RoboData: Unlocking the Future with Korea’s Top Manufacturers and the TSMC of Robot Data

Asia’s Embrace of Physical AI Driven by Manufacturing Prowess

Asia’s foray into physical AI is propelled by its longstanding manufacturing expertise that has established the region as a global industrial hub. Countries like South Korea, Japan, China, and Taiwan have economies deeply rooted in manufacturing, export-oriented industries, and highly efficient supply chains. This foundation is now influencing the adoption of artificial intelligence and the direction of investments in the region.

Config, a startup with bases in Seoul and San Jose, is at the forefront of this movement. The company, focused on building the data layer for robotic foundation models (RFMs), recently secured significant backing from the venture arms of major South Korean manufacturers. Samsung Venture Investment led the oversubscribed $27 million seed round, valuing Config at over $200 million. Other strategic investors include Hyundai Motor’s ZER01NE Ventures, LG Tech Ventures, and SKT America, among others.

Founded in January 2025 by CEO Minjoon Seo, Config aims to provide the essential data for robots to learn and operate effectively. Unlike training large language models, which can be relatively inexpensive due to easily accessible text data, teaching robots physical movements is a complex and costly process. Config’s approach focuses on collecting and transforming data to suit robots’ interactions with the physical world, setting it apart in the robotics AI space.

Config’s revenue-generating model has attracted a diverse range of customers, including large manufacturers, system integrators, and companies in agriculture and defense sectors. The startup’s data production operations in Seoul and Hanoi involve nearly 300 employees and have amassed a vast amount of human motion data, surpassing industry standards.

While most robotics teams adapt AI models trained on human motion data for robots, Config takes a unique approach. The company focuses on pre-processing the data to align with robots’ movements, enhancing their capabilities. This data conversion technology is Config’s key differentiator, enabling seamless integration of AI models into robotic systems.

The recent funding secured by Config will support its expansion plans, including scaling data operations, growing its enterprise platform business, and launching a cloud-based Robot-as-a-Service product for seamless integration of its foundation model.