WIRobotics raises seed funding from FuturePlay

Wearable work-assistance robot startup WIRobotics announced on the 12th that it has raised seed funding from FuturePlay. The amount was not disclosed.

WIRobotics is a robotics startup with an ambitious goal: to provide people with genuinely valuable and convenient solutions. Drawing on expertise in high-performance safety robot design and control, as well as wearable robotics, the company is developing an innovative work-assistance robot that is easy to wear, flexible, and capable of providing substantial support.

WIRobotics’ robot is lightweight and comfortable to wear. Users can drive and perform a range of tasks while wearing it, as well as rest by sitting or lying down. The accompanying “Smart Work Care Service” uses data collected by the robot to analyze users’ work types, movement intensity, and workload imbalances. It also recommends ways to manage musculoskeletal health and improve working conditions, making the robot more user-friendly.

WIRobotics was founded in August this year by CEO Yongjae Kim, a professor at Korea University of Technology and Education, and co-CEO Yeonbaek Lee, CTO Changhyun Noh, and COO Byungjun Choi, key members of Samsung Electronics’ robotics center who led robot development at the company.

CEO Yongjae Kim developed “AMBIDEX,” a safe, high-performance robot arm, with NAVER LABS, and the biomimetic robotic hand “FLLEX hand.” In 2020, he received a best paper award at IEEE ICRA (International Conference on Robotics and Automation), earning recognition for his technical expertise. Co-CEO Yeonbaek Lee, CTO Changhyun Noh, and COO Byungjun Choi also developed GEMS, a robot designed to work closely with people and a wearable walking-assistance device. It drew considerable attention at CES 2020.

WIRobotics CEO Yeonbaek Lee said, “The logistics and delivery sectors have grown rapidly in recent years, and various wearable work-assistance robots have been launched to improve harsh working conditions. But no robot has yet truly satisfied users. We believe WIRobotics can transcend the limitations and preconceptions of existing robot technology and overcome the shortcomings of wearable robots to date.”

Jaewoong Choi, an investment manager at FuturePlay, which made the investment, said, “WIRobotics has strong technical capabilities and significant potential, with a team of top experts who have spent more than 20 years focused on developing next-generation robotics technology. We decided to invest because we see its technology as key to achieving ESG management in logistics and delivery, where companies must consider employee labor standards and safety. We expect the startup to grow and expand rapidly.”