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SEOUL, South Korea, March 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- WIRobotics today announced it has been selected for the second cohort of the Physical AI Fellowship, a virtual program powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) Startups and NVIDIA Inception that helps high-potential robotics startups build, refine, and scale physical AI solutions.
Following the success of the inaugural Fall 2025 cohort, the 2026 cohort brings together nine promising physical AI startups across agriculture, construction and renewable energy, industrial automation, retail and logistics, robotics data infrastructure, teleoperation, and humanoid robotics applications.
The Physical AI Fellowship provides hands-on technical guidance, compute resources, and go-to-market opportunities to help teams mature promising prototypes into reliable, real-world deployments. Fellows receive support from scientists and experts at the AWS Generative AI Innovation Center, AWS credits, and NVIDIA resources, along with access to MassRobotics' facilities and its broader network in the robotics community.
This opportunity will support WIRobotics' work to develop advanced humanoid robots that combine high-dexterity manipulation with AI-driven physical interaction for real-world environments. With AWS credits and expert guidance, NVIDIA's physical AI stack , and MassRobotics' testbed and network, WIRobotics will refine and deploy its humanoid robotics systems for real-world industrial, logistics, and service applications while validating performance in practical settings.
"We are honored that WIRobotics has been selected for the Physical AI Fellowship as the only humanoid robotics company in the cohort," said Yong-Jae Kim, Co-CEO of WIRobotics. "By combining humanoid robotics technologies capable of human-like physical interaction with our AI expertise, we believe this will be a meaningful opportunity to explore new possibilities in Physical AI."
Each Fellow will receive $200,000 in AWS credits, embedded support from the AWS Generative AI Innovation Center (GenAIIC) scientists and engineers and access to AWS' cloud computing and AI technologies, access to NVIDIA's physical AI stack including the NVIDIA Isaac frameworks and NVIDIA Cosmos world foundation models (plus free self-paced courses, hardware/software discounts and discounted instructor-led workshops from NVIDIA Training) via the NVIDIA Inception program, and ecosystem support from MassRobotics.
The Fellowship culminates in high-visibility showcases at AWS, NVIDIA, and MassRobotics events, including AWS re:Invent 2026.
For more information on the Physical AI Fellowship, visit https://www.massrobotics.org
About WIRobotics
WIRobotics (We Innovate Robotics) is a robotics company developing advanced wearable and humanoid robots designed to enhance human mobility and physical capabilities. The company's first commercial product, a personal walking-assist robot powered by a single motor, has achieved commercial success in Korea and received four CES Innovation Awards over the past three years.
Building on its expertise in robotics hardware, control systems, and AI-driven interaction, WIRobotics is developing ALLEX, a general-purpose humanoid robot platform designed for real-world applications. Through its integrated hand–arm systems and high-dexterity manipulation capabilities, ALLEX is designed to enable the next generation of Physical AI.
For more information:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WIRobotics
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/103004622
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wirobotics
SEOUL, South Korea, March 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- WIRobotics today announced it has been selected for the second cohort of the Physical AI Fellowship, a virtual program powered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) Startups and NVIDIA Inception that helps high-potential robotics startups build, refine, and scale physical AI solutions.
Following the success of the inaugural Fall 2025 cohort, the 2026 cohort brings together nine promising physical AI startups across agriculture, construction and renewable energy, industrial automation, retail and logistics, robotics data infrastructure, teleoperation, and humanoid robotics applications.
The Physical AI Fellowship provides hands-on technical guidance, compute resources, and go-to-market opportunities to help teams mature promising prototypes into reliable, real-world deployments. Fellows receive support from scientists and experts at the AWS Generative AI Innovation Center, AWS credits, and NVIDIA resources, along with access to MassRobotics' facilities and its broader network in the robotics community.
This opportunity will support WIRobotics' work to develop advanced humanoid robots that combine high-dexterity manipulation with AI-driven physical interaction for real-world environments. With AWS credits and expert guidance, NVIDIA's physical AI stack , and MassRobotics' testbed and network, WIRobotics will refine and deploy its humanoid robotics systems for real-world industrial, logistics, and service applications while validating performance in practical settings.
"We are honored that WIRobotics has been selected for the Physical AI Fellowship as the only humanoid robotics company in the cohort," said Yong-Jae Kim, Co-CEO of WIRobotics. "By combining humanoid robotics technologies capable of human-like physical interaction with our AI expertise, we believe this will be a meaningful opportunity to explore new possibilities in Physical AI."
Each Fellow will receive $200,000 in AWS credits, embedded support from the AWS Generative AI Innovation Center (GenAIIC) scientists and engineers and access to AWS' cloud computing and AI technologies, access to NVIDIA's physical AI stack including the NVIDIA Isaac frameworks and NVIDIA Cosmos world foundation models (plus free self-paced courses, hardware/software discounts and discounted instructor-led workshops from NVIDIA Training) via the NVIDIA Inception program, and ecosystem support from MassRobotics.
The Fellowship culminates in high-visibility showcases at AWS, NVIDIA, and MassRobotics events, including AWS re:Invent 2026.
For more information on the Physical AI Fellowship, visit https://www.massrobotics.org
About WIRobotics
WIRobotics (We Innovate Robotics) is a robotics company developing advanced wearable and humanoid robots designed to enhance human mobility and physical capabilities. The company's first commercial product, a personal walking-assist robot powered by a single motor, has achieved commercial success in Korea and received four CES Innovation Awards over the past three years.
