CarbonSix, a South Korean startup specializing in robotics and AI for manufacturing, successfully closed a seed funding round of approximately USD 4.3 million(KRW 6 billion).

The investment round included participation from Silicon Valley-based venture capital firms Foothill Ventures and Storm Ventures, alongside New York-based Zeitgeist Capital and South Korea’s Xquared Ventures.

Founded in July 2024 by CEO Moon Tae-yeon—formerly Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) at SUALAB, which was acquired by U.S. firm Cognex for USD 165.6 million(KRW 230 billion) in 2019—CarbonSix’s core team boasts seasoned experts with educational backgrounds from leading institutions like MIT, Yale University, Seoul National University, and KAIST. Co-founders include Dr. Kim Jae-hyuk (Co-CEO) and Dr. Seo Hyung-joo (CTO), both renowned for their extensive expertise in robotics design and AI research.

The startup has also secured advisory support from prominent global experts, such as Professor Russ Tedrake from MIT’s Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL), and Professor Clément Gosselin from Université Laval, a recognized authority in industrial robotic hand design.

Focusing primarily on robotic intelligence and robotic hand design, CarbonSix aims to revolutionize manufacturing through automation of delicate manipulation tasks that traditionally require human dexterity. The company’s solution promises adaptability to frequent changes in production models and unexpected variations—an area where existing automation systems have consistently fallen short.

Eric Rosenblum, Partner at Foothill Ventures, explained the rationale behind the investment, stating: “CarbonSix is led by an outstanding team with a proven track record of global exits, demonstrating deep insights into AI technologies and market needs. Their differentiated customer approach and technological potential, validated through ongoing collaborations with major electronics manufacturers, were decisive factors in our investment.”

CEO Moon emphasized the company’s vision, noting: “Our primary goal is automating complex assembly tasks currently challenging for humanoid robots, by developing robotic intelligence solutions that balance economic viability and technological capability. Following successful proof-of-concept (PoC) trials initiated earlier this year, we aim to officially introduce our robotic intelligence products to the market by Q3 2025.”