[Edaily Marketin Reporter Soyoung Park ] This week (October 12–16), startups in various fields—including robotics, quantum computing, and small modular reactor (SMR) engineering—secured investments from venture capital (VC) firms and accelerators (AC). In particular, this was a week in which the attention of not only financial investors (FIs) but also strategic investors (SIs) was heavily focused on deep-tech investments. All of these companies successfully raised funds in the range of 10 billion won at the Series A and Pre-Series A stages.

Wearable robotics company 'Hurotics'

Wearable robotics company Hurotics secured 25 billion won in Series A funding. This round was led by Atinum Investment. Most of the company’s major existing investors—including StoneBridge Ventures, Aju IB Investment, Wonik Investment Partners, Mirae Asset Venture Investment, and Doosan Investment—participated in this follow-on investment. A large number of new investors also joined, including strategic investors (SIs) from the healthcare, retail, and IT sectors—such as Daewoong, Naver, and Lotte—as well as the Industrial Bank of Korea.

Hurotics explained that the participation of these strategic investors stems from their recognition of the company’s potential for business expansion—from hospital rehabilitation to daily walking assistance and wearable physical AI data platforms. The company plans to collaborate with these partners on △ hospital supply △ expansion of distribution networks △ overseas expansion △ and the advancement of its data and software platforms.

Hurotics was founded in July 2022 by Professor Lee Ki-wook of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Chung-Ang University. Its flagship product, “H-Medi,” is a medical gait rehabilitation soft exosuit that has received Class 2 combined medical device certification from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Designed to be worn like clothing, it utilizes cable- and tendon-driven technology that mimics the principles of muscle contraction. Sensors analyze gait in real time to provide the necessary amount of assistance, helping the wearer walk while actively engaging their own muscles.

The investment funds will be used to expand H-Medi’s overseas regulatory approvals and distribution networks. They will also be allocated to the development and mass production of “H-Care,” a daily walking assistance robot. In the medium to long term, the company plans to develop software services—such as personalized walking algorithms based on movement data and predictions of sarcopenia and fall risks. It intends to expand its business into a wearable physical artificial intelligence (AI) data platform.

Quantum Computing Company ‘OQT’

OQT, a neutral-atom-based quantum computing company, has secured a 14 billion won Pre-Series A investment. This round was led by DSC Investment. Existing investors Kakao Ventures and Bluepoint Partners participated in the follow-on investment. New investors include Murex Partners, StoneBridge Ventures, Schmidt, Jet Venture Capital (ZVC), and Global Innovation Labs (GIL). The investors highlighted the company’s technological capabilities and differentiated approach, which enable it to compete in the global market.

OQTI was founded by CEO Kim Dong-kyu, a professor in the Department of Physics at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) and a founding member of QuEra, the global company that developed the world’s first 256-qubit neutral-atom quantum computer. The company is directly designing and developing error-tolerant quantum computers based on logical qubits using laser-cooled neutral atoms. A logic qubit is the fundamental unit of computation that uses quantum error correction codes to detect and correct errors occurring during computation in real time. OQTI has integrated error correction with logical operations. The company aims to implement an error-tolerant quantum computer capable of reliably performing complex calculations even when errors occur.

With this investment, Ocuti will expand its connections to global markets and industrial networks—including Japan and the United States—through ZVC. Together with GIL, the company plans to strengthen global technology collaboration and network ties with SRI (formerly the Stanford Research Institute) in the United States. SRI serves as the chairing organization of the Quantum Economy Development Consortium (QED-C), the world’s largest quantum technology consortium, whose members include NVIDIA and IonQ. GIL maintains a strategic partnership with SRI.

Building on this investment, Ocuti plans to accelerate the development of fault-tolerant quantum computers and focus on building systems that can be practically utilized in industrial and research settings. Furthermore, the company aims to develop world-class quantum computers using its proprietary technology, solve industrial challenges that are difficult to resolve within realistic time and cost constraints using conventional computers, and directly contribute to the practical commercialization of quantum computers.

