The initiative provides grant funding with no equity requirement for selected participants.
Samsung Electronics has opened applications for the 2026 edition of Samsung Mobile Advance (SMA), its flagship global startup incubation programme, as the company deepens its push into India’s growing innovation ecosystem.
The initiative is being jointly led by Samsung R&D Institute Bangalore and Samsung R&D Institute Noida, both of which are inviting Indian startups to collaborate on technologies that could shape the future of mobile experiences.
A major attraction of the programme is its funding structure. Selected startups can receive grant support of up to $50,000 to develop a proof of concept, while Samsung takes no equity, ownership stake, or intellectual property rights in return.
The approach reflects Samsung’s broader open innovation strategy, where the company aims to work with external founders and emerging technologies rather than relying entirely on in-house development.
Focus Areas Include AI, XR, Health, and Wearables
For the 2026 edition, Samsung has kept participation categories intentionally broad.
The company is seeking startups working across artificial intelligence, extended reality, mobile security, digital health, camera technologies, audio systems, wearables, and other innovations connected to Samsung’s mobile ecosystem.
Rather than limiting the programme to a single technology trend, Samsung appears focused on identifying startups whose products or infrastructure could eventually integrate into its global consumer ecosystem.
That creates a potentially massive scale opportunity for participating founders.
If successful, innovations developed through SMA could eventually become part of Samsung’s devices and services used by millions of consumers worldwide.
Samsung Positions SMA as a Long-Term Innovation Partnership
Mohan Rao Goli, Managing Director and Corporate Vice President at Samsung R&D Institute Bangalore, described the programme as part of Samsung’s long-term open innovation vision.
According to him, the goal is to combine startup agility with Samsung’s global research and development capabilities to create scalable mobile technologies.
Kyungyun Roo, Managing Director at Samsung R&D Institute Noida, said the company is particularly interested in startups that demonstrate both technological capability and strong alignment with Samsung’s product ecosystem and engineering culture.
The language from both executives suggests Samsung is viewing SMA not simply as a short-term startup competition, but as a pipeline for future strategic partnerships.
How the Programme Will Work
The incubation process will unfold over several stages across the year.
Indian startups have until June 30 to submit a detailed six-month proof-of-concept proposal outlining the innovation, feasibility, and potential impact of their solution.
Applications will then move through a structured evaluation process led by Samsung experts in July.
Shortlisted founders