Building on its expertise in robotics hardware, control systems, and AI-driven interaction, WIRobotics is developing ALLEX, a general-purpose humanoid robot platform designed for real-world applications. Through its integrated hand–arm systems and high-dexterity manipulation capabilities, ALLEX is designed to enable the next generation of Physical AI.
For more information:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WIRobotics
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/103004622
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wirobotics
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WIRobotics Selected for the Physical AI Fellowship Powered by AWS, NVIDIA, and MassRobotics
NEW YORK, March 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- High-Trend International Group (Nasdaq: HTCO), a global ocean technology company, today announced a major strategic initiative aimed at accelerating the Company's expansion into the United States and strengthening its engagement with U.S. capital markets.
Chairman Christopher Nixon Cox with White House Legacy to Lead U.S. Strategy
The Company announced that its Chairman of the Board of Directors, Christopher Nixon Cox, a member of the family of former U.S. President Richard Nixon, will personally lead the Company's strategic initiatives and operational development in the United States.
In addition to serving as Chair of the Company's newly established U.S. Operations Independent Governance Committee, Mr. Cox will directly oversee the planning, investment execution, and operational development of the Company's U.S. initiatives. As the core leader of HTCO's U.S. strategy, he will take on key responsibilities including formulating medium-to-long-term development strategies for the U.S. market, coordinating global resource networks for optimal integration, leading the identification, evaluation and execution of strategic M&A projects, and driving critical financing initiatives to solidify the Company's capital structure.
The Board believes that combining governance leadership with direct operational involvement, leveraging Mr. Cox's strategic leadership and rich experience in resource integration and major transactions, will accelerate HTCO's entry into the U.S. and significantly strengthen the Company's positioning within the U.S. capital markets.
Establishment of the U.S. Operations Independent Governance Committee
To further strengthen the Company's governance framework and support its U.S. expansion, the Board of Directors approved the establishment of a U.S. Operations Independent Governance Committee.
The committee will oversee U.S. strategy, capital market initiatives, major investments, and the development of strategic projects in the United States, providing a robust governance guarantee for the steady advancement of HTCO's U.S. business layout and the implementation of key strategic decisions. This Committee consists of Christopher Nixon Cox as Chairman, Christopher Renn and Jinyu Chang as members.
Performance-Based Equity Incentive Aligned with Shareholder Value - Market-Based Pricing Reflects Value Recognition and Growth Confidence
The Company also announced that it has established a long-term, performance-based equity incentive plan for Mr. Cox, which is designed to align the leadership's performance with the creation of long-term shareholder value. Mr. Cox has been granted market-priced stock options to purchase an aggregate of 1,030,000 shares of the Company's class A ordinary shares, consisting of two tranches: Tranche 1 consists of options to purchase 80,000 shares with an exercise price of $8.27 per share, based on the closing price of HTCO's class A ordinary shares on the Nasdaq Capital Market on the grant date; Tranche 2 consists of options to purchase 950,000 shares, also with an exercise price of $8.27 per share.
Under the incentive plan, a significant portion of the stock option grants will only vest upon the achievement of key strategic milestones:
Tranche 1 (80,000 shares):
- 50,000 options vested immediately;
- the remaining 30,000 shares vest in stages during 2026–2027, subject to the recipient's continued service with the Company, vesting as follows:
- 10,000 shares vest on December 10, 2026, exercisable through December 10, 2036, which is a retention bonus and not subject to performance review;
- 10,000 shares vest on December 10, 2026, exercisable through December 10, 2036, subject to performance review;
- 10,000 shares vest on December 10, 2027, exercisable through December 10, 2037, subject to performance review.
Tranche 2 (950,000 shares):
- will become exercisable upon the achievement of core strategic milestones including:
- forming and leading the Company's U.S. projects and ongoing operations;
- raising a minimum of $50 million for the Company through one or more financing transactions;
- (the Company achieving a market capitalization of $300 million based on a 30-day VWAP on a fully diluted basis.
Under this market-based pricing and differentiated vesting structure the Chairman will stand at the same value starting point as all public shareholders, sharing both upside potential and market risks, and further aligns his personal interests closely with those of the Company and its shareholders. Shixuan He, Chief Executive Officer of HTCO, stated, "This equity incentive arrangement will solidify the linkage between leadership incentives for Mr. Cox and long-term shareholder value creation."
Strategic Growth Platform in the United States
HTCO views the U.S. as a core market for its next stage of growth and intends to expand through strategic investments, capital formation, innovative project development, and targeted strategic M&A. The Company intends to leverage Chairman Christopher Nixon Cox's strategic leadership and resource integration capabilities to foster strategic partnerships in the U.S. market, enhance operational efficiency and synergies, and accelerate scale expansion and business diversification in the shipping and technology sectors.
The Company believes that leveraging the depth and global influence of the U.S. capital markets, combined with the precise strategic deployment and strong leadership of Mr. Cox, will strongly support the formation of HTCO's long-term international growth platform and drive the sustainable development of the Company's global shipping and technology business.
About High-Trend International Group
High-Trend International Group is a global ocean transportation company.
Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are made under the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and can be identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "future," "will," "intend," "plan," "estimate" or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by these statements, including but not limited to those detailed in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended October 31, 2025. All information in this press release is as of the date of this release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by applicable law.
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HTCO Launches U.S. Strategic Initiative Led by Chairman Christopher Nixon Cox, Establishes Independent Governance Committee for U.S. Operations
