Summary: Samsung is showcasing 15 C-Lab-incubated startups at CES 2026 (January 6-9), collectively winning 17 CES Innovation Awards. The lineup includes 8 C-Lab Outside startups, 4 Samsung Financial C-Lab companies (first-time CES participants), 2 C-Lab Inside projects, and 1 regional collaboration. Since launching in 2012, C-Lab has nurtured 959 projects and startups across AI, robotics, and digital health sectors. Participating startups will exhibit at Eureka Park in the Venetian Expo, with innovations ranging from AI-powered pet diagnostics to enzyme-purified recycled plastics.
Samsung is showcasing 15 C-Lab-incubated startups at CES 2026 (January 6-9), collectively winning 17 CES Innovation Awards. The lineup includes 8 C-Lab Outside startups, 4 Samsung Financial C-Lab companies (first-time CES participants), 2 C-Lab Inside projects, and 1 regional collaboration. Since launching in 2012, C-Lab has nurtured 959 projects and startups across AI, robotics, and digital health sectors. Participating startups will exhibit at Eureka Park in the Venetian Expo, with innovations ranging from AI-powered pet diagnostics to enzyme-purified recycled plastics.
Samsung Electronics is bringing 15 incubated startups to CES 2026, marking one of the company’s most ambitious showcases since launching its Creative Lab (C-Lab) program in 2012. The participating startups have collectively earned 17 CES 2026 Innovation Awards across AI, robotics, and digital health categories, demonstrating Samsung’s expanding role as a major player in the global startup ecosystem. Running January 6-9 at the Venetian Expo’s Eureka Park, the exhibition represents Samsung’s commitment to validating innovative technologies and supporting startups’ global expansion.
What is Samsung C-Lab?
Samsung C-Lab (Creative Lab) is a startup incubation program launched in 2012 that discovers, nurtures, and commercializes innovative business ideas both internally (C-Lab Inside) and externally (C-Lab Outside). Since inception, the program has incubated 959 projects and startups, providing funding, mentorship, office space, and business cooperation opportunities.
What Is Samsung C-Lab and Why It Matters
Samsung’s C-Lab program operates as a dual-track innovation engine designed to foster creative thinking while stimulating South Korea’s broader startup ecosystem. The program has evolved from a simple employee idea incubation initiative into a comprehensive platform that bridges corporate resources with entrepreneurial innovation.
C-Lab Inside: Employee-Driven Innovation
C-Lab Inside allows Samsung employees to develop their creative business ideas with full company support. Since 2012, 1,507 Samsung employees have participated in 365 C-Lab projects, with 45% transferred to Samsung business departments and 20% spinning off as independent companies. Notable products born from C-Lab Inside include Samsung’s eco-packaging, The Sero Lifestyle TV, and even Samsung Pay.
C-Lab Outside: External Startup Ecosystem
Launched in October 2018, C-Lab Outside extends Samsung’s incubation expertise to external entrepreneurs, providing business support funds, office workspaces, and customized development programs. The program specifically targets regional innovation, with Samsung expanding operations to discover startups across different Korean regions since 2023. Selected startups receive direct business cooperation from Samsung Electronics, leveraging the company’s manufacturing, distribution, and technical infrastructure.
The 15 Startups Showcasing at CES 2026
This year’s CES lineup features a diverse mix of 8 C-Lab Outside startups, 4 Samsung Financial C-Lab Outside companies, 2 C-Lab Inside projects, and 1 regional collaboration with the Daegu Creative Economy Innovation Center.
Regional C-Lab Innovations (7 Startups)
The seven regional startups represent cutting-edge applications across health, environment, and AI sectors:
- Stress Solution (Gyeongbuk) – AI-based personalized mental care sound creation platform
- Deepscent (Gwangju) – AI-powered digital scent solution tailored to spatial environments
- Elevenliter (Daegu) – AI diagnostic tools for progressive diseases in pets
- AunionAI (Gwangju) – Web-based AI solution for automated multilingual dubbing with expressive voices and sound effects
- Repla (Gyeongbuk) – Enzyme-purified recycled plastic technology that eliminates impurities
- Univa (Daegu) – On-device multimodal large language model solution
- 10kM.ai (Daegu Creative Economy Innovation Center) – Enterprise AI video production platform for generating, editing, and monetizing video content
Samsung Financial C-Lab Makes CES Debut
For the first time, Samsung’s financial services affiliates are participating in CES through four startups from Samsung Financial C-Lab Outside. This expansion reflects Samsung’s open innovation model extending across its entire corporate ecosystem:
- Selectstar (Samsung Life Insurance) – Copyright-cleared datasets and all-in-one AI evaluation platform
- Datumo (Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance) – Cyber risk modeling to quantify and reduce financial impact of cyberattacks
- WINNING.I (Samsung Card) – Next-generation identity verification (eKYC) powered by simultaneous fingerprint and face biometrics
C-Lab Inside Projects: AI-Powered Solutions
Two internally developed projects evaluated highly for innovation, global scalability, and completeness will showcase at CES 2026:
- ChronoMix – AI solution for object-centric video composition
- EZ Reco – Generative AI platform that makes electronics recommendations based on expert knowledge
What’s the difference between C-Lab Inside and C-Lab Outside?