SMR Engineering Firm 'RX'

SMR engineering firm RX has secured a 10 billion won Pre-Series A bridge investment. This is a follow-up investment to the Pre-Series A round that concluded in January of this year. New participants include KDB Industrial Bank, Smilegate Investment, and Kiwoom Investment. Company K Partners, an existing investor, also participated in this follow-on investment. With this, the company’s cumulative investment raised has reached 23.9 billion won.

RX is a company developing SMRs that supply heat required for industrial sites. It was founded primarily by researchers from the SMR design department at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI). Currently, the company has formed a consortium with KAERI to develop the light-water-cooled heat-supply SMR “RX-50.” The RX-50 replaces fossil fuel-based heat sources. Its goal is to provide a stable supply of thermal energy without carbon emissions. With this investment, the company has met the requirement of securing at least 3 billion won in follow-on funding—a prerequisite for advancing to Phase 2 of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups’ “Deep Tech Challenge Project (DCP).”

“Sejinsa,” Operator of a Car Maintenance App

Sejinsa, which operates the car

maintenance

app service “Sejinsa” (People Serious About Car Washing), has secured a bridge investment from Seoul National University Technology Holdings. Previously, the company had secured a 1.5 billion won seed investment from Hashed Ventures. Along with this investment, Seoul National University Technology Holdings recommended Sejinsa as a candidate for the Ministry of SMEs and Startups’ Technology Incubation Program for Startups (TIPS), a private-investment-led initiative. The company was ultimately selected for the TIPS program and will receive 800 million won in research and development (R&D) funding over the next two years, in addition to the investment it secured.

As part of its TIPS project, Sejin will develop AI-based vehicle management technology using vehicle data collected at car wash sites. The system automatically identifies vehicle-specific issues—such as exterior damage, engine oil levels, battery status, and tire conditions—using images captured by car wash crew members during the washing process. The vehicle-specific history accumulated through this process leads to personalized vehicle management recommendations. This approach involves suggesting individualized car wash and maintenance schedules based on the vehicle’s condition.

Sejin plans to use this investment to acquire customers, upgrade its operational infrastructure, and hire key personnel. The TIPS R&D funding will be allocated to developing an AI vehicle condition identification model and a curation system, as well as hiring product and AI engineers.

"Smoking Tiger," Operator of Korean-Style Bakery Cafés

Smoking Tiger, which operates Korean-style bakery cafes in California and Texas, has secured seed funding from The Ventures. The investment amount remains undisclosed. The Ventures highly valued the fact that Smoking Tiger is a team that started locally in the U.S. and has systematically built out its menu, space, production, and franchise systems. The Ventures stated that it expects the company to expand its Korean-style cafes to various cities across the U.S.

Smoking Tiger launched in Southern California in 2020 and expanded into Texas this past June. CEO Noah Cho has spent over 10 years founding and growing F&B brands. He has personally operated about 20 brick-and-mortar locations and, drawing on his background in the construction industry, oversees the management of store opening costs. Pastry chef Choi A-young, who has over 20 years of experience in the Korean pastry industry, and branding expert Andy Lee, who has launched more than 10 brick-and-mortar F&B brands, have joined as founding members.

Smoking Tiger has infused Korean flavors into lattes and bread—items familiar to American consumers. The company stated that its signature lattes, made with ingredients such as corn, mugwort, banana milk, and black sesame, account for more than half of its beverage sales. The bakery menu features popular Korean items such as cream cheese garlic bread, purple sweet potato mochi bread, and salted bread.

The brand operates two types of stores: the large flagship “Bread Factory,” which serves as a gathering place for the local community, and the smaller satellite “Coffee Lab.” The brand has implemented spatial concepts currently trending in Seoul. Even the packaging and in-store music are unified under the same concept. Smoking Tiger has also expanded its engagement with local customers by hosting collaborative events with Korean companies such as Lotte, Jinro, and E-Mart America. The company plans to use Texas as a base to expand into more than five states and establish itself as the leading brand of Korean-style cafes in the United States.