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§ Private Profile · Seoul, South Korea
RLWRLD is a technology company.
RLWRLD develops robotics foundation models, creating "Physical AI" to advance autonomous machine capabilities. These models are designed to impart robots with real-world intelligence, enabling human-level dexterity and perception. Their approach focuses on giving machines the ability to see, think, and interact with their environment autonomously.
The company emerged from an insight into the limitations of current robotics, aiming to solve the challenge of enabling sophisticated autonomous functions for machines. This South Korean startup recognized the need for a foundational AI layer specifically tailored for robotic applications, allowing them to operate effectively in diverse, unstructured environments.
RLWRLD's solutions are primarily aimed at industrial environments, where autonomous robots can perform complex tasks with greater precision and adaptability. The company envisions a future where machines equipped with their real-world intelligence can seamlessly integrate into various operational settings, enhancing efficiency and extending the scope of robotic applications.
RLWRLD has raised $42.3M across 2 funding rounds.
RLWRLD has raised $42.3M in total across 2 funding rounds.
RLWRLD is a South Korean physical AI startup founded in Seoul that develops robotics foundation models (RFMs) to enable autonomous robot operations in real-world environments.[1][2][3] These models learn from real-world sensor data, robotic systems, and industrial workflows, combining large language models with traditional robotics software to automate manual processes, support quick movements, logical reasoning, and advanced capabilities like five-finger hand movements.[1][2] Targeting factories, logistics, and retail initially—where demand for automation is highest—the company serves industrial partners by integrating seamlessly with existing robotics systems, with plans to expand to household applications long-term.[1][2] RLWRLD raised $15M in seed funding in April 2025 from investors including Global Brain and KDDI, employing around 8-13 people, and is pursuing proof-of-concept projects for early revenue while scaling data pipelines and model development.[1][2][3][5]
RLWRLD was founded by Jung-hee Ryu, its CEO, whose prior company Olaworks was acquired by Intel in its first Korean startup deal, bringing deep expertise in AI and robotics.[1] The founding team includes KAIST Chair Professor Jinwoo Shin as chief scientist (formerly CTO of Kurly), a Kakao engineering lead, and a former BCG partner, blending academic, tech, and consulting backgrounds.[1] Emerging from South Korea's manufacturing ecosystem in East Asia, the idea crystallized around building "brains for machines" versus internet-focused AI, leveraging real-world industrial data where others rely on text or images.[1][2] Early traction includes collaborations with KAIST, Seoul National University, POSTECH, and robotics firms like WIRobotics, Rainbow Robotics, Wonik Robotics, and Robotis, plus seed funding announced April 15, 2025, to fuel GPU infrastructure, robot purchases, data collection, and talent hires.[1][2][5]
RLWRLD stands out in the robotics AI space through its specialized platform:
RLWRLD rides the Physical AI wave, extending generative AI from digital (e.g., LLMs) to embodied robotics, addressing labor shortages in manufacturing amid aging populations in Asia and beyond.[1][4] Timing aligns with surging demand for factory/logistics automation, where robots must handle unstructured real-world tasks—RLWRLD's RFMs automate human expertise copying, boosting efficiency in environments underserved by vision/text-based models.[2] Market tailwinds include East Asia's robotics manufacturing dominance and investor interest (e.g., KDDI, Global Brain), positioning RLWRLD to influence standards via open integrations and collaborations.[1][5] By democratizing advanced Physical AI, it accelerates ecosystem shifts toward autonomous production, potentially reshaping industrials like peers in inspection (Gecko Robotics) or specialized modules (Celltrio).[3]
RLWRLD's seed funding jumpstarts PoC revenue this year via partner demos, including humanoid autonomous actions, while expanding data across Asia/North America sites and hiring talent.[1][2] Near-term focus: industrial dominance with RFM stack advancements in dexterity and multi-robot support; long-term: household robots amid Physical AI hype.[2] Trends like GPU scaling, multimodal data, and Asia's automation boom will propel growth, evolving RLWRLD from niche innovator to foundational player—bridging "brains for machines" to transform real-world workflows.[1]
RLWRLD has raised $42.3M across 2 funding rounds. Most recently, it raised $27.3M Seed in February 2026.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 27, 2026 | $27.3M Seed | — | Hanwha Asset Management, Akio Tanaka, Kakao Investment, Lotte Ventures, Mirae Asset, Z Venture Capital | Announced |
| Apr 1, 2025 | $15M Seed | Hashed | Animoca Brands, ALL Nippon Airways, Amber Manufacturing, Global Brain, KDDI, LG Electronics, Mirae Asset Venture Investment, Mitsui Chemicals, Pksha Capital, Shimadzu Corporation, SK Telecom | Announced |
RLWRLD has raised $42.3M in total across 2 funding rounds.
RLWRLD's investors include Hanwha Asset Management, Akio Tanaka, Kakao Investment, Lotte Ventures, Mirae Asset, Z Venture Capital, Hashed, Animoca Brands, All Nippon Airways, Amber Manufacturing, Global Brain, KDDI.