<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At Expand North Star 2025, the world\u2019s largest startup and investor connector event, TECHx Media<\/a> met with Jongduk Aaron Park, the visionary CEO of Soteria8<\/a>, a robotics and AI startup pioneering urban inspection and disaster prevention technologies. Park\u2019s journey from the automotive sector to founding a climate-conscious tech startup is as remarkable as the mission that drives his company.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Robots Beneath the City<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Soteria8 develops inspection robots powered by AI and satellite data integration to monitor and maintain urban infrastructure. \u201cWe develop robotics and AI for urban residents,\u201d Park explained. \u201cOur inspection robots collect data under the city, our AI model automates inspections, and our data analysis uses satellite data to identify risks and optimize maintenance priorities for governments and large corporations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Vision Born from Adversity<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The concept was born after a personal turning point. Following a serious accident, Park began reflecting on how he could make a lasting impact. \u201cI discovered that civil engineering was at risk due to climate change,\u201d he recalled. \u201cThat inspired me to create a technology startup that could help societies adapt to the changing climate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n From Korea to Japan: Testing the Future<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n With initial funding from the Korean government, Park launched an MVP in Korea before expanding to Japan, where natural disasters presented an ideal testing ground. \u201cJapan has more disasters and a stronger interest in disaster prevention,\u201d he said. \u201cWe received subsidies and conducted proof-of-concept projects there, which helped us sharpen our technology.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Small Tesla for the Underground<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Soteria8\u2019s robots are unlike any other. \u201cOur robot is a small version of Tesla,\u201d Park said with a smile. The robots autonomously navigate underground tunnels where drones cannot operate due to lack of GPS. \u201cWe collect data, run AI analysis, and pinpoint risk areas,\u201d he explained. \u201cThis helps governments and corporations prioritize maintenance and extend the life of their infrastructure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tough Tech for Tough Conditions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Built with IP65 waterproofing, the robots are designed to withstand water, sand, and rugged environments. \u201cWe started underground because water is the key enemy of infrastructure,\u201d Park shared. \u201cBut technically, we can operate anywhere. One of our clients even plans to integrate 5G modules into our robots for real-time monitoring.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Compact Team with Big Ambitions<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Soteria8 currently runs with a lean team of five members in Korea and three in Japan, supported by two legal entities in Japan. The company\u2019s main revenue comes from government projects, but discussions are underway with telecom and insurance firms. \u201cWe expect to start generating revenue from telcos and insurers next year,\u201d Park noted confidently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Patience Game of B2B2G<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Working with governments means navigating long decision cycles. \u201cOur business model is B2B2G,\u201d Park explained. \u201cWe work with telcos and insurance firms who serve government clients. But government budgets move slowly, so we often wait a year for approval.\u201d Despite this, new regulations in Japan are accelerating opportunities. \u201cThe government now allows innovative, non-traditional solutions for inspections,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Funding the Mission<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n When asked about funding, Park was candid. \u201cSo far, we\u2019ve managed with Korean and Japanese R&D support, and my own money,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m now raising seed investment to create new types of robots for different infrastructure needs.\u201d His perseverance reflects both the challenges and passion behind Soteria8\u2019s growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A Global Challenge Beneath the Surface<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Park believes the need for smarter inspection solutions extends far beyond Asia. \u201cCities like Dubai are modern and innovative, but what happens beneath the surface often goes unnoticed,\u201d he noted. \u201cAs climate change intensifies, every city will need technologies like ours to ensure safety and sustainability.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Smarter Cities, Safer Futures<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n As the discussion concluded, Park reflected on Soteria8\u2019s purpose. \u201cGovernments want to save costs and improve safety. Our role is to give them the tools to make smarter decisions about their infrastructure.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n With its blend of AI, robotics, and data-driven insights, Soteria8 is redefining how cities monitor what lies below, paving the way for safer, more resilient urban futures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" At Expand North Star 2025, the world\u2019s largest startup and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":102425,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10507,26],"tags":[5567],"contributor":[9732],"class_list":["post-102420","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gitex-2025","category-startups","tag-gitex","contributor-news-desk"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/techxmedia.com\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/jongduk_Artboard-1-copy-7-1.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Lubna","author_link":"https:\/\/techxmedia.com\/en\/author\/lubna\/"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/techxmedia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102420","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/techxmedia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/techxmedia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techxmedia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/58"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techxmedia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=102420"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/techxmedia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102420\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":102421,"href":"https:\/\/techxmedia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102420\/revisions\/102421"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techxmedia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/102425"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/techxmedia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=102420"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techxmedia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=102420"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techxmedia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=102420"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/techxmedia.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=102420"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}