South Korea’s industrial titans are investing in the future of artificial intelligence, specifically in the realm of physical AI and robotics. Config, a startup focused on creating the essential data infrastructure for robotic foundation models (RFMs), has successfully raised $27 million in a seed funding round, valuing the company at over $200 million. This significant investment underscores the region’s strategic pivot towards leveraging its manufacturing expertise for advancements in AI.

The funding round was spearheaded by Samsung Venture Investment, with substantial participation from the venture arms of other major South Korean corporations, including Hyundai Motor’s ZER01NE Ventures, LG Tech Ventures, and SKT America. This collective backing from industry leaders highlights a shared vision for the critical role of data in developing sophisticated robotic capabilities. Config aims to become the foundational data provider for the burgeoning robotics industry, much like TSMC serves as a crucial manufacturer for semiconductor companies.

Founded in early 2025 by a team with prior experience at Meta, Twelve Labs, Waymo, and Google, Config is not developing robots itself. Instead, its core mission is to provide the high-quality, specialized data that robots need to learn and operate effectively. CEO Minjoon Seo emphasizes that unlike the abundance of readily available text data for large language models, robotic training data requires costly, real-world collection involving specialized equipment and human operation. Config’s approach focuses on transforming this raw data to better suit the unique movement and interaction patterns of robots, positioning itself as a key enabler for other companies building their own AI-driven robotic systems.

Config is already demonstrating market traction, generating revenue from clients in manufacturing, agriculture, and defense sectors. The company operates data production facilities in Seoul and Hanoi, employing nearly 300 individuals. To date, Config has amassed over 100,000 hours of human motion data, significantly exceeding the scale of publicly available datasets. The newly acquired capital will be allocated to expanding its data operations, growing its enterprise platform, and launching a Robot-as-a-Service product, further solidifying its position in the rapidly evolving field of AI robotics.

Key Takeaways

• South Korean manufacturing giants, including Samsung and Hyundai, have invested in AI robotics data startup Config.
• Config aims to provide specialized data infrastructure for robotic foundation models, likening its role to TSMC in the chip industry.
• The startup has secured over $35 million in total funding and is focusing on collecting and transforming human motion data for robot training.

Editor’s Analysis & Impact

This investment signals a significant trend: the convergence of Asia’s manufacturing might with the burgeoning field of AI robotics. By backing Config, major South Korean conglomerates are not just investing in a startup, but in a foundational technology that could accelerate the adoption of intelligent automation across industries. The focus on specialized data collection and transformation addresses a key bottleneck in robotics development, potentially unlocking new applications in sectors from logistics to defense. Config’s ‘TSMC for robot data’ model suggests a future where specialized data providers become indispensable partners for robot manufacturers, fostering innovation without direct competition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Config and what does it do?
A: Config is a startup that focuses on creating the data infrastructure for robotic foundation models (RFMs). It collects and transforms real-world data, particularly human motion, to train AI systems for robots, aiming to make robots more capable and adaptable.

Q: Why is Config's approach significant for AI robotics?
A: Training robots requires specialized, costly data that is difficult to acquire. Config addresses this challenge by providing a scalable solution for data collection and transformation, enabling other companies to develop their own advanced robotic AI without needing to build this infrastructure themselves.

Q: Who are Config's main investors?
A: Config's seed funding round was led by Samsung Venture Investment and included significant investments from the venture arms of Hyundai Motor (ZER01NE Ventures), LG Tech Ventures, and SKT America, alongside other financial backers.