ROAI
Category: Robotics / Embodied AI
Korean physical AI startup building spatial intelligence-based autonomous manufacturing infrastructure, spun out of Hyundai Motor Group. ROAI was founded in 2025. The company is led by Seokui Hong (Nick Hong). Based in Seoul, South Korea. Team size: 11-50. Total funding raised: $10.4M. Latest round: Series A. Key investors include KB Investment, LB Investment, Doosan Investment, FuturePlay, Schmidt, Mark & Company, Zero1NE (Hyundai Motor Group VC).
- Founded
- 2025
- Headquarters
- Seoul, South Korea
- Team size
- 11-50
- Total funding
- $10.4M
Value proposition
One-Click Factory: AI that automates the entire manufacturing process from production planning to robot control, reducing cycle times by up to 20% and deployment lead times significantly.
Products and solutions
XELO (AI-powered planning engine for robotic automation), XELO Workspace (web-based 3D factory design & simulation platform), AI Operation (automated robot teaching/programming)
Unique value
Only company globally automating at full manufacturing data scale — integrating process design, robot path planning, simulation (NVIDIA Omniverse), and on-site deployment into a single AI-driven pipeline, spun from Hyundai's decade of manufacturing expertise.
Target customer
Automotive OEMs (Hyundai, Kia), assembly and measurement industries, global manufacturers deploying industrial robots
Industries served
Automotive manufacturing, General assembly, Welding, Inspection/quality control
Technology advantage
Proprietary AI engine for multi-robot task allocation, collision-free motion planning, and cycle time optimization; NVIDIA Omniverse integration for high-fidelity simulation; AWS cloud-based XELO Workspace; 2 registered patents; DeepTech TIPS selection validating technology.
How they differentiate
End-to-end automation from design to robot control (not just path planning); Hyundai-born manufacturing domain expertise; AI model that optimizes hundreds of robots simultaneously in complex environments; NVIDIA Omniverse-based simulation for sim-to-real validation; proven 10-20% cycle time reduction in real factory pilots.
Main competitors
Realtime Robotics (US, cloud-based robot motion planning), Wandelbots (Germany, AI-powered robot programming), Path Robotics (US, AI welding/cutting automation)
Key partnerships
NVIDIA (Omniverse integration for simulation), Amazon Web Services (AWS, cloud infrastructure for XELO), Hyundai Motor & Kia (pilot projects, spin-off origin)
Notable customers
Hyundai Motor (Ulsan & Singapore factory pilots), Kia
Major milestones
Feb 2025: Spin-off from Hyundai Motor Group Manufacturing Solutions Division, Mar 2025: ₩1.4B Seed round led by FuturePlay, Sep 2025: Selected for Ministry of SMEs DeepTech TIPS program (₩1.5B R&D grant), Apr 2026: ₩13B ($9.4M) Series A co-led by KB Investment & LB Investment, 2025: Pilot projects at Hyundai Ulsan & Singapore factories demonstrated 13%+ cycle time reduction, 2026: Presented at NVIDIA GTC 2026 and AWS Summit Seoul
Growth metrics
18 employees (April 2026); 13 hires in past year; 2 registered patents; validated 10-20% cycle time reduction in factory pilots
Market positioning
Early-stage Korean physical AI startup with strong Hyundai pedigree, targeting the $43B+ global industrial robotics programming market. Differentiated by comprehensive end-to-end approach vs. point solutions from competitors.
Geographic focus
South Korea (home base), expanding to global automotive OEMs and manufacturers
Patents and IP
2 registered patents (as of March 2026, per THE VC)
About Seokui Hong (Nick Hong)
Ex-Hyundai Motor ~10 years, Manufacturing Solutions Division; led development of AI-based multi-robot offline programming (OLP) prototypes; worked across digital transformation, AI manufacturing technology, and new vehicle production engineering. Education: Korea Aerospace University.
Official website: https://roai.im/