ABLE Labs Raises $8.7M for AI Lab Automation

South Korean deep-tech innovator ABLE Labs has successfully closed a $8.7 million Series A funding round, signaling a significant push into advanced laboratory automation. The capital infusion, led by Innopolis Partners, with participation from Industrial Bank of Korea, Capstone Partners, Horizon Investment, Magna Investment, Futureplay, and NAU IB Capital, will fuel the company's expansion beyond its current liquid-handling robotics. ABLE Labs aims to develop fully autonomous, self-driving laboratories capable of generating vast datasets crucial for training sophisticated AI models.

This strategic funding positions ABLE Labs to capitalize on the growing demand for automated R&D solutions across diverse high-tech sectors. The company has already made inroads into quality-analysis automation for industries including semiconductors, chemicals, cosmetics, and secondary batteries, demonstrating its technology's broad applicability. This diversification is a key differentiator in a market increasingly reliant on precision and efficiency.

ABLE Labs has demonstrated impressive commercial traction, with 2025 revenue reaching KRW 1.29 billion, representing a substantial 113 percent year-over-year increase. The momentum has continued into 2026, as order intake in the first half of the year has already surpassed double the entirety of the previous year's revenue. This rapid growth underscores the market's appetite for their innovative solutions.

The company's expertise is already being leveraged by leading research institutions. ABLE Labs has deployed its automation solutions at prominent organizations such as KAIST, Pusan National University, and the Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology. Furthermore, ABLE Labs is collaborating with Johns Hopkins University in the United States on a cutting-edge organoid-based drug evaluation platform, highlighting its international reach and commitment to pioneering research.

Beyond its commercial endeavors, ABLE Labs has a strong track record in securing government support. The startup has successfully executed eight national R&D projects and garnered over KRW 10 billion in government research funding over the past five years. This financial backing from public entities validates the significance and potential of their technological advancements.

The company is actively pursuing global opportunities, currently engaged in a proof-of-concept project with a major U.S. pharmaceutical firm and having recently completed a product delivery to its first international client in Singapore. This expansion into key global markets, particularly the U.S., is a critical step in solidifying ABLE Labs' position as a leader in the global lab automation space.

ABLE Labs' success reflects a broader trend within the South Korean deep-tech ecosystem, where startups are actively raising capital to scale hardware and AI-driven R&D platforms. Competitors like LABINCUBE, which raised $9.9 million for Metal-Organic Framework materials, and QUAD, securing pre-Series A funding for single-photon detectors, illustrate the dynamic nature and significant investment flowing into advanced materials and semiconductor inspection technologies.