KAIST spin-out URobotics raises about ₩40bn for walking software sold separately from the robot

URobotics, a Korean physical AI start-up founded by KAIST researchers, raised about ₩40 billion (about $30 million) in a Series A co-led by Kiwoom Investment and K2 Investment Partners, Wowtale reported on November 6, 2026. Hyundai Motor Group’s open-innovation arm ZER01NE and Seoul Investment Partners also took part. Wowtale called it the largest round raised by a Korean start-up that week.

Why it matters: most capital in legged robotics goes to companies that build the whole machine. URobotics is a bet that locomotion becomes a software layer bought separately, the way autonomy stacks are for cars.

What does URobotics make?

According to Dealsite, its products are DreamWalk, which walks rough terrain using only joint encoders and an inertial sensor, with no cameras; DreamWalk++, which adds camera and lidar terrain perception; and a modular kit bundling the sensors and compute the software needs. URobotics says its technology is hardware-agnostic and has already produced contracts and revenue at industrial sites; CEO Byungho Yoo said the round will expand supply of solutions validated in the field.

What will the money pay for?

Core technology, specialist hiring, product supply and on-site support, a team to handle larger projects, and overseas expansion built on its Korean deployments, the company said. In September, Dealsite reported that URobotics had sought a pre-money valuation of ₩200 billion and that talks had moved to about ₩150 billion; the final figure was not disclosed. For the wider Korean pipeline, see our Korea Index.