Robotics Data Layer Startup Config Raises $27M from Korean Giants

Asia's manufacturing strength is driving a surge in physical AI development, with companies like Config leading the charge. Config, a startup based in Seoul and San Jose, has successfully raised $27 million in a seed funding round, oversubscribed and valued at over $200 million. Samsung Venture Investment spearheaded this investment, joined by venture arms of major South Korean manufacturers such as Hyundai Motor and LG Tech Ventures.

The company's core mission is to provide the essential data infrastructure for robotic foundation models. Unlike traditional AI development, training robots requires extensive, physically collected data, making it a more costly endeavor. Config aims to solve this by accumulating and transforming human motion data, positioning itself as a crucial supplier akin to TSMC in the chip industry.

Config has already generated revenue and serves a diverse clientele, including large manufacturers and system integrators. The startup operates data production centers in Seoul and Hanoi, amassing over 100,000 hours of human motion data, significantly more than existing open-source datasets. This data is meticulously processed to suit robot movements and interactions, representing Config's key technical differentiator.

The fresh capital will be strategically allocated to expand its data operations in Vietnam and Seoul, aiming for one million hours of data. Additionally, Config plans to grow its enterprise platform to $10 million in Annual Recurring Revenue by the end of 2026 and launch a Robot-as-a-Service product, making advanced robot AI more accessible.