Nvidia plans investments in four South Korean AI startups, including Motif, Upstage, Realworld and Poin2 Technology, to strengthen collaboration in foundation models, robotics and next-generation AI data centre infrastructure.
Nvidia plans to expand its investment in South Korea’s artificial intelligence ecosystem by supporting four domestic startups developing technologies across large language models, robotics and AI data centre infrastructure. The company announces its investment plans at the AI Startup Partnership Forum organised with South Korea’s Ministry of Science and ICT at COEX in Seoul on November 9, 2026. A total of 22 Korean AI startups participate in the event.
The four companies include Poin2 Technology, Motif Technologies, Realworld and Upstage. Nvidia has already invested in Poin2 Technology and plans additional investments in Motif, Realworld and Upstage. The initiative aims to support emerging technology businesses while strengthening cooperation between Nvidia and South Korea’s growing AI startup sector.
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Poin2 Technology is developing a radio-frequency-based interconnect designed to transfer data between chips and racks inside AI data centres. The technology aims to provide an alternative to conventional copper and optical interconnect solutions, addressing the growing requirements for data transfer performance and efficiency in next-generation AI infrastructure. The company is founded by Bae Hyun-min, head of the startup institute at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, alongside KAIST graduates.
Motif Technologies and Upstage focus on large language model development and enterprise AI applications. Motif is building foundation models designed to power AI agents capable of performing complex tasks. Its open-weight model, Motif-3, represents an example of this development approach. The company plans to use Nvidia’s investment to advance Motif-4, a next-generation model targeted for release in the first quarter of 2027. Motif previously raises 24 billion won in a Series B funding round in May 2026.
Upstage develops its Solar large language model and document AI solutions. Its technology enables businesses to extract information from complex documents, automate workflows and develop AI-powered applications for everyday operations. Nvidia’s investment is expected to form part of the second tranche of Upstage’s ongoing Series C funding round.
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Realworld operates in the physical AI segment and develops foundation models for robots. Its technology focuses on enabling humanoid and industrial robots to perform complex tasks requiring precise hand movements, including fitting components, fastening nuts and bolts, and sorting parts on moving production lines.
The investment initiative reflects Nvidia’s broader strategy of supporting AI innovation beyond hardware development. By backing startups working on AI models, robotics and data centre connectivity, the company seeks to strengthen South Korea’s technology ecosystem and encourage the development of applications for next-generation AI infrastructure and industrial automation.