Samsung Catalyst Fund, established in 2013, is the corporate venture capital arm of Samsung Electronics based in San Jose, California. The firm focuses on investing in the evolving data economy and strategically aligned innovations for Samsung's mobile, device solutions, and consumer electronics divisions. Its investment areas include Automotive, Robotics, Digital Health, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Infrastructure, and Device-Level Solutions. By leveraging Samsung's global brand, manufacturing capabilities, and extensive distribution network, the fund supports entrepreneurs with domain expertise and access to a robust recruiting network, as well as guidance from experienced Innovation Fellows.
Vice President, Managing Director and Head of the Fund
Gil Rotenberg
Investment Principal
Amit Shofar
Investment Director
Past deals in Hardware
Axiado
Series C in 2024
Axiado Corporation specializes in cybersecurity processors aimed at enhancing the security of digital infrastructure by addressing fundamental vulnerabilities. Founded in 2017 and headquartered in San Jose, California, the company has developed a trusted control/compute unit (TCU) that integrates hardware-based security technologies, including advanced authentication and encryption mechanisms. Axiado's Zero-Trust Secure Vault™ boot and authentication core, along with its Secure AI™ engines, provide robust protection against internal and external digital threats, safeguarding enterprises, organizations, and governments. The company's solutions are designed to secure a variety of environments, including cloud infrastructures, 5G base stations, networks, and IoT devices, ensuring stability and security in the management of heterogeneous infrastructures.
DreamBig Semiconductor
Series B in 2024
DreamBig is developing a cutting-edge chiplet platform that drives the next wave of affordable, scalable, and modular semiconductor solutions for the AI era and beyond. DreamBig is renowned for providing the most advanced Chiplet Hub, facilitating the scaling of processor, accelerator, and networking chiplets. The company's specialties include applications in Large Language Models (LLMs), Generative AI, Data Centers, Edge computing, and Automotive sectors.
Axelera AI
Series B in 2024
Axelera AI focuses on providing specialized hardware and software platforms to enhance artificial intelligence tasks, particularly in edge computing. Its primary product, the Metis™ AI Platform, combines hardware and software to offer high-performance, energy-efficient AI inference solutions. The platform's innovative design has earned recognition as a CES® 2024 Innovation Awards Honoree. Established in 2021 after incubation by Bitfury and collaboration with imec, Axelera AI is headquartered in the AI Innovation Center at the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven, with research and development offices in Belgium, Switzerland, and Italy. The company's team comprises experts in AI from leading firms and Fortune 500 companies, focusing on delivering sustainable edge applications through a custom dataflow architecture and multicore in-memory computing that minimizes power consumption.
Celestial AI
Series C in 2024
Celestial AI is a machine learning accelerator company focused on developing an advanced optical interconnect technology platform for data centers and AI applications. By leveraging photonics, mixed-signal ASICs, and innovative packaging techniques, the company aims to enhance computing performance sustainably. Its proprietary Photonic FabricTM serves as the core technology for creating optically scalable and disaggregated data center computing and memory systems. This technology is designed to enable significant advancements in artificial intelligence, allowing clients to provide superior AI acceleration hardware and software solutions.
Eliyan
Series B in 2024
Eliyan's team has created enterprise and server class semiconductors. The company consists of a team of PHY designers and chip architects who have produced generations of semiconductor products and have a profound understanding of systems. Eliyan's Interconnect technology, developed using ordinary organic chip packaging, gives the same performance as advanced packaging technology, allowing The Ultimate Chiplet Systems to be realized at a fraction of the total cost of ownership. You get more cores, computing performance, test coverage, and yield without the drawbacks of sophisticated packaging.
Celestial AI
Series B in 2023
Celestial AI is a prominent artificial intelligence company that provides an advanced platform for users to efficiently create images, text, and presentations. Utilizing computer vision algorithms and natural language processing, the platform produces high-quality visual and textual content. Its intuitive design and innovative features simplify the creation process, while intelligent data integration and a commitment to security ensure reliable results.
Avicena Tech
Series A in 2022
Avicena Tech manufactures ultra-dense, ultra-low power petabit per second optical chip interconnects. It has been known for decades that optical interconnects have the potential to provide significant benefits even at lengths down to 1 millimeter and below. Silicon photonics, plasmonics, and other high-volume commercial technologies have reached a tipping point where they can be used to address critical chip-to-chip interconnect needs. Avicena’s ultra-dense, low-latency, low-cost, low-power optical interconnects revolutionize inter-chip communications and vastly improve the performance of systems that are hampered by legacy chip-to-chip interconnects.
Graphcore
Series E in 2020
Graphcore Limited is a hardware systems company that specializes in developing intelligent processing units (IPUs) tailored for artificial intelligence and machine learning applications. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom, the company offers products such as IPU-Accelerator cards, which enhance server performance for machine learning tasks, and IPU-Appliance systems that improve inference capabilities for various users. Graphcore's innovative IPU architecture allows developers to run existing machine learning models significantly faster, facilitating the deployment of advanced AI solutions across diverse servers and software environments. In addition to its Bristol headquarters, Graphcore has locations in Palo Alto, London, Oslo, and Beijing, expanding its global presence in the AI technology sector.
iniVation
Seed Round in 2019
iniVation specializes in developing neuromorphic vision systems that mimic the functioning of the human retina. These systems provide significant advantages over traditional camera technologies, including ultra-low response latency, efficient data rates, high dynamic range, and reduced power consumption. The company's innovative technology enhances performance in various applications, enabling clients to achieve superior results in image processing. iniVation's solutions are utilized by over 500 customers across a diverse range of markets, demonstrating their effectiveness and versatility in addressing complex visual challenges.
