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The RLWRLD team consists of AI researchers, roboticists, product engineers, business strategists, operators, and other professionals. | Source: RLWRLD
RLWRLD Inc., a startup dedicated to developing foundational robotics models powered by artificial intelligence, has successfully secured $15 million in its seed funding round. This innovative company aims to distinguish itself by utilizing real-world sensor data, robotic systems, and industrial workflows to train its models, setting it apart from conventional generative AI models that primarily depend on textual, code-based, and visual data.
“While Silicon Valley is focused on creating intelligence for the internet, we are dedicated to crafting intelligence for machines,” expressed Jung-hee Ryu, the founder and CEO of RLWRLD.
Ryu previously founded Olaworks, which was acquired by Intel Corp., marking the tech giant’s first acquisition of a company based in Korea. The founding team of RLWRLD is comprised of notable figures, including KAIST Chair Professor Jinwoo Shin and former leaders from Kurly, Kakao, and Boston Consulting Group.
With operational bases in Seoul and Tokyo, RLWRLD’s technology enables robots to navigate and operate autonomously in complex physical settings, such as factories, warehouses, and logistics centers.
RLWRLD’s foundational strategy
The company has structured its platform around three essential pillars:
- Embodied model architecture designed for real-world intelligence
- Massive data pipelines sourced from East Asia’s manufacturing industries
- Seamless integration infrastructure compatible with existing robotic systems
“We focus not merely on academic research; we are actively developing models that address tangible challenges faced in real production environments,” noted Jinwoo Shin, chief scientist at RLWRLD and KAIST chair professor.
In pursuit of innovation, RLWRLD is fostering collaborations with prestigious institutions, including the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST), Seoul National University, and POSTECH. Additionally, they are partnering with robotics manufacturers such as WIRobotics, Rainbow Robotics, Wonik Robotics, and Robotis.
Funding will drive expansion and integration
The seed funding round attracted investments from prominent companies including LG Electronics, SK Telecom, KDDI, ANA Holdings, Mitsui Chemicals, and Shimadzu Corporation, along with several leading AI-focused venture capital firms from Japan and Korea, such as Hashed, Mirae Asset, and Global Brain.
“RLWRLD represents a unique convergence of advanced AI research and practical industrial application,” stated Simon Seojoon Kim, CEO of Hashed. “This is what makes this investment particularly compelling.”
With this investment, RLWRLD aims to expedite its growth trajectory by expanding its proprietary data pipelines in collaboration with industrial partners and advancing its robotics foundational model capabilities. The company also envisions enhancing integration efforts with robotics and sensor manufacturers across Asia and North America.
Highlighting AI advancements at the Robotics Summit
This year’s Robotics Summit & Expo, taking place on April 30 and May 1 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, will be a key event for exploring recent developments in artificial intelligence.
Keynotes and panels at the summit will address various AI-related themes, including:
Welcome to the Era of Physical Intelligence: Daniela Rus, director of MIT CSAIL, will examine the difficulties associated with transformer-based foundational AI models and present alternative physics-based approaches that efficiently deliver high performance.
Making Autonomous Bipedals Stable and Safe: Nikolai Ensslen, CEO of Synapticon, will discuss the safety challenges of bipedal robots and the importance of hybrid control systems that combine AI-driven intelligence with strict safety measures.
Risk is Different with AI: Strategies for Resilient Robots: SK Gupta, co-founder and chief scientist of GrayMatter Robotics, will share insights on compliance with evolving AI regulations and prevention of unintended risks.
Advancing Robot Learning with Force Sensing & Physical Intelligence: Klajd Lika, CEO of Bota Systems, will highlight methodologies for enhancing robots with force-sensitive capabilities to improve learning and adaptability.
Generative AI’s Impact on Robotics: This panel will delve into how large language models and text generation technologies can be applied within the robotics field, featuring industry leaders from MBodi AI, OLogic, Chef Robotics, MFV Partners, and The Robot Report.
With over 50 educational sessions across various tracks, including AI, design, development, healthcare, and logistics, the summit will also provide a platform for presentations by industry experts in the Engineering Theater.
The Robotics Summit will facilitate numerous networking opportunities, a Career Fair, a robotics development challenge, and the prestigious RBR50 Robotics Innovation Awards Gala.
Source
www.therobotreport.com