Which Technologies Won Samsung’s Backing? – A Look Inside the C-Lab Startup Demo Day

(Seoul=Yonhap Infomax) Young Sook Yoon – “What if satellite and AI could verify carbon credits in real time?” “What if visually impaired users could access smart home appliances without barriers?”

On the morning of the 20th, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.’s R&D campus in Seocho was bustling with startups presenting such possibilities. The exhibition halls were filled with innovations in robotics components, artificial intelligence (AI) models, ESG solutions, and healthcare and accessibility technologies.

While the event focused on future industries, the atmosphere was notably pragmatic. The teams were actively collaborating with Samsung Electronics, demonstrating technologies that meet real market needs.

This year’s ‘2025 C-Lab Startup Demo Day’ featured 30 companies from the 7th cohort of C-Lab Outside, Samsung’s external startup acceleration program. Of these, 10—including Aidin Robotics, Geogrid, Idea Ocean, Thanks Carbon, and Sofenty—presented their achievements from the past year.

As questions about newly adopted technologies and collaboration experiences with Samsung continued, market interest in “technologies chosen by Samsung” was palpable.

Aidin Robotics – Localizing Core Industrial Robot Components

Aidin Robotics, a robotics company spun out of the Robotics Innovatory Lab at Sungkyunkwan University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, develops sensor and AI-based robotic application technologies.

The company was selected for C-Lab Outside this year for its sensing technology for robots. Aidin Robotics unveiled a range of sensors, including a tactile sensor that enables humanoid robots to perceive touch and a joint torque sensor that measures rotational force applied to joints.

CEO Lee Yoon-haeng said, “Most tactile sensors are imported and cost around 10 million won ($7,600), making them inaccessible for most manufacturing plants. We’ve developed sensors at one-tenth the price and are preparing to supply them for Samsung’s manufacturing processes and robotics business.”

AI Visual Assistance – “Universal Usability”

TUAT, operator of the AI-powered visual assistance voice app ‘Sullivan Plus’ for the visually impaired, was also selected for C-Lab Outside.

Specializing in AI and deep learning image recognition, Sullivan Plus uses a smartphone camera to recognize the surrounding environment and delivers information via voice, effectively serving as the user’s eyes. The app is also integrated with SK Telecom’s voice AI ‘NUGU’ for voice commands.

Through collaboration with Samsung Electronics, TUAT’s app now features a ‘Home Appliance QR Mode’ that recognizes QR codes on Samsung appliances and provides voice guidance. The company plans to further enhance convenience by integrating its technology into smart glasses.

A2US – Competing with “New Technology for Purifying Water and Air”

A2US has developed ‘water electrostatic spraying’ technology based on micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) to purify air and water.

This technology creates electrically charged micro-droplets by applying an electric field to water, generating hydroxyl radicals—safe, highly oxidative molecules used for sterilization.

CEO Lee Seung-seop, a professor at KAIST’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, explained, “By atomizing water and imparting charge, the system is designed for antibacterial, sterilization, air purification, and humidification functions.”

The MEMS technology has been published in over 120 SCI-indexed journals and holds more than 160 registered patents. A2US received a CES Innovation Award this year and was selected for both the Lotte Ventures acceleration program and the LG Superstart incubator.

Thanks Carbon – Carbon Reduction Monitoring Solution

Thanks Carbon, which developed the carbon emission monitoring solution ‘Haemdal,’ also drew attention at the event.

The company operates a platform that measures and verifies low-carbon activities by farmers and connects them to corporate carbon credit trading, leveraging satellite imagery, AI, and deep learning technologies.

Thanks Carbon expects its solution to see increased adoption as companies focus on ESG management and climate crisis response. The company emphasized that satellite data collection enhances accuracy.

CEO Kim Hye-won stated, “Transparency issues in carbon credits, such as greenwashing, are becoming more prominent. To address this, we developed a digital monitoring solution combining satellite and AI technologies.”

Selected Startups: “Samsung’s Support Gave Us Wings”

Startups chosen for C-Lab Outside unanimously credited Samsung’s support for enabling them to test their technologies in real manufacturing environments and expand their market reach.

Aidin Robotics CEO Lee Yoon-haeng said, “Without this program, it would have been difficult to discover markets or pursue collaborations. Through C-Lab, we were able to supply electronic sensors and components for Samsung’s manufacturing sites.”

He added, “We were confident in our technology, but for startups, understanding the industrial field is crucial. C-Lab provided us with opportunities to connect with customers and gain field experience.”

TUAT CEO Cho Soo-won commented, “Collaboration with Samsung Electronics has enabled our technology to benefit visually impaired users globally. Being selected allowed us to promote our technology externally and develop a ‘universal manual’ through Samsung.”

Thanks Carbon CEO Kim Hye-won noted, “Previously, our methodology was not widely recognized for commercialization. Through C-Lab, we conducted pilot projects at nine sites and achieved real-world validation in Southeast Asia.”

Park Seung-hee, head of Corporate Relations at Samsung Electronics, said, “C-Lab Outside has established itself as a leading open collaboration platform for win-win cooperation between large corporations and startups. Samsung Electronics will continue to provide a foundation for sustained growth through collaboration and investment.”

Samsung Electronics launched its in-house venture program ‘C-Lab Inside’ in 2012 to support employee innovation, and established ‘C-Lab Outside’ in 2018 to nurture external startups.

To date, Samsung Electronics has supported a total of 959 startups and in-house ventures (423 internal, 536 external), with the number expected to surpass 1,000 next year. Even after graduation, ongoing investment and collaboration are provided through the ‘C-Lab Family’ system.

ysyoon@yna.co.kr

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