Samsung Electronics and Startups Push to Commercialize Future Technologies... "C-Lab Startups" Gather in One Place

C-Lab Outside's Eighth Cohort Shares Its Achievements
Half Conduct Proofs of Concept with Samsung Electronics
Future Technologies in Robotics, Multimodal AI and New Materials

Startups nurtured by Samsung Electronics are joining forces with the company to test the commercial viability of their businesses. Fifteen of the 30 companies in the program are conducting proof-of-concept (PoC) projects with Samsung Electronics, broadening opportunities for collaboration between large corporations and startups.

Samsung Electronics held the 2026 C-Lab Startup Demo Day on November 10 at its Seoul R&D Campus in Seocho-gu, Seoul. The event was organized to showcase the technologies and business achievements of the eighth cohort of C-Lab Outside startups nurtured by Samsung Electronics over the past year, and to provide opportunities to attract investment and pursue business partnerships.

This year, 30 startups nurtured in Seoul, Daegu, North Gyeongsang Province and Gwangju gathered at the event. More than 400 people also attended, including members of the National Assembly and government officials, venture capitalists, industry representatives, and Samsung Electronics employees.

Park Seunghee, president in charge of Corporate Relations at Samsung Electronics, delivers welcoming remarks at the 2026 C-Lab Startup Demo Day at Samsung Electronics' Seoul R&D Campus in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 10th. Photo by Park Juni.

At the event, Park Seunghee, president in charge of CR at Samsung Electronics, said, "As members of the C-Lab Outside program, you have worked alongside Samsung Electronics engineers to tackle challenging problems in emerging growth sectors such as AI robotics and digital health." He stressed, "More important than outward-facing achievements is whether Samsung's philosophy of shared growth—sharing and growing together—is taking firm root in Korea's startup ecosystem." He added, "Samsung Electronics' C-Lab will continue to think harder and make greater efforts to grow alongside startups."

An exhibition space at the venue allowed visitors to experience products and services from the 30 participating startups. Ransik, a startup that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) data and predict changes in blood sugar levels, demonstrated a service that predicts post-meal blood sugar changes from photos of food. Earlier this year, Ransik also presented its technology and services at the Samsung Electronics exhibition booth at Viva Technology, a startup and technology expo held in Paris, France.

Startups are exhibiting at the 2026 C-Lab Startup Demo Day, held on the 10th at the Seoul R&D Campus in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Park Junyi.

At the demo day, six startups presented their key technologies, growth journeys and collaboration with Samsung Electronics. The presenters included Config Intelligence, which develops data technology for training and deploying robot AI; multimodal AI company PIA Space; and NanoForge AI, which automates AI-based design and synthesis of new materials.

PIA Space, nurtured in Daegu, shared its experience receiving development and quality-related advice through the C-Lab Outside Consulting program, which is connected with the Samsung Electronics Win-Win Cooperation Academy. The company also took part in the Samsung Human Resources Development Institute's Creative Problem Solving (CPS) program, where it developed a more detailed business strategy.

At the '2026 C Lab Startup Demo Day' held on the 10th at the Seoul R&D Campus in Seocho-gu, Seoul, Eimjeu, a materials and components company, is showcasing an AI (artificial intelligence), vision-based cutting tool condition diagnosis solution. Photo by Park Junyi.

Park Seonghyeok, vice president of PIA Space, said, "Through C-Lab, we had direct access to the field experience and expertise that Samsung Electronics specialists in various fields have built up over many years." He added, "The professional consulting we received, covering everything from development and quality management to business strategy, helped us clarify our business direction and strengthen our competitiveness."

NanoForge AI presented a PoC project it is conducting with Samsung Electronics to develop new materials. Kim Donghyeon, CEO of NanoForge AI, said, "C-Lab gave us a valuable opportunity to work directly with Samsung Electronics and connect our proprietary technology with the needs of real-world industries." He added, "We hope this collaboration will lead to the development of new technologies and business opportunities."

A skin-like tactile sensor product is displayed by Midas HNT, a materials and components company, at the 2026 C-Lab Startup Demo Day held on the 10th at the Seoul R&D Campus in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Park Jooni.

Samsung Electronics launched C-Lab Inside, an in-house venture incubation program, in 2012, followed by C-Lab Outside, a program for nurturing external startups, in 2018. Since 2023, it has expanded its startup hubs to Daegu, North Gyeongsang Province and Gwangju. Companies selected for C-Lab Outside receive up to KRW 100 million in business support funding, along with workspace, expert consulting, business collaboration with Samsung Electronics, and opportunities to participate in domestic and international exhibitions, without giving up equity.

To date, Samsung Electronics has identified and nurtured a total of 1,000 in-house ventures and startups through C-Lab. Even after companies complete the program, Samsung Electronics supports their continued growth through follow-up investment and business collaboration under its C-Lab Family initiative.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.