Blaize
Series C in 2018
Blaize, Inc., founded in 2010 and headquartered in El Dorado Hills, California, specializes in edge AI processing solutions through its proprietary hardware architecture and low-code/no-code software platform. The company targets various industries, including automotive, retail, security, industrial automation, and healthcare, providing efficient solutions that address the challenges of edge AI processing, such as low latency and high thermal and power efficiency. Blaize's innovative approach overcomes limitations of traditional AI solutions, which are often optimized for data centers rather than edge environments. With a workforce of over 200 employees, the company has established teams in California, North Carolina, and international subsidiaries in India and the UK. Blaize has successfully raised over $200 million from a mix of strategic and financial investors, reinforcing its position as a leader in the AI-enabled edge computing market.
Mantis Vision
Series D in 2018
MantisVision develops technologies and products that will bring 3D to every mobile device, home and business. Its software and hardware component solutions, based on its core MV4D “motion capable” 3D range-imaging technology, are designed to enable user-generated content creation (UG3D) throughout the 3D ecosystem. All MV4D solutions begin with its proprietary Structured Light Pattern. The patented “motion-capable” 3D range-imaging technology was developed to allow accurate capture of 3D data in dynamic scenes. This pattern, which is projected upon physical objects and environments, is captured by a synced camera, and processed by its structured light algorithms to produce an accurate, detailed depth map of the captured scene.
AImotive
Series C in 2018
AImotive is focused on developing automated driving technology aimed at providing safe and comfortable rides in various environments. The company creates self-driving software and proprietary simulation tools, alongside neural network acceleration hardware, to support the deployment of automated driving systems. AImotive's products are designed to be scalable, modular, and hardware agnostic, fostering collaboration within the industry. The team's expertise in artificial intelligence, sensor fusion, and 3D graphics enhances their ability to assist partners in achieving their self-driving objectives.
Graphcore
Series C in 2017
Graphcore Limited is a hardware systems company that specializes in developing intelligent processing units (IPUs) tailored for artificial intelligence and machine learning applications. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom, the company offers products such as IPU-Accelerator cards, which enhance server performance for machine learning tasks, and IPU-Appliance systems that improve inference capabilities for various users. Graphcore's innovative IPU architecture allows developers to run existing machine learning models significantly faster, facilitating the deployment of advanced AI solutions across diverse servers and software environments. In addition to its Bristol headquarters, Graphcore has locations in Palo Alto, London, Oslo, and Beijing, expanding its global presence in the AI technology sector.
Keyssa
Series C in 2017
Keyssa specializes in developing and manufacturing contactless solid-state devices and connectors, offering innovative solutions for various applications, including mobile phones, displays, automotive systems, robotic surgery, factory automation, and data centers. The company has created Kiss Connectivity, a compact solid-state system that enables simple, secure, and instantaneous data transfer between devices in close proximity. This technology eliminates the need for metal connectors, cables, and reliance on wireless networks, addressing the challenges faced by traditional connection methods. Keyssa's unique connectors utilize extremely high frequency (EHF) signals for secure information transmission, leveraging advancements in mechanical design, electromagnetics, materials science, and semiconductor technologies. As a result, product designers can create new classes of devices without the constraints of conventional wired or wireless connectivity.
Autotalks
Series D in 2017
Autotalks, Ltd. is a fabless semiconductor company specializing in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication technologies for both manned and autonomous vehicles. Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Kfar Netter, Israel, the company develops automotive-grade chipsets, including the CRATON vehicular communication processor and the PLUTON V2X RF transceiver. Autotalks also offers the PANGAEA4 V2X communication module, which enhances vehicle safety and mobility through secure data exchange. The company works closely with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers globally, enabling vehicles to communicate with one another and with roadside infrastructure. Autotalks is notable for providing a comprehensive V2X solution compatible with various technologies while meeting rigorous automotive safety and security standards. With a presence in multiple countries, including North America, Germany, France, Japan, Korea, and China, Autotalks is poised to play a significant role in advancing connectivity and autonomous driving initiatives worldwide.
Leman Micro Devices
Venture Round in 2014
Leman Micro Devices SA, founded in 2013 and based in Lausanne, Switzerland, specializes in innovative health monitoring technology for smartphones. The company has developed the V-Sensor, a pioneering miniature device that accurately measures five vital signs: blood pressure, blood oxygen (SpO2), respiration rate, pulse rate, and body temperature. This device operates without cuffs or the need for calibration, delivering results on-screen in under one minute through LMD’s e-Checkup app. Launched at CES 2021, the V-Sensor is designed to provide users with a convenient way to monitor their health using smartphones and wearable technology.
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