Samsung Electronics Hosts Startup Contest to Lead 'K-Innovation'

From the 17th to the 18th of next month

Samsung Electronics is launching a recruitment drive for new startups to lead the ‘K-Innovation’ movement.

On the 17th, Samsung Electronics announced that it will hold the ‘C-Lab Outside’ contest for one month until the 18th of next month to discover and nurture innovative startups and contribute to revitalizing the domestic startup ecosystem. Now in its 6th edition, this contest will be held simultaneously for the first time in four regions: C-Lab Outside Seoul, Daegu, Gyeongbuk, and Gwangju.

Any startup registered as a corporation in Korea and at investment stage Series B or below can apply. The eligibility criteria, which previously limited applicants to those established within five years, have been expanded this year to include startups at investment stage Series B or below. This means that any startup recognized through Series A and seeking funds to expand their business can apply.

The contest categories this year include ▲Artificial Intelligence (AI) ▲Content & Services ▲Digital Health ▲IoT Devices ▲Mobility ▲Robotics ▲Materials & Components ▲ESG (Environment, Social, Governance), totaling eight fields. The Materials & Components category has been added this year, and the AI and Digital Health categories have expanded their detailed recruitment fields.

Samsung Electronics established C-Lab Outside in 2018 to revitalize the domestic startup ecosystem and create quality jobs for young people. Earlier this year, C-Lab Outside was launched consecutively in Gwangju, Daegu, and Gyeongbuk, forming the C-Lab Triangle Belt, and actively promoting the startup ecosystem and regional economic revitalization. Among the startups selected for C-Lab Outside, those with potential business connections to Samsung Electronics will be provided with active business cooperation and investment opportunities through business meetings with relevant divisions and PoC (Proof of Concept) projects.

C-Lab startups also participated in the ‘SSAFY Job Fair’ held last June for graduates of Samsung’s software talent development program, ‘Samsung Software Academy For Youth (SSAFY).’ This was the first time C-Lab startups engaged in recruitment activities at this event. The number of SSAFY graduates employed by C-Lab startups is also increasing. So far, 41 SSAFY graduates have been hired by 17 C-Lab startups, including the AI-based search platform ‘Fortytwo Maru’ and the logistics service platform ‘Coconut Silo,’ which analyzes data to track cargo in real time.

At the 'C-Lab Outside Daegu Campus,' startup employees share their ideas.

Additionally, startups selected for C-Lab Outside receive ▲up to 100 million KRW in business support funds without equity acquisition ▲dedicated workspaces ▲customized mentoring at each stage in hardware and software fields provided by Samsung Electronics employees ▲participation in domestic and international IT exhibitions such as CES ▲free transfer or licensing of patents owned by Samsung Electronics.

Park Hak-gyu, President of Samsung Electronics’ Management Support Office, said, "We look forward to applications from startups that will grow further through Samsung Electronics C-Lab and build continuous cooperation with Samsung Electronics." He added, "Samsung Electronics will discover promising startups across the country and contribute to revitalizing the domestic startup ecosystem."

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