WIRobotics
Category: Robotics / Embodied AI
South Korean robotics company developing wearable exoskeletons and the ALLEX humanoid robot for Physical AI applications WIRobotics was founded in 2021. The company is led by Kim Yong-jae (김용재) & Lee Yeon-baek (이연백) — Co-CEOs. Based in Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea. Team size: 11-50. Total funding raised: $82.1M. Latest round: Series B. Key investors include JB Investment, InterVest, Hana Ventures, Smilegate Investment, SBVA, NH Investment & Securities, Company K Partners, GU Investment, FuturePlay, Korea Credit Guarantee Fund (KODIT), Navien.
- Founded
- 2021
- Headquarters
- Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea
- Team size
- 11-50
- Total funding
- $82.1M
Value proposition
Bridging human movement data from wearable robots (WIM) to humanoid robotics (ALLEX), creating a Physical AI developer ecosystem with high-fidelity simulation models before hardware deployment
Products and solutions
ALLEX — full-body humanoid robot with biomimetic actuation, high backdrivability, and force transparency, WIM (We Innovate Mobility) — 1.6kg walking-assist wearable robot, WIM S — premium consumer version, WIM KIDS — pediatric version, WIBS (We Innovate Back Support) — passive back-support wearable, ALLEX Simulation Model (MuJoCo MJCF, Isaac Sim USD, ROS URDF formats)
Unique value
Only robotics company with real-world human movement data from 3,000+ wearable robot units deployed, directly informing humanoid robot control; open Physical AI ecosystem releasing simulation models before hardware ships; Samsung robotics alumni founding team with 30+ years combined experience
Target customer
Research institutions and AI labs (ALLEX humanoid platform); elderly/disabled individuals and rehabilitation centers (WIM wearable); industrial/manufacturing companies (WIBS back-support wearable)
Industries served
Healthcare/Rehabilitation, Robotics Research, Physical AI, Manufacturing/Industrial, Defense, Elderly Care
Technology advantage
Proprietary high-backdrivability actuators with force transparency; biomimetic robot hand with human-level dexterity; Sim-to-Real gap minimization technology; 3 years of real-world gait data from WIM users; selected for NVIDIA/AWS/MassRobotics Physical AI Fellowship; 8 registered patents; TIPS (Tech Incubator Program for Startups) R&D grant recipient
How they differentiate
Unlike competitors focused purely on humanoid hardware, WIRobotics has a proven revenue-generating wearable robot business (WIM, 3,000+ units sold) generating real human movement data. They pursue an open ecosystem strategy (releasing simulation models before hardware) vs. closed approaches of Figure/Tesla. Their Samsung robotics alumni team brings deep industrial robotics expertise.
Main competitors
Rainbow Robotics (Samsung-backed, HUBO humanoid), Doosan Robotics (collaborative/humanoid robots), Figure AI (US-based humanoid), Tesla Optimus (US-based humanoid), Boardwalk Robotics (ALEX humanoid)
Key partnerships
NVIDIA (Physical AI Fellowship, Isaac Sim integration), AWS (Physical AI Fellowship, cloud credits), MassRobotics (Physical AI Fellowship testbed), Korea University of Technology and Education (KOREATECH), global automotive manufacturers (PoC discussions)
Notable customers
Global distribution in Europe, China, Turkey, Japan, rehabilitation centers and elderly care facilities (WIM), Jirisan mountain rescue team (WIM), global automotive manufacturers (PoC for ALLEX)
Major milestones
2021.05: Company founded by Samsung Robotics alumni, 2021.10: Seed investment from FuturePlay, 2023.01: WIBS unveiled at CES 2023, 2023.04: ₩4B Pre-Series A, 2024.02: WIM product launch, 2024.03: ₩13B Series A, 2024-2026: CES Innovation Awards 3 consecutive years (2024, 2025, 2026), 2025: WIM S and WIM KIDS launches, 2026.03: Selected for Physical AI Fellowship (AWS/NVIDIA/MassRobotics), 2026.05: ₩95B ($68M) Series B led by JB Investment, 2026.06: ALLEX simulation model released publicly, 2026 H2: Mobile ALLEX research platform shipments planned
Growth metrics
WIM cumulative sales: 3,000+ units; Revenue: ~$430K (2023, ₩5.6억) → ~$1M (2024, ₩13억) → ~$2.1M (2025, ₩27.9억); Q1 2026 revenue exceeded full-year 2024; Team grew from ~4 founders to 50 employees (May 2026)
Market positioning
Leading Korean startup in the convergence of wearable robotics and humanoid robotics; positioned as a Physical AI platform company rather than just a hardware manufacturer; competing globally with US and Chinese humanoid startups while leveraging Korean manufacturing and robotics ecosystem
Geographic focus
South Korea (home base, R&D); US (California subsidiary planned, CES awards, Physical AI Fellowship); Europe (WIM sales in EU, Turkey); China (WIM sales); Japan (WIM sales)
Patents and IP
8 registered patents (as of 2025) covering wearable robot design, backdrivable actuators, controllers, and joint assembly mechanisms
About Kim Yong-jae (김용재) & Lee Yeon-baek (이연백) — Co-CEOs
Kim Yong-jae: Professor at Korea University of Technology and Education (KOREATECH); previously at Samsung Electronics robotics team; developed AMBIDEX robot arm and FLLEX hand at NAVER Labs. Lee Yeon-baek: Former Samsung Electronics robotics center lead engineer; co-founded WIRobotics with fellow Samsung robotics alumni.
Official website: https://www.wirobotics.com