Nine promising domestic physical AI (artificial intelligence) and Robotics startups met local investors and partners in Silicon Valley to lay the groundwork for entering the local market.
The nine domestic startups completed a Scale-up Program to establish strategies for entering the U.S. at the IBK Changgong Silicon Valley Center in Palo Alto, California, on the 22nd to 26th (local time).
The participating corporations are GuardianAI, NeuralD, AstroX, AidAll, MOP, Eflow, Intellectus, SECO Robotics, and Marine Drone Technology, for a total of nine.
The program was arranged through IBK Corporate Bank's local network and the planning of Synergy IB Investment, which operates the IBK Changgong Mapo Center.
The schedule focused on understanding the local ecosystem and strengthening practical investor relations (IR) capabilities. Silicon Valley venture capital (VC) investment managers provided locally tailored IR coaching.
The participating corporations also reported tangible business results. On the 24th, they took part in the 2026 Silicon Valley Physical AI Super Connect, hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), opening individual booths to showcase their technology.
At the event, which drew about 400 local investors and U.S. government official attendees, each corporation held an average of 10 to 20 meetings. Many follow-up meetings were set, and some corporations signed agreements with local partners to build small-scale pilot production lines.
Hwang Uicheol, CEO of Marine Drone Technology, said, "Advice from local VCs to focus on increasing current market share rather than pursuing other market expansions was effective in helping us find direction."
Maeng Jihyeon, a manager at SECO Robotics, said, "Local corporations showed strong interest in the concept of industrial robots that learn in three-dimensional space," and added, "We will refine our strategy to explain the strengths of our technology more efficiently."
Lee Geonyeong, CEO of Synergy IB Investment, who arranged the program, said, "It is meaningful to successfully run a program to foster promising startups with IBK Financial Group, with which we have invested together for a long time," and added, "We will continue to provide diverse support as a reliable partner so domestic corporations can gain a foothold in overseas markets such as the United States and Japan."