Furthermore, having managed various projects over 13 years of web server development, research, and design, I was confident in creating a product with outstanding technology.”
webaresoft (CEO Jang Young-hwi) is a middleware specialist company providing API management solution APINEX and SSL/TLS certificate management solution CertBear. CEO Jang founded webaresoft in 2021, leveraging his experience working at a company that holds over 50% market share in the middleware and WAS markets. It was not a decision made alone. While discussing a startup CTO role with his team members, the idea emerged to "take on a challenge with our own domain." He stated, "Everyone supported the founding, from my family to my outstanding team members with whom I had worked closely for a long time to produce great results," adding, "We decided to establish a direction to build technology-based products centered on API Gateways, and ultimately decided to launch the company."
For the first two years after founding the company, they devoted themselves entirely to product development. Thanks to their focus on technological prowess, they received word from a public institution considering adopting APINEX (formerly OSORI APIM) even before the product was commercialized, and subsequently decided to adopt APINEX just two weeks after the kickoff meeting. CEO Jang said, “At the time, the biggest concern was, ‘To whom and how should we sell the product that was in the planning stage?’ but a client company appeared who agreed on the necessity of the product even before it was developed,” adding, “Over the next three years, I participated in the project and was able to sequentially conceptualize the solution.”
The era of API proliferation… the need for integrated management solutions will grow
While APIs can be viewed simply as functions, the emergence of structures such as microservices, cloud services, and AI is increasing their utilization, making the management and control of each individual API crucial.
APINEX is an integrated API management solution that provides features for developing and operating APIs quickly and easily. As a Rust-based solution, it offers API creation and history management, account and permission management, load balancing, flow control, and monitoring functions. CEO Jang stated, "Over the past 10 years, the volume of API calls has grown approximately 100-fold," adding, "As the number of businesses building services or solutions by calling APIs increases, the need for integrated management has grown to comprehensively manage what APIs exist, who can use them, and how much they can be used."
In addition, webaresoft changed the product name and updated the technology through the rebranding of APINEX (formerly OSORI APIM) earlier this year. CEO Jang stated, “We aimed to quickly convey information about the solution by securing a more intuitive product name through the rebranding,” adding, “We also carried out a technology update that allows us to additionally provide API Generator functionality.”
December 2025, CertBear Launch… Aiming to Seize the Early Market for SSL Renewals
Webaresoft has expanded its business model from API management to certificate management, an area of operational risk. The renewal cycle for SSL/TLS certificates, which was previously about one year, is becoming increasingly shorter to enhance security. In particular, the renewal cycle changed to 200 days after March 15 of this year, and will be reduced to 47 days on March 15, 2029. CEO Jang explained the certificate renewal market, stating, "Approximately 80% of service interruptions are related to certificate expiration," and added, "As the validity period shortens, the frequency of certificate issuance and renewal increases, inevitably leading to higher management costs and risks."
In response to these market changes, Webaresoft launched CertBear, an integrated SSL certificate management solution, last December. CertBear facilitates the integrated management of certificates, including collection, monitoring, and renewal. SSL/TLS certificates protect data transmission over the Internet and verify the trustworthiness of a site. They encrypt data between the browser and the web server to prevent the exposure of personal information, such as login passwords and credit card details, and block access to phishing or counterfeit sites by verifying the authenticity of a website.
In particular, it is anticipated that companies will consider adopting integrated SSL certificate management solutions like CertBear starting in the second half of the year, when certificates issued since March of this year begin to expire. CEO Jang explained, “Recently, inquiries regarding the adoption of CertBear have exceeded 30 in the past three months,” adding, “As inquiries from client companies increase, we expect the need for automation solutions to rise over time.”
[Photo Caption] Jang Young-hui, CEO of webaresoft
We will expand our business into the fields of AI agents and AI orchestration.
“In the early days of the business, we had to start with basic explanations of API management or gateways to introduce our company. However, nowadays, simply saying ‘API business’ requires no further explanation. I believe this directly and indirectly demonstrates the growth of the API market.”
Given the rapid growth of the API market, webaresoft is actively expanding into overseas markets as well as the domestic market. Targeting Southeast Asia as its primary focus, the company is currently conducting Proof of Concepts (PoCs) in countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore. Notably, in March of this year, the company secured a PoC project for a smart farm initiative led by the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. CEO Jang stated, "We have been steadily preparing English manuals, installation guides, and demo sites for our overseas expansion starting in 2025," adding, "We will further expand our business scope based on our diverse international references."
Webaresoft plans to solidify its references with financial institutions and large corporations in the domestic market, aiming for 3 billion won in revenue this year. Furthermore, the company is preparing for the era of AI agents rather than focusing solely on API management. CEO Jang explained the direction of future technological advancement, stating, "In the era of AI agents, the actual execution of tasks such as sending emails or processing payments is required, which implies a connection with APIs. We will expand the API management capabilities in which Webaresoft possesses expertise to extend into AI agent orchestration."
I believe that for a company to grow, the growth of all employees, including the CEO, is essential. Company growth is synonymous with the growth of its people. While we have achieved significant results, there are still trials and errors and challenges. To continue growing, I will always maintain a humble attitude of learning.
기사 바로가기 : https://www.venturesquare.net/1072711/
출처 : venturesquare (https://www.venturesquare.net/)
박초롱 스타트업기자단(editor@venturesquare.net )