NVIDIA Plans to Invest in Four Korean AI Startups

NVIDIA has announced a planned investment in Point2 and is considering further investments in Motif Technologies, RLWRLD, and Upstage. These announcements follow meetings with startups at COEX and are part of an already structured Korean ecosystem centered around the Inception program.

A Korean pool of over 1,000 Inception members

The NVIDIA Inception program has over 1,000 members based in Korea. According to NVIDIA, this initiative supports startups by offering preferential rates, technical assistance, and opportunities for networking with investors. NVIDIA describes the planned investments as an extension of its relationships with the local startup ecosystem and venture capital funds.

Announced commitments for Point2, Motif, RLWRLD, and Upstage

NVIDIA has announced a planned investment in the Korean startup Point2. Other investments are expected in Motif Technologies, RLWRLD, and Upstage. These commitments are presented as forthcoming, with no timeline provided.

Projects from infrastructure to robotics, presented at COEX

Point2 Technology, an expert in interconnection solutions for AI, is developing scalable connections using radio frequency to ensure data transfer between chips and racks in AI factories, providing an alternative to copper or optical interconnections to expand AI clusters, with performance, range, and efficiency suited for next-generation AI infrastructures. Motif Technologies, an AI lab based in Seoul, designs foundational models aimed at creating agents capable of performing complex tasks and has launched Motif-3, a large language model with open weights. RLWRLD, based in San Francisco, Seoul, and Tokyo, develops foundational models in robotics for humanoid and industrial robots, targeting concrete operations requiring five-finger manipulation, such as precise part insertion, nut screwing, or assembly on moving conveyors. Upstage, a Korean company specializing in enterprise AI, is developing the Solar language models as well as document AI tools that allow for data extraction from complex documents, process optimization, and the development of AI applications for everyday operations. During the forum held at COEX, the Korean Ministry of Science and ICT and NVIDIA engaged with over 20 active Korean startups in foundational models, physical AI, AI infrastructure, and AI semiconductors. All of these companies operate across the entire AI value chain, from infrastructure to models and applied robotics.