C-Lab Inside is an internal venture program for Samsung employees to develop their ideas with company support, while C-Lab Outside incubates external startups with funding, mentorship, and business cooperation. Inside projects can transfer to Samsung divisions or spin off as companies; Outside startups remain independent but receive Samsung’s infrastructure and network access.
17 CES 2026 Innovation Awards Breakdown
Samsung C-Lab startups have collectively won 17 CES 2026 Innovation Awards, demonstrating the program’s ability to identify and nurture commercially viable innovations. The awards span categories including artificial intelligence, robotics, digital health, cybersecurity, and sustainable materials. This represents a significant achievement considering CES Innovation Awards recognize outstanding design and engineering in consumer technology products, with judges evaluating entries based on innovation, functionality, and user value.
C-Lab’s Track Record Since 2012
By the Numbers: 959 Projects Incubated
Since its 2012 launch, Samsung C-Lab has incubated 959 total projects and startups 423 through C-Lab Inside and 536 through C-Lab Outside. The program invested $26 million in 59 C-Lab Inside spin-off startups, 30 of which raised over $100 million in follow-up investments. By 2022, the program had carved out 59 spin-off companies, with notable successes attracting substantial venture capital.
Notable Success Stories and Spin-offs
C-Lab has generated several commercially successful ventures:
- Linkflow raised 29 billion won ($24 million) with its wearable 360-degree cameras for security and remote medical care
- Welt secured 14 billion won in funding for its smart belt health tracking technology
- Salted became a top-ranked Amazon golf training product and expanded into digital healthcare
- Class Saathi (Taghive) deployed in 1,200 government schools across India and 200 schools in Korea, improving learning outcomes by 8% in 30 days
Where to Find Samsung C-Lab at CES 2026
Samsung will operate a dedicated C-Lab exhibition area at Eureka Park inside the Venetian Expo, CES’s designated startup zone. The exhibition runs from January 6-9, 2026, in Las Vegas. Byoung Chul Lee, Vice President and Head of the Creativity & Innovation Center at Samsung Electronics, stated that “Samsung supports C-Lab startups through CES as a platform to validate innovative technologies and build momentum for global growth”.
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Where is the Samsung C-Lab booth at CES 2026?
Samsung C-Lab will exhibit at Eureka Park, located inside the Venetian Expo in Las Vegas. The exhibition runs January 6-9, 2026. Eureka Park is CES’s dedicated startup zone where emerging technology companies showcase innovations.
How Samsung’s Incubator Model Works
Funding and Support Structure
C-Lab Outside startups receive comprehensive support packages including business development funds, dedicated office workspaces, and customized development programs. The incubation period provides access to Samsung’s technical expertise, manufacturing capabilities, and distribution channels. Participating startups also benefit from direct mentorship from Samsung executives and engineers who have experience scaling global technology products.
Post-Graduation: The C-Lab Family Program
After completing the incubation program or spinning off, startups can join the C-Lab Family network. This unique professional network allows graduated startups to continue receiving investment opportunities and business cooperation from Samsung Electronics. The C-Lab Family model ensures long-term support beyond initial incubation, helping startups scale sustainably while maintaining connections to Samsung’s ecosystem.
Key Technologies to Watch
AI and Machine Learning Applications
Multiple startups are leveraging AI for specialized applications: AunionAI’s multilingual dubbing system automates voice translation with expressive emotional tones, while 10kM.ai provides enterprise-grade AI video production capabilities. EZ Reco uses generative AI to democratize electronics purchasing decisions by encoding expert knowledge into accessible recommendations.
