Samsung Ventures

Samsung Ventures, established in 1999, is a corporate venture capital arm of Samsung Electronics, headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. The firm invests globally in emerging technology companies, with a focus on semiconductors, mobile services, internet, software, security, enterprise solutions, bioengineering, and medical sectors. Its investment portfolio spans early-stage startups to pre-IPO companies, with an annual investment budget of $250 million and over $1.8 billion under management. Samsung Ventures operates from key innovation hubs worldwide, including the San Francisco Bay Area, Boston, London, Tel Aviv, Bangalore, Tokyo, and Beijing, to identify and support pioneering startups in areas such as AI, robotics, augmented/virtual reality, and digital health.

Liam Ahn

Principal

Robert Ashcraft

Investment Director

Ju Won Cha

Managing Partner

Jaeseok Cha

Investment Director

Myungseok Choi

Investment Director

Jeongheon Gwak

Investment Director

Uiseok Hwang

Investment Director

TaeWoo Jeon

Investment Director

Minjoo Kim

Investment Director

Junyeong Kim

Investment Director

Jongwook Kim

Investment Director

Han Seong Kim

Investment Director

Jihong Kim

Managing Director, Samsung Ventures America

Donghyun Kim

Investment Director

KyungNam Ko

Investment Director

Eunji Ko

Investment Director

JaeHo Koh

Investment Director

Helena Lee

Investment Director

Hyemin Lee

Senior Investment Manager

SunMin Lee

Investment Director

Stan Lee

Investment Director

Jaemin Lee

Investment Director

Claire Leurent

Managing Director

Sooyoun Lim

Investment Director

Michael Pachos

Managing Director and Head of Samsung Ventures America, East Coast

Jinho Park

Investment Director

Wookyoung Park

Investment Director

Junho Yang

Investment Director

Chanwoo Yang

Investment Director

Il Seok Yoon

Chief Investment Officer

Jisu Yoon

Investment Director

Sung Eun Sarah Kim

Investment Director

Past deals in Virtual Reality

N.Light

Series A in 2023
N.Light is a Metaverse 3D design software that allows individuals to effortlessly turn their ideas into reality.

Urbanbase

Series C in 2022
Urbanbase Inc. is a design platform based in Seoul, South Korea, that specializes in transforming two-dimensional floor plans into three-dimensional models. Founded in 2014, the company has developed patented technology that enables the rapid conversion of 2D designs into 3D, augmented reality (AR), and virtual reality (VR) formats. Urbanbase offers a consumer-facing VR home furnishing platform and an AR mobile application, enhancing the interior design experience. Additionally, it provides a business-to-business sales tool utilizing its proprietary 3D, AR, and VR APIs, catering to various sectors including real estate, home design, and retail. The company serves a diverse clientele, including notable brands like LG, iLoom, and Daelim, as well as over 40 other interior and furniture companies.

DoubleMe

Series A in 2022
DoubleMe, Inc. specializes in 3D capture technology, offering innovative solutions that bridge the gap between the physical and virtual worlds. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in San Jose, California, the company has developed the HoloPortal, a system that transforms 2D videos into 3D models in real-time, catering to diverse markets including gaming, animation, virtual and augmented reality, and 3D printing. Additionally, DoubleMe provides Voxelo, a viewpoint video player for Windows that allows users to experience 3D content of real captured scenes. The company captures both dynamic subjects like humans and animals, as well as static objects such as furniture, enabling the creation of animated and still 3D models. With operations in Sunnyvale, London, and Seoul, and partnerships with 15 telecommunications companies worldwide, DoubleMe continues to enhance its technology and expand its reach in the realm of social holographic reality experiences. The company has raised over $17 million in funding to support its mission of democratizing 3D technology.

Gaudio Lab

Series B in 2021
G'Audio Lab, Inc. is a company based in Los Angeles, California, specializing in audio production software solutions for virtual reality (VR). Established in 2016, it offers a range of products including G'Audio Works, G'Audio Craft, and G'Audio SOL, a rendering SDK. The company focuses on providing advanced spatial audio technology, binaural rendering, and VR audio formats. With a team led by Dr. Henney Oh, a recognized authority in audio innovation, G'Audio Lab has made significant contributions to international audio standards, including the binaural rendering aspects of MPEG-H 3D Audio. The company's suite of tools is designed for seamless integration across various platforms, allowing users to enhance their immersive content experiences and overall listening quality. G'Audio Lab's technologies are supported by numerous patents, reflecting its commitment to developing industry-leading audio solutions.

