Synthium
Synthium is a Singapore-based, Antler-backed startup that crowdsources gamified simulations to generate training data for humanoid robot AI models.
Synthium is a Singapore-based startup that generates training data for humanoid and general-purpose robot AI by having human users complete tasks inside web-based, gamified simulations rather than through traditional teleoperation rigs. Participants use a webcam and microphone to control simulated robot avatars, and their motion, voice, language, and decision-making are captured as multimodal data intended to train Vision-Language-Action (VLA) models. The company positions this approach as a lower-cost alternative to physical teleoperation data collection, stating its data costs approximately $9 per usable data-hour compared with roughly $135 per hour for teleoperation-based collection.
The company was co-founded by Nicolas Duval, who serves as CEO and previously worked as a software architect on Autodesk's and Adobe's core rendering teams, and Nicolas Savva, CTO, who holds a Cornell University MS/PhD in computer vision and was a Fulbright scholar. The founders describe applying their prior background in physically based rendering to the problem of simulating realistic human behavior for robot-training purposes.
Synthium is backed by pre-seed funding from Antler and by Liminal, a venture studio backed by Singapore's Temasek. According to Crunchbase, the company has between 1 and 10 employees. Its partnerships include a research collaboration agreement worth SGD 500,000 with A*STAR, Singapore's national research agency; a signed letter of intent for a sim-to-real testbed involving Unitree; participation in the Google for Startups Cloud Program; and a stated collaboration with MassRobotics, the Boston-based robotics innovation hub, and with Google Singapore.
Synthium can be reached at [email protected] for general inquiries and [email protected] for recruiting. The company maintains an official LinkedIn company page. Crunchbase lists Synthium under the Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, Robotics, and Service Industry categories, reflecting its position as a data-generation service provider to robotics and AI companies rather than as a robot or hardware manufacturer itself. The company's website does not publish a specific founding year or physical office address beyond identifying Singapore as its base.
Primary type & automation activities this supplier delivers:
Synthium Platform
Free-to-play simulation where users interact with virtual humanoid robots to generate multimodal training data for VLA models.
Contact Synthium
WEBSITE
https://www.synthium.xyz/HEADQUARTERS
United States
Company Facts
Founded
-
Primary Role
Software/Algorithm
Company Size
employees 1-10
Primary Region
North America
Annual Sales
-
Funding Stage
Early-Stage VC
Funding Total
-
Synthium Develops Human-in-the-Loop Simulations for Humanoid AI Models
Synthium is advancing humanoid AI by operating human-in-the-loop simulations that generate essential motion, voice, and reasoning data. This innovative approach allows for more realistic and effective decision-making processes in embodied AI systems. The significance of Synthium's work lies in its potential to enhance the capabilities of humanoid robots, making them more adept at interacting with humans and performing complex tasks. By integrating human feedback into the simulation process, Synthium aims to create AI models that better understand and respond to human behavior. Looking ahead, the development of these simulations could lead to breakthroughs in how humanoid robots are deployed in various sectors. No further timeline was disclosed at the time of publication.
Artificial Intelligence Robotics Startups Nicolas Duval Startup spotlight Synthium