Digital Health and Pet Diagnostics
Elevenliter represents a growing trend in veterinary AI diagnostics, using machine learning to detect progressive diseases in pets earlier than traditional methods. Stress Solution applies AI to mental health, creating personalized sound environments calibrated to individual stress patterns. These innovations address underserved markets where AI-powered early detection can significantly improve outcomes.
Multimodal LLMs and On-Device AI
Univa’s on-device multimodal large language model solution addresses a critical challenge in AI deployment: running sophisticated models without constant cloud connectivity. This technology enables privacy-preserving AI applications for sensitive use cases in healthcare, finance, and enterprise environments where data cannot leave the device.
Comparison Table
| Program Type | C-Lab Inside | C-Lab Outside | Samsung Financial C-Lab |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch Year | 2012 | 2018 | ~2022-2023 |
| Participants | Samsung employees | External startups | Samsung affiliate startups |
| Projects Incubated | 423 | 536 | N/A |
| Funding Model | Corporate allocation | Business support fund | Affiliate-specific funding |
| Office Space | Samsung campus | Dedicated workspaces | Affiliate infrastructure |
| Exit Paths | Transfer to division / Spin-off | Independent company | Independent with affiliate ties |
| CES 2026 Count | 2 startups | 8 startups | 4 startups |
| Success Rate | 45% transferred, 20% spun off | Growing portfolio | First CES appearance |
What This Means for the Startup Ecosystem
Samsung’s expanded C-Lab participation particularly the inclusion of Samsung Financial startups signals a strategic shift toward cross-industry innovation. The regional startup focus demonstrates Samsung’s commitment to distributing innovation opportunities beyond Seoul’s tech hub, nurturing talent in cities like Daegu, Gwangju, and Gyeongbuk. For entrepreneurs, C-Lab represents one of Asia’s most accessible pathways to corporate-backed incubation with genuine business cooperation rather than just funding.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Samsung C-Lab?
Samsung C-Lab (Creative Lab) is a startup incubation program that nurtures innovative business ideas through two tracks: C-Lab Inside for Samsung employees and C-Lab Outside for external startups. Since 2012, it has incubated 959 projects providing funding, mentorship, and business cooperation.
How many startups are showcasing at CES 2026?
Samsung is bringing 15 startups to CES 2026: 8 from C-Lab Outside, 4 from Samsung Financial C-Lab Outside, 2 from C-Lab Inside, and 1 regional collaboration.
What CES awards did Samsung C-Lab startups win?
Samsung C-Lab startups collectively won 17 CES 2026 Innovation Awards across categories including AI, robotics, digital health, cybersecurity, and sustainable materials.
Where can I find Samsung C-Lab at CES 2026?
The Samsung C-Lab exhibition is located at Eureka Park inside the Venetian Expo in Las Vegas, running January 6-9, 2026.
What’s the difference between C-Lab Inside and Outside?
C-Lab Inside is for Samsung employees to develop internal ventures, while C-Lab Outside incubates external startups. Inside projects can transfer to Samsung divisions or spin off; Outside startups remain independent but receive Samsung support.
How successful are C-Lab startups?
C-Lab has incubated 959 projects since 2012, with spin-offs raising over $100 million in follow-up investments. Notable successes include Linkflow (29 billion won funding) and Welt (14 billion won funding).
Can international startups apply to C-Lab?
C-Lab Outside primarily focuses on South Korean startups, with regional programs across Korean cities. International startup participation details are not publicly specified.
What support does C-Lab provide?
C-Lab provides business development funds, office workspaces, customized development programs, Samsung mentorship, access to technical infrastructure, and post-graduation C-Lab Family network membership.
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How many startups has Samsung C-Lab incubated?
Samsung C-Lab has incubated 959 projects and startups since its 2012 launch: 423 through the internal C-Lab Inside program and 536 through the external C-Lab Outside program. The program has created 59 spin-off companies that have collectively raised over $100 million in follow-up investments.
Can anyone apply to Samsung C-Lab?
C-Lab Outside is open to external entrepreneurs and startups, while C-Lab Inside is exclusively for Samsung employees. C-Lab Outside launched in 2018 and provides business support funds, office space, mentorship, and business cooperation opportunities to selected startups. Samsung has expanded regional C-Lab programs across Korean cities since 2023.
What support does Samsung C-Lab provide to startups?
C-Lab provides comprehensive support including business development funds, dedicated office workspaces, customized development programs, mentorship from Samsung executives, access to Samsung’s technical infrastructure, and business cooperation opportunities. Graduated startups can join the C-Lab Family network for continued investment and partnership opportunities.
