Neoacro Robotics
Category: Robotics / Embodied AI
A physical AI robotics startup automating cutting, welding, and logistics for shipbuilding and construction industries. Neoacro Robotics was founded in 2024. The company is led by Kwon Yong-seop (권용섭). Based in Daegu, South Korea. Team size: 1-10. Total funding raised: $332K. Latest round: Seed. Key investors include FuturePlay (퓨처플레이).
- Founded
- 2024
- Headquarters
- Daegu, South Korea
- Team size
- 1-10
- Total funding
- $332K
Value proposition
Replaces 4 skilled workers with 1 operator in steel cutting, boosting productivity by 50%+; physical AI that learns skilled worker techniques from data and reproduces them through robots for hazardous shipyard and construction environments.
Products and solutions
3D Steel Section Cutting Robot System (Vision AI-powered), Intelligent Welding Robot System (FCAW/GTAW/GMAW), Autonomous Mobile Robot (AMR) with mecanum wheels, Mobile Welding Robot (under development, target 2027)
Unique value
Domain-specific physical AI that bridges the sim-to-real gap for shipbuilding automation, with systems already deployed and validated at Korea's largest shipyards (HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hanwha Ocean).
Target customer
Shipbuilders (HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hanwha Ocean, Samsung Heavy Industries); construction companies; US shipyards (Hanwha Philly Shipyard)
Industries served
Shipbuilding, Construction, Industrial Manufacturing
Technology advantage
Vision AI for measuring shape/position/deformation of irregular steel materials; physical AI that replicates skilled worker techniques; direct-teaching collaborative robot interface (no programming needed); 28 completed robotics automation projects including 3 government R&D initiatives; systems already validated at major Korean shipyards
How they differentiate
Unlike general industrial robot makers, Neoacro focuses specifically on non-standard, irregular materials and environments unique to shipbuilding (angles, H-beams, channels, pipes). Their physical AI learns from skilled worker data rather than requiring traditional programming, and they have already secured real production-line validation at Korea's top shipbuilders.
Main competitors
Didden Robotics (디든로보틱스) — quadruped welding robots for shipyards, Enviers (엔바이어스) — AI robotics for irregular shipbuilding processes, Rainbow Robotics — expanding into shipbuilding automation
Key partnerships
FuturePlay (lead seed investor), IBK창공 (IBK Changgong startup incubation program, Guro 15th cohort), Hanwha Ocean (US Philly Shipyard expansion collaboration)
Notable customers
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, Hanwha Ocean
Major milestones
Founded April 2024, Completed 28 robotics automation projects including 3 government-funded initiatives, 2025 — Systems installed and validated at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean production sites, 2026 — Selected for IBK창공 Guro 15th cohort, July 2026 — ₩500M seed round led by FuturePlay, Targeting 2027 for mobile welding robot deployment, Targeting 2028 for US production line entry via Hanwha Philly Shipyard
Growth metrics
Founded April 2024; 28 projects completed; 50%+ productivity improvement claimed; 300% YoY revenue growth claimed in job posting
Market positioning
Early-stage Korean startup targeting the niche of physical AI automation for shipbuilding and construction, with proven deployments at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and Hanwha Ocean, and a clear expansion plan into the US market via Hanwha Philly Shipyard by 2028.
Geographic focus
South Korea (primary); United States (expansion target via Hanwha Philly Shipyard from 2028)
About Kwon Yong-seop (권용섭)
Ex-Korea Robot Convergence Research Institute (KIRO) Researcher; Samsung Electronics Quality Innovation Center; HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Central Technology Institute. Robot system specialist with 28+ robotics automation projects and 3 government R&D initiatives completed since founding.
Official website: https://neoacro.com