Importance Score: 75 / 100 🔴
Robotics advancements are rapidly transforming industries as companies increasingly adopt robots for automation of routine tasks. According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), over 540,000 new industrial robots were deployed globally in 2023, pushing the total operational count beyond 4 million units.
Limitations of Traditional Industrial Robots
While industrial robots excel in performing repetitive actions, they often struggle with tasks requiring precision, delicate handling of materials, and adaptability to variable environments. For instance, deploying a conventional robot in a restaurant kitchen would likely impede workflow rather than enhance it. Consequently, numerous industrial processes still rely on manual labor.
RLWRLD’s AI-Powered Robotics Solution
South Korean startup RLWRLD is tackling these limitations with a novel AI foundation model designed specifically for robotics. This model integrates large language models with established robotics software, enabling robots to execute swift, agile movements and exhibit a degree of “logical reasoning,” according to the company.
Jung-Hee Ryu, founder and CEO of RLWRLD, stated in an interview with TechCrunch that their foundation model can fully automate processes currently requiring substantial manual effort. By learning and replicating human expertise, the technology aims to enhance efficiency in diverse work settings.
Securing Seed Funding for Innovation
RLWRLD has emerged from stealth mode with 21 billion KRW (approximately $14.8 million) in seed funding. The funding round was spearheaded by venture capital firm Hashed, with participation from Mirae Asset Venture Investment and Global Brain.
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Strategic Investors Backing RLWRLD
RLWRLD has garnered significant interest from strategic investors, including Ana Group, PKSHA, Mitsui Chemical, Shimadzu, and KDDI from Japan; LG Electronics and SK Telecom from Korea; and Amber Manufacturing from India.
Funding Allocation and Future Development
The seed capital will be directed towards proof-of-concept projects with strategic investors, securing essential computing resources such as GPUs, acquiring robots and data collection devices, and recruiting leading research talent, RLWRLD stated. A portion of the funds will also support the development of advanced five-fingered hand movements, a capability that CEO Ryu highlights as surpassing current competitors like Tesla, Figure AI, and 1X.
RLWRLD is collaborating with its strategic partners to explore automation solutions for various human-centric workflows leveraging its AI model. The company is developing a humanoid-based autonomous action demonstration slated for later in the year. Furthermore, RLWRLD is developing a versatile platform to support a range of robotic systems, including industrial, collaborative, autonomous mobile robots, and humanoids.
Founder’s Background and Vision
Founded in 2024, RLWRLD marks Ryu’s third entrepreneurial venture. His prior startup, Olaworks, was acquired by Intel in 2012 and became the foundation for Intel’s Korea R&D center within its computer vision division. In 2015, he established Future Play, a startup accelerator focused on deep technology companies.
Ryu explained his motivation for launching RLWRLD stemmed from observing the rapid growth of AI startups in the U.S., Europe, and China, contrasted with a relative scarcity of similar ventures in Korea and Japan.
Identifying a Strategic Opportunity in Robotics
Through discussions with over 30 AI professors in Korea and Japan, Ryu identified key challenges – including limited infrastructure for data and GPUs, and deterrents to venture creation – alongside potential opportunities.
He concluded that prioritizing robotics foundation models (RFM) offered a strategic advantage over the increasingly competitive landscape of Large Language Models (LLMs), particularly given Korea and Japan’s established global strengths in manufacturing.
Subsequently, Ryu assembled a team of six professors from prominent South Korean institutions, including KAIST, SNU, and POSTECH, along with their research teams, to launch RLWRLD.
Competition and RLWRLD’s Advantages
RLWRLD is entering a competitive field with other startups like Skild AI and Physical Intelligence also developing foundational models for robotics, in addition to major corporations such as Tesla, Google DeepMind, and Nvidia.
However, Ryu believes RLWRLD possesses a strong initial position due to its access to AI and robotics experts necessary for developing advanced foundation models and high degree of freedom (DoF) humanoid robots.
High-DoF Robotics and Data Acquisition
Ryu further noted that rival companies often utilize low-DoF robots with limited two-fingered grippers. RLWRLD, having already secured a high-DoF reference robot, anticipates achieving superior performance capabilities.
Furthermore, RLWRLD’s strategic investors facilitate rapid collection of valuable data from nearby manufacturing sites. Reports from 2024 indicate that Japan and South Korea collectively account for 9.2% of global manufacturing output.
Commercialization Strategy and Future Goals
RLWRLD intends to generate revenue as early as this year through proof-of-concept (PoC) initiatives and collaborative demonstrations with strategic partners.
Target Markets and Long-Term Vision
The startup’s long-term objectives encompass serving factories, logistics centers, retail outlets, and eventually, developing robots for domestic use in household chores. Initially, the company is prioritizing the industrial sector, recognizing its higher willingness to invest and significant demand for automation solutions.
Company Size
RLWRLD currently employs 13 individuals.