WATT
Category: Robotics / Embodied AI
South Korean startup developing AI-powered autonomous delivery robots and dual-arm humanoid robots for in-building logistics automation WATT was founded in 2020. The company is led by Choi Jae-won (최재원). Based in Seoul, South Korea. Team size: 11-50. Total funding raised: $3.5M. Latest round: Series A. Key investors include HB Investment, Yamato Holdings, FuturePlay, HL Mando, Ansan City Youth Startup Fund 2호.
- Founded
- 2020
- Headquarters
- Seoul, South Korea
- Team size
- 11-50
- Total funding
- $3.5M
Value proposition
Autonomous in-building delivery robots (James series) and robotic parcel lockers (W-Station) that eliminate the need for residents to go downstairs for package pickup, enabling 24/7 contactless delivery within apartment complexes and office buildings
Products and solutions
James W (inter-floor autonomous delivery robot, 17 DOF, 30kg payload, 1.2m/s), James mW (compact delivery robot with robotic arm, 10 DOF, 60kg payload), W-Station XZ (robotic parcel locker, 5220L capacity, serves ~900 households), Porter Robot (smart city delivery solution)
Unique value
Only Korean startup with proven commercial deployment of autonomous in-building delivery robots in both Korea and Japan, with strategic investment from Japan's largest logistics company Yamato Holdings; now expanding into dual-arm humanoid robots for broader building logistics automation
Target customer
Apartment complexes, office buildings, construction companies (HDC Hyundai Development), logistics companies (Yamato Holdings), smart city projects
Industries served
Real estate / Property management, Logistics / Last-mile delivery, Smart cities, Building management
Technology advantage
Full-stack in-building autonomy: elevator integration, automatic door communication, multi-floor navigation, robotic arm manipulation, AI-based parcel recognition, and full-body control technology for humanoid robots. 17 DOF robotic platform with 10-hour battery life. Patented technologies in delivery robotics.
How they differentiate
Unlike competitors focused on outdoor/industrial logistics, WATT specializes in in-building last-mile delivery with proven commercial deployments in both Korea and Japan. Their dual-robot system (James + W-Station) creates a complete end-to-end solution. Strategic partnership with Yamato Holdings gives them a unique beachhead in the Japanese market.
Main competitors
Neubility, Rodrunner, Syscon Robotics, Fieldro
Key partnerships
Yamato Holdings (Japan's largest logistics company, strategic investor & partner), HB Investment (lead Series A investor), FuturePlay (accelerator & seed investor), HL Mando (seed investor), Ansan City Youth Startup Fund, Arkispace (3D spatial data partnership), Smart City Busan (Porter Robot deployment), HDC Hyundai Development (PoC partner), Eta Electronics (MOU)
Notable customers
Yamato Transport (Japan's #1 parcel delivery company), HDC Hyundai Development, Smart City Busan (Eco Delta Smart City national pilot project)
Major milestones
2020.03: Company founded (originally as 3W), Seed investment from FuturePlay & HL Mando, 2020.08: James robot & W-Station prototype completed, 2021: First PoC at Hanyang University dormitory, 2021: Second PoC with HDC Hyundai Development, 2025: Selected for 'Super Gap Startup 1000+' by Ministry of SMEs, 2025 H2: Joint demo with Yamato Transport in Tokyo metro area, 2026.04: Series A with HB Investment lead & Yamato Holdings strategic investment, 2026.04: Selected for Scale-up TIPS R&D (₩3B grant for humanoid robot development), 2026.04: Ansan City Youth Startup Fund investment, 2025.08: Selected for K-Humanoid Alliance
Growth metrics
13 employees (as of May 2026); 6 patents; 2 national R&D projects; Commercial deployments in Korea (Busan Eco Delta Smart City) and Japan (Tokyo metro area with Yamato Transport)
Market positioning
Early-stage leader in Korean in-building autonomous delivery robotics, expanding into humanoid robotics for building logistics automation. Selected for K-Humanoid Alliance and Ministry of SMEs 'Super Gap Startup 1000+' program.
Geographic focus
South Korea (home market), Japan (via Yamato Holdings partnership), North America (PoC planned for H2 2026)
Patents and IP
6-7 patents related to delivery robot technology (as of 2022-2025); 2 national R&D projects in service/delivery/logistics robotics
About Choi Jae-won (최재원)
Ex-CEO of an electronics components startup (2015-2017); Ex-employee at PUMPl (shared e-scooter company, 2019); Hanyang University B.S. Mechanical Engineering, M.S. Electronic Engineering
Official website: https://wattrobotics.ai/