Samsung to showcase 15 C-Lab startups at CES 2026
Samsung will be showcasing 15 startups from its C-Lab innovation program at CES 2026 , bringing together the largest number of participants ever from regional Korean cities outside of Seoul. The cohort, ranging from AI and robotics to digital health, will be exhibiting at the Eureka Park in the Venetian Expo from January 6–9, featuring technologies that had just been given 17 CES Innovation Awards, including two Best of Innovation honors.
This year's lineup includes eight startups from C-Lab Outside, four from Samsung Financial Networks' fintech incubation program, two from the internal C-Lab Inside venture program, and one jointly incubated with Daegu Creative Economy Innovation Center. The record participation of seven regional startups from Daegu, Gwangju, and Gyeongbuk province reflects Samsung's expanded strategy to strengthen local innovation ecosystems without requiring founders to relocate to Seoul.
Among regional entrants, Repla from Gyeongbuk received a CES Innovation Award for Puri-Checker, a device that analyzes plastic composition ratios for recycling. Other notable regional startups include Stress Solution's AI mental care sound platform, Deepscent's AI-powered digital scent solution, and Elevenliter's AI diagnostics for pet diseases.
"For a regional startup, collaborating with a global company like Samsung has been a valuable opportunity," said Dong-eun Seo, CEO of Repla. "Plastic recycling is a global challenge and CES provides an important platform to explore international market opportunities."
In a first, four startups from Samsung Financial C-Lab Outside will participate, including Selectstar's AI evaluation platform, Datumo's cyber risk modeling, WINNING.I's biometric identity verification, and Pillsang's real-time phishing detection solution. Two AI-driven projects from C-Lab Inside—ChronoMix for video composition and EZ Reco for electronics recommendations—round out the showcase.
Since 2012, C-Lab, powered by Samsung, has incubated projects and startups numbering about 959, while having supported 40 regional startups since 2023. It offers a venue for work, consulting, and collaboration with affiliates of Samsung to create sustainable innovation cycles in the regions of Korea.
This year's lineup includes eight startups from C-Lab Outside, four from Samsung Financial Networks' fintech incubation program, two from the internal C-Lab Inside venture program, and one jointly incubated with Daegu Creative Economy Innovation Center. The record participation of seven regional startups from Daegu, Gwangju, and Gyeongbuk province reflects Samsung's expanded strategy to strengthen local innovation ecosystems without requiring founders to relocate to Seoul.
Among regional entrants, Repla from Gyeongbuk received a CES Innovation Award for Puri-Checker, a device that analyzes plastic composition ratios for recycling. Other notable regional startups include Stress Solution's AI mental care sound platform, Deepscent's AI-powered digital scent solution, and Elevenliter's AI diagnostics for pet diseases.
"For a regional startup, collaborating with a global company like Samsung has been a valuable opportunity," said Dong-eun Seo, CEO of Repla. "Plastic recycling is a global challenge and CES provides an important platform to explore international market opportunities."
In a first, four startups from Samsung Financial C-Lab Outside will participate, including Selectstar's AI evaluation platform, Datumo's cyber risk modeling, WINNING.I's biometric identity verification, and Pillsang's real-time phishing detection solution. Two AI-driven projects from C-Lab Inside—ChronoMix for video composition and EZ Reco for electronics recommendations—round out the showcase.
Since 2012, C-Lab, powered by Samsung, has incubated projects and startups numbering about 959, while having supported 40 regional startups since 2023. It offers a venue for work, consulting, and collaboration with affiliates of Samsung to create sustainable innovation cycles in the regions of Korea.
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