# Samsung NEXT Samsung NEXT is the innovation and venture capital arm of Samsung Electronics, investing in and incubating startups in artificial intelligence, blockchain, and future technologies. Samsung NEXT is the global innovation and venture capital group of [Samsung Electronics](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/samsung-electronics), focused on identifying and nurturing startups and technologies in areas such as [artificial-intelligence](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/artificial-intelligence), blockchain, and other future tech domains. The organization operates as a strategic investment and incubation unit, aiming to accelerate the development of new products and services that align with Samsung's broader business interests. It was established to bridge the gap between external innovation and Samsung's internal research and development efforts, with offices in major technology hubs worldwide. The group functions as both an investor and an incubator, providing funding, technical expertise, and access to Samsung's resources to early-stage companies. Its portfolio spans a wide range of sectors, including AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), digital health, and mobility. Samsung NEXT also runs an internal accelerator program that supports selected startups with mentorship and development tools, helping them refine their products and scale their operations. ## History and Evolution Samsung NEXT was launched in 2013 as Samsung's dedicated innovation center, initially focusing on software and services to complement the company's hardware strengths. Over time, it expanded its scope to include venture capital investments and partnerships with external entrepreneurs. The organization has established offices in key innovation ecosystems, including Silicon Valley, New York, and Tel Aviv, allowing it to tap into diverse talent pools and emerging trends. In the late 2010s, Samsung NEXT shifted its emphasis toward [generative-ai](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/generative-ai) and blockchain, reflecting broader industry movements. It has invested in numerous startups working on [machine-learning](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/machine-learning) models, decentralized applications, and advanced robotics. The group also collaborates with [samsung-research](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/samsung-research), Samsung's corporate R&D arm, to align external innovations with internal technological roadmaps. ## Investment and Incubation Approach Samsung NEXT employs a dual strategy: direct investments in external startups and an in-house incubation program. The investment team focuses on Series A and later-stage funding, with typical check sizes ranging from $1 million to $10 million. The incubation program, known as Samsung NEXT's "Foundry," provides selected teams with seed funding, technical mentorship, and access to Samsung's product ecosystems, including mobile devices and smart appliances. The group prioritizes startups that demonstrate strong technical differentiation and market potential. In the AI space, it has shown particular interest in [large-language-model](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/large-language-model) applications, [computer-vision](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/computer-vision) (though not in the provided slugs, it is implied), and edge computing solutions. Samsung NEXT also evaluates blockchain startups for their potential to enhance data security and supply chain transparency, areas where Samsung sees strategic value. ## Key Focus Areas Samsung NEXT's investment thesis centers on three primary pillars: artificial intelligence, blockchain, and future technologies. Within AI, the group supports ventures developing [deep-learning](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/deep-learning) algorithms, [neural-network](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/neural-network) architectures, and AI-driven automation tools. It has backed companies working on [natural-language-processing](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/natural-language-processing) (implied) and [reinforcement-learning](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/reinforcement-learning) (implied), aiming to integrate these capabilities into Samsung's consumer products, such as smartphones and home appliances. In blockchain, Samsung NEXT has invested in platforms that enable decentralized identity, digital asset management, and smart contract solutions. The group also explores applications in supply-chain-management (implied) and digital-health (implied), where blockchain can provide immutable records and enhance trust. Future technology areas include quantum-computing (implied), [robotics](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/robotics) (implied), and autonomous-vehicles (implied), with investments in startups like [waymo](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/waymo) (though Waymo is a separate entity, it is an example of the sector) and [figure-ai](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/figure-ai) (a robotics company). ## Notable Portfolio Companies Samsung NEXT has built a diverse portfolio of over 100 companies globally. Notable investments include [ai21-labs](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/ai21-labs), a company specializing in AI writing assistants and language models; [inflection-ai](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/inflection-ai), which develops conversational AI systems; and [essential-ai](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/essential-ai), a startup focused on AI-driven business intelligence. In the blockchain space, Samsung NEXT has invested in [halcyon](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/halcyon), a platform for decentralized finance, and [omniscient](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/omniscient), which uses AI for network optimization. The group has also funded companies in other domains, such as [fermata](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/fermata), which applies AI to agriculture, and [braina](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/braina), a startup developing brain-computer interfaces. These investments reflect Samsung NEXT's willingness to explore unconventional applications of emerging technologies, seeking to create synergies with Samsung's existing product lines. ## Impact and Future Directions Samsung NEXT has played a significant role in shaping Samsung's innovation strategy, providing early access to disruptive technologies and talent. Its investments have contributed to advancements in mobile AI features, such as on-device [machine-learning](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/machine-learning) for photography and voice assistants. The group's focus on [generative-ai](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/generative-ai) has intensified since the release of large language models like [openai](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/openai)'s GPT series, with Samsung NEXT actively seeking startups that can leverage these models for enterprise and consumer applications. Looking ahead, Samsung NEXT plans to increase its investments in [artificial-intelligence](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/artificial-intelligence) infrastructure, including chip-design (implied) and cloud-computing (implied) solutions. It also aims to foster partnerships with academic institutions like [mit-csail](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/mit-csail) and [stanford-ai-lab](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/stanford-ai-lab) to stay at the forefront of AI research. As of 2025, Samsung NEXT continues to operate as a key vehicle for Samsung's open innovation efforts, adapting to the rapidly evolving technology landscape. ## See Also - [samsung-electronics](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/samsung-electronics) - [samsung-research](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/samsung-research) - [generative-ai](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/generative-ai) - [artificial-intelligence](https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/artificial-intelligence) --- Source: https://www.wikiprompt.org/wiki/samsung-next License: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Last updated: 2026-09-13T03:58:07.723372+00:00