Stonebridge Ventures and Schmidt Invest 1.5 Billion KRW in AI Robotics Company Portal301 in Pre-Series A

Portal301 Raises 1.5 Billion KRW Pre-Series A Investment from Stonebridge Ventures and Schmidt
Equipping Robots with Skilled Workers' Cognitive Abilities

Portal301, an AI robotics specialist company, announced on the 5th that it has completed a pre-Series A investment of 1.5 billion KRW from Stonebridge Ventures and Schmidt. The investment will be used for recruiting top talent and advancing software algorithms.

Recently, due to the U.S. manufacturing reshoring policy, more companies are relocating their factories to the United States. While introducing automation robots in this process can lead to cost reduction and increased productivity, complex robot programming and high costs remain challenges.

Portal301 was established in 2022 with the goal of solving the difficulties of robot automation adoption. With key personnel including a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Seoul National University and overseas-educated experts, the company has secured specialized human resources in the field of robot software supply.

Portal301’s main business is providing a solution that can dramatically shorten the existing robot automation process through its AI robot software product called ‘SyncRo.’ SyncRo equips robots with the cognitive abilities of heavy industry workers to replace dangerous and complex tasks, thereby reducing human labor burdens. Currently, SyncRo is applied first as an automation program replacing manual surface treatment tasks in sanding and polishing, powder spraying, and sand blasting processes.

Recently, Portal301 successfully completed a proof of concept (PoC) by supplying automation robots for nuclear waste contamination removal to Susan Heavy Industries. Mass production of the equipment is currently being prepared. Additionally, the company is receiving requests for automation technology demonstrations from major corporations such as Hyundai Construction.

Cho Hyun-hoo, team leader at Stonebridge Ventures who led this investment, stated, “Robot automation is not a market that can succeed by technology alone. It is important to meet the functions required on-site and provide verified solutions. Portal301 is a company capable of product development through demonstrations and rapid market application, and we expect it to grow into a key player in the automation industry.”

Park Jang-jun, CEO of Portal301, said, “We will continue to innovate on the mega trend of AI robotics. We will actively secure surface treatment processes in industries where robot automation is necessary, not only in current applications such as powder spraying and polishing decontamination.”