Korean robotic kitchen startup ANIAI has secured $4 million (KRW 5.9 billion) in pre-Series A funding from Korea Development Bank (KDB). The investment brings the company’s total funding to $19 million (KRW 28 billion) and will fuel its push into the US restaurant market.

ANIAI is rapidly scaling commercialization of its Alpha Grill cooking robot in New York City. The system is currently operating at burger chain TFS (The Filling Station) and Korean ssam restaurant The SSam, with pilot tests underway at a global fast-food company.

KDB’s investment decision followed comprehensive evaluation of ANIAI’s US market performance and technical capabilities. The bank identified Alpha Grill’s ability to expand across US restaurant operations—known for demanding operational standards—as a key factor in the investment thesis.

In Korea, ANIAI’s cooking robots operate at major franchise locations including Lotteria, Mom’s Touch, and Frank Burger. The company credits this domestic operational track record with building credibility in negotiations with large US clients.

“The US represents the market with the highest demand for cooking automation,” said Gunpil Hwang, CEO of ANIAI. “With technical validation completed at local stores, this investment will accelerate our US expansion and customer acquisition.”

ANIAI addresses structural restaurant industry challenges—labor shortages, quality inconsistency, and operational costs—through AI and robotics technology. Beyond equipment supply, the company provides integrated software features including remote updates and real-time monitoring to support full operational management.

Previous investors in ANIAI include Intervest, SV Investment, Ignite, Capstone Partners, and Lotte Ventures.