Robotic Revolution: RLWRLD Secures $14.8 M to Build Foundational AI Model
Meet RLWRLD: The AI‑Powered Robot Revolution
Robots are everywhere. By 2023, more than 540,000 new industrial machines hit the floor, pushing the global total past 4 million. They’re great for the mundane—moving parts, stacking boxes, and repeating the same motion over and over. But when it comes to delicate, unpredictable tasks—think a robot juggling eggs in a kitchen—most machines still fall to the left.
Why the robot lull
Industrial robots excel at straight‑line jobs but struggle to adapt. They can’t handle fragile items with the grace of a pastry chef, and they’re not so great at thinking on their feet. That’s why the hum of human hands is still the backbone of many processes.
Enter RLWRLD
South Korea’s bright startup is flipping the script. They’ve built a foundational AI model that marries the brainpower of large language models with traditional robotics software. The idea? Give robots the ability to move fast, make smart choices, and learn from us.
“With RLWRLD’s model, tasks that used to require a human touch can now be automated,” says founder and CEO Jung‑Hee Ryu. “We’re essentially teaching robots the tricks of the trade so factories can run smoother—and faster.”
Funding & Partnerships
After a stealth phase, RLWRLD closed a seed round worth 21 billion KRW (≈$14.8 million). Hashed led the effort, with Mirae Asset Venture Investment and Global Brain on board.
The company even snagged major strategic investors:
- Ana Group, PKSHA, Mitsui Chemical, Shimadzu, and KDDI (Japan)
- LG Electronics & SK Telecom (South Korea)
- Amber Manufacturing (India)
What’s Next?
The fresh capital will fuel proof‑of‑concept projects with those strategic partners and help buy GPUs, robots, and data‑collection devices. They also plan to recruit top research talent and develop a breakthrough hand‑movement system—five fingers of robotic dexterity—something no competitor—Tesla, Figure AI, or 1X—has nailed yet.
In short, RLWRLD is turning the dull, repetitive world of industry robotics into a playground for AI savvy, quick‑moving, and surprisingly thoughtful machines. The future is looking a lot more human‑like than we thought.
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Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda
Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They’re here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise.
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Meet RLWRLD: Korea’s New Robotics Dream Team
Just when you think the AI scene in East Asia is a quiet understudy to the U.S. and China, a fresh voice breaks the silence—this is RLWRLD, the brainchild of serial entrepreneur Ryu. Backed by cool investors and a squad of top professors, the company is gearing up to bring robots that can move, think, and—well, maybe even talk—into the real world.
From Vision to Action
- Ryu’s latest venture will showcase a humanoid’s autonomous actions later this year (exact date still under wraps).
- Beyond the shiny demo, RLWRLD is building a robot platform that can accommodate industrial machines, collaborative tools, mobile robots, and, yes, the dapper humanoid.
What’s Ryu’s Backstory?
After founding the 2024 start‑up, Ryu added his second venture, Olaworks, to the portfolio. Olaworks ran deep into Intel’s Korea R&D center by 2012, and by 2015 he spun off Future Play—a launchpad for deep‑tech companies.
His latest spark came when he noticed a staggering surge of AI startups in the U.S., Europe, and China, while the Korean and Japanese scenes seemed like a quiet coffee shop that never got busy.
Getting the Geek Squad
He sat down with 30 AI professors from Korea and Japan, digging into pain points—lack of data, GPUs, and the scary hurdles that prevent them from starting a venture. The takeaway for Ryu was simple:
- Skip the crowded LLM market.
- Focus on robotic foundation models (RFMs) – a sweet spot where Korea and Japan already shine in manufacturing.
Fast forward, he hooked up six professors from the country’s big guns—KAIST, SNU, POSTECH—and their teams. That’s RLWRLD’s core crew.
Why Rying Out? Because the Other Guys Are Still Using Two‑Finger Grippers
Other startups like Skild AI, Physical Intelligence, or giants such as Tesla, DeepMind, and Nvidia are also exploring robotic foundation models. But RLWRLD’s edge? The company already owns a high‑DoF (degree of freedom) robot—a potent advantage over other labs that’re still eyeing small grippers.
Data Feeds from Real Factories
Thanks to investors with factories in close proximity, RLWRLD can quickly harvest real production data. A 2024 report showed Japan and South Korea together contributed a hefty 9.2% to global manufacturing output.
Monetizing the Magic
Already, the firm is shaping proof‑of‑concepts and collabs with partners, aiming to start cash‑flowing before the year ends. The long‑term vision? Serve factories, logistics hubs, retail outlets, and even home‑based robot assistants—think of a Kitten‑like helper that does dishes or sorts laundry.
Current Numbers
- Team size: 13 miracles—35k cookies not included.
- Focus: Manufacturing first, because they care most and want automation the most.
With a strong foundation in robotics, a keen eye on human workflow automation, and a high‑DoF robot as its flagship, RLWRLD is poised to not just follow the AI trend but set its own! If you’re looking for robots that can actually pull your feet out of your pants (or the kitchen), keep an eye on this – the future’s coming, and it’s on wheels… or limbs.
