LG Electronics is betting on robotics as its subsequent large progress driver. The South Korean electronics firm mentioned on Friday that it has agreed to amass an extra 30% stake in Bear Robotics, a California-based startup it beforehand backed that’s constructing AI-powered server robots for eating places. The deal offers LG a majority possession of 51% within the startup, which is able to now change into a subsidiary of the bigger firm. LG declined to touch upon the worth of its newest stake; a neighborhood outlet in Korea say it’s round $180 million. If correct, that might give Bear an general valuation of $600 million.
An organization spokesperson added that the precise determine could be disclosed as soon as the deal closes.
Bear is thought for its experience in AI expertise that’s able to controlling a number of robots, particularly the administration of fleets remotely, LG mentioned in its assertion. The tech big intends to combine Bear with its industrial robotic unit, which has developed “LG CLOi Robots,” to strengthen its dwelling robotic and industrial robotic divisions.
The tech behemoth says it’s engaged on growing a complete software program platform for industrial, industrial, and residential robots utilizing Bear’s expertise. With the robotics trade transferring extra in the direction of AI-focused options, this funding and deal is anticipated to enhance LG’s robotics software program capabilities, LG mentioned.
The information comes lower than a 12 months after the electronics firm poured $60 million into Bear Robotics in March 2024. That deal already made LG into Bear’s largest shareholder. Bear’s earlier funding in 2022 valued it at over $490 million, per PitchBook knowledge.
CEO and founder John Ha and the Bear administration workforce will stay and proceed to assist create synergies with LG’s robotics unit.
Ha, a former Google software program engineer turned restaurateur, based Bear in 2017 after witnessing the challenges of operating a restaurant, which motivated him to develop serving robots. The SoftBank-backed startup operates indoor supply robots within the U.S., South Korea, and Japan. Its robots are designed to assist ship meals to restaurant prospects.
“This extra funding underscores our dedication to positioning robots as a pivotal progress engine for the corporate, reflecting our perception of their inevitable position sooner or later,” Lee Sam-soo, chief technique officer at LG Electronics, mentioned in an announcement. “We will persist in driving innovation throughout all sectors of robotics, encompassing industrial, industrial and residential purposes.”
Robots and robotics had been a bit theme this 12 months at CES 2025, and LG made itself part of that story. with LG CEO William Cho emphasizing the potential for robots to broaden their purposes past their present roles in sectors like hospitality and supply logistics.
LG’s curiosity within the tech goes again effectively earlier than this 12 months and the latest vogue of AI in all the things, with each Korea and Japan being early industrial adopters of among the earliest iterations within the discipline. The Korean electronics firm has been researching and growing robotic software program and {hardware} greater than a decade. In 2017, LG deployed information robots at South Korea’s largest airport, Incheon International Airport.
LG additionally has a considerable dwelling robotics enterprise by the use of its LG Home Appliance Solution Division. Its dwelling robots are designed to work with dwelling home equipment and different home eventualities. One instance the self-driving AI dwelling hub, a venture named Q9, which is scheduled for launch later this 12 months. It has autonomous driving expertise and may sense voices, sounds, and pictures. The Q9 has Microsoft’s voice recognition and synthesis expertise, so customers can have straightforward and pure conversations with it.
Its industrial robotic, the “Autonomous Vertical Articulated Robot,” makes use of sensors to navigate, transfer, and perform duties with its robotic arm.
Samsung, LG’s rival within the electronics sector, mentioned earlier this month that it’ll roll out its dwelling robotic within the first half of this 12 months.
