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Bone AI, a South Korean startup based in Seoul and Palo Alto, secured $12 million in funding to develop AI-driven robotics for defense applications. The company aims to disrupt Asia’s dominant defense industries by integrating software, hardware, and manufacturing under one platform. Despite South Korea’s $69 billion defense sector backlog, few startups have emerged to challenge established giants. Bone’s focus includes autonomous drones for logistics, wildfire monitoring, and anti-drone defense, with plans to expand to ground and marine systems. The startup’s founder, DK Lee, previously co-founded MarqVision and now emphasizes ‘physical AI’ as a new frontier for innovation.
Key facts
- Bone AI raised $12 million in seed funding led by Third Prime and Kolon Group to develop AI-powered defense robotics.
- South Korea’s defense sector faces a $69 billion backlog, yet its startup ecosystem lacks companies matching industrial scale.
- Bone’s initial focus is on aerial drones for military and government contracts, with plans to expand to ground and marine systems.
- The startup acquired D-Makers, a South Korean drone firm, to accelerate its AI and robotics integration strategy.
- Lee’s vision centers on creating a unified ‘physical AI’ platform, combining simulation, autonomy, and large-scale manufacturing.
