Samsung Electronics has reached a major milestone in its startup support programme, helping 1,000 emerging businesses attract a combined 2.2 trillion won ($1.6 billion) in investment. The South Korean technology giant announced the achievement on Tuesday at its research and development campus in southern Seoul. The milestone reflects Samsung’s growing involvement in supporting entrepreneurs, particularly those developing artificial intelligence, robotics and advanced technologies.

Samsung C-Lab Expands Startup Support

Samsung launched its C-Lab initiative in 2012 to encourage innovation through internal ventures and independent startups. This year, the company selected 30 promising startups, with 15 already conducting technology verification projects alongside Samsung. 12 selected companies operate outside the Seoul metropolitan area, supporting the company’s efforts to encourage regional entrepreneurship. Samsung has also operated C-Lab hubs in Daegu and Gwangju since 2023. Through its C-Lab Outside programme, eligible startups can receive up to 100 million won in financial support and access to workspace without surrendering company equity.

AI Robotics Startup Attracts Major Investment

Among the companies featured at Samsung’s event was Config Intelligence, a 2-year-old startup developing data technology for training artificial intelligence systems used in robots. The company has secured more than 50 billion won in investment, including funding from Samsung Venture Investment. Its estimated valuation now exceeds 300 billion won. Config Intelligence operates data collection facilities in Seoul and Hanoi, employing more than 1,000 workers. These facilities use over 30 robots across at least 10 categories to collect up to 150,000 hours of training data.

Startups Demonstrate Advanced AI Technologies

Config Intelligence CEO Seo Min-jun said the company aims to expand its robotics training dataset from approximately 100,000 tasks to 1 million by the end of 2026. Internal testing suggests combining real robotic data with human movement information can improve performance. However, further development is required before reliable industrial deployment. Other participating startups included Piaspace, which develops AI systems capable of analysing language and video together, and NanoForge AI, which uses artificial intelligence to automate materials research.

Samsung Strengthens South Korea’s Startup Ecosystem

Samsung continues supporting participating businesses through its C-Lab Family network, providing opportunities for investment, technical cooperation and commercial partnerships after their initial programmes end. By connecting startups with established technology resources, the initiative aims to help emerging companies develop products and expand their businesses. The latest milestone demonstrates Samsung’s continued investment in South Korea’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and the growing importance of AI-driven innovation.