DigiLens

Debt Financing in 2020
DigiLens Inc. is a developer and manufacturer of optical platform and photopolymer technology solutions specializing in waveguide displays for extended reality (XR) applications. The company offers a range of products, including the Crystal30 and Crystal50 lenses, which enable original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to create customizable XR devices for both enterprise and consumer markets. DigiLens also provides innovative solutions like the DigiLens AutoHUD, which enhances the field of view and reduces component size in heads-up displays, and CrystalClear, an augmented reality heads-up display. In addition to display technologies, DigiLens supplies light engines and hardware development kits, such as Insight30, which assist users in evaluating and developing wearable devices. Founded in 1997 and based in Sunnyvale, California, DigiLens has positioned itself as a leader in holographic waveguide technology, enabling various industries, including automotive, enterprise, consumer, avionics, and military, to leverage XR capabilities.

AdHawk Microsystems

Series B in 2019
AdHawk Microsystems Inc. is a Canadian company specializing in the development of eye and gesture tracking technology, along with micro-electromechanical systems for mobile and wearable devices. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Kitchener, the company has created a camera-free eye tracking system that enhances mobile data capture, paving the way for advanced augmented and virtual reality solutions. AdHawk's technology features a full-stack approach, integrating custom silicon with cloud-based analytics, which enables rapid and high-quality data processing. The company is focused on producing innovative wearable eye tracking products that offer significant computational and power efficiencies, driving the development of smart glasses and other devices with all-day biometric sensing capabilities. Additionally, AdHawk aims to introduce the first brain fitness tracker, a consumer wearable that will provide insights into cognitive processes and promote brain health and wellness for a wide audience.

MOPIC

Venture Round in 2019
MOPIC is a company founded by developers specializing in 3D technology, including former researchers from Samsung Electronics with a focus on 3D stereoscopic devices. Since its inception in 2015, MOPIC has aimed to create a device that combines the immersive quality of head-mounted displays with the convenience of traditional 2D viewing. The company has developed technology that utilizes a unique lenticular array, along with proprietary eye-tracking and pixel-mapping algorithms, to enable users to experience autostereoscopic content on smartphones and tablets without the need for glasses or head-mounted displays. MOPIC's innovations have garnered international recognition, including a CES Innovation award, further establishing its presence in the 3D technology market.

DigiLens

Series C in 2019
DigiLens Inc. is a developer and manufacturer of optical platform and photopolymer technology solutions specializing in waveguide displays for extended reality (XR) applications. The company offers a range of products, including the Crystal30 and Crystal50 lenses, which enable original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to create customizable XR devices for both enterprise and consumer markets. DigiLens also provides innovative solutions like the DigiLens AutoHUD, which enhances the field of view and reduces component size in heads-up displays, and CrystalClear, an augmented reality heads-up display. In addition to display technologies, DigiLens supplies light engines and hardware development kits, such as Insight30, which assist users in evaluating and developing wearable devices. Founded in 1997 and based in Sunnyvale, California, DigiLens has positioned itself as a leader in holographic waveguide technology, enabling various industries, including automotive, enterprise, consumer, avionics, and military, to leverage XR capabilities.

DeepMotion

Venture Round in 2019
DeepMotion is a technology company focused on creating a motion intelligence platform that brings 2D and 3D digital characters to life through advanced motion technology. Founded in December 2014 in Redwood City, the company specializes in bridging physical and digital motion for virtual characters and machines. By leveraging physics simulation, computer vision, and machine learning, DeepMotion enables the reconstruction of realistic motion based on real-world examples. This capability facilitates the development of lifelike behaviors in digital actors, enhancing applications in augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), gaming, film, and robotics. The team consists of experienced professionals from renowned organizations such as Blizzard, Pixar, Disney, and Microsoft, dedicated to expanding creative possibilities and improving interactive content through real-time procedural animation.

Looxid Labs

Series A in 2018
Looxid Labs Inc. is a company based in Seoul, South Korea, that specializes in developing emotion recognition systems for virtual reality (VR) through an eye-brain interface. Founded in 2015, Looxid Labs has created LooxidVR, an innovative VR headset equipped with sensors that assess users' emotional states by monitoring physiological data such as brainwaves, eye movements, and pupil sizes, utilizing advanced machine learning algorithms for analysis. The technology has diverse applications across gaming, medical, and defense sectors. Additionally, the company is working on the "Lucy" project, which aims to develop an assistive communication device for individuals with paralysis, enabling them to communicate with caregivers through gaze and thought. Looxid Labs continues to enhance its VR analytics solutions by integrating hardware, software, and proprietary algorithms to improve the accuracy of emotional analysis.

Loom.ai

Seed Round in 2018
Loom.ai, based in San Francisco and a Y Combinator alumni, specializes in creating personalized, 3D avatars that enhance virtual communication. The company has developed a platform that utilizes deep learning and computer vision to transform a single photograph into a highly detailed, animatable 3D avatar that captures the unique features of an individual. These avatars can express emotions in real-time and are applicable across a variety of sectors, including mobile messaging, entertainment, augmented and virtual reality, e-commerce, and video conferencing. Loom.ai's innovative approach to virtual identity aims to redefine how people interact in digital spaces. The company has garnered funding from various investors, including DHVC, Dentsu Ventures, and GREE VR Capital.

PerceptIn

Series A in 2017
PerceptIn, Inc. is a visual intelligence company based in Sunnyvale, California, founded in 2016. The company specializes in providing perception, insight, and intelligence solutions through a combination of hardware and software. Its offerings include the PerceptIn Robotics Vision System, which features a visual inertial module designed for real-time tracking and mapping with centimeter-level accuracy. PerceptIn's technology is applicable across various sectors, catering to customers such as robot manufacturers, VR/AR device creators, content developers, and gaming companies. The company is notable for its focus on integrating advanced visual intelligence capabilities into a wide range of devices, from IoT-grade robots to autonomous vehicles. With approximately 30 employees and offices in both California and Shenzhen, China, PerceptIn has secured significant funding to support its growth and innovation in the rapidly evolving field of robotics and visual intelligence.

D EMPTYSPACE

Seed Round in 2017
D Emptyspace is a mobile application developed by DIFT Corp., which was founded in 2015 and is based in Seoul, South Korea. The application allows users to create immersive virtual galleries where they can customize their exhibition spaces using various templates. Users have the ability to invite friends and connect with other creators, fostering relationships among artists, critics, and collectors. D Emptyspace provides a platform for artists to curate their own spaces, share their stories, and present their work in a personalized manner. Additionally, the app facilitates the discovery of new and emerging artists, enhancing the overall experience of exploring and appreciating art in a virtual environment.

Fove

Series A in 2016
Fove, Inc. specializes in the design and manufacture of eye-tracking virtual reality headsets. Established in 2014 and headquartered in Torrance, California, with an additional office in Tokyo, Japan, the company offers several innovative products, including the FOVE0 Headset, which allows users to navigate virtual environments through their gaze. Fove Healthcare is another offering that utilizes VR and eye-tracking technology for cognitive function assessments. Additionally, the NeU-VR headset measures both eye and brain activity. Fove also develops applications that provide real-time information related to its devices, enhancing user interaction with virtual content. By integrating advanced eye-tracking capabilities, Fove enables users to control and interact with virtual objects in unprecedented ways.

Fove

Seed Round in 2015
Fove, Inc. specializes in the design and manufacture of eye-tracking virtual reality headsets. Established in 2014 and headquartered in Torrance, California, with an additional office in Tokyo, Japan, the company offers several innovative products, including the FOVE0 Headset, which allows users to navigate virtual environments through their gaze. Fove Healthcare is another offering that utilizes VR and eye-tracking technology for cognitive function assessments. Additionally, the NeU-VR headset measures both eye and brain activity. Fove also develops applications that provide real-time information related to its devices, enhancing user interaction with virtual content. By integrating advanced eye-tracking capabilities, Fove enables users to control and interact with virtual objects in unprecedented ways.

BlueStacks

Venture Round in 2014
BlueStacks is a leading developer of emulator software designed to enable Android games and applications to run seamlessly on Windows PCs. Leveraging its patented LayerCake virtualization technology, BlueStacks App Player caters to a diverse user base of 145 million, allowing gamers to experience mobile content in high performance and full-screen mode. The platform supports multiple operating systems and devices, ensuring users can access their favorite games without concerns over their PC specifications. Additionally, BlueStacks offers features such as the ability to run multiple apps simultaneously in a tabbed interface and provides one-click streaming capabilities to Twitch.tv through BlueStacks TV. Through its innovations, BlueStacks enhances the gaming experience by allowing precise control using a keyboard, mouse, or gamepad.

Replay Technologies

Venture Round in 2014
Replay Technologies Inc. specializes in three-dimensional reconstruction technology for broadcasting events, including sports, news, and film. The company is known for its Free Dimensional Video (FreeD) technology, which enables the creation of dynamic viewing angles using high-speed camera sensors. Its product offerings include the SOLO freeD System, designed to allow users to hover around the action and capture views from any angle within a 180-degree coverage area, and the ARENA freeD System, which features 4K high-resolution capture capabilities for 360-degree coverage. Founded in 2011 and headquartered in Newark, California, Replay Technologies operates as a subsidiary of Intel Corporation.

MasterImage 3D

Venture Round in 2011
MasterImage 3D, Inc. specializes in developing 3D technology solutions for theaters and mobile devices, offering a range of products including digital 3D cinema systems, 3D LCD modules, and 3D eyewear for various age groups. The company’s innovative cell-matrix parallax barrier technology enables autostereoscopic displays, allowing for glasses-free 3D experiences on mobile devices. Established in 2004 and headquartered in Sherman Oaks, California, MasterImage 3D has expanded its reach to over 70 countries, providing high-quality 3D experiences for audiences while offering exhibitors a compelling ownership-based pricing model. The company operates as a subsidiary of RealD Inc. and maintains offices internationally, including locations in the UK, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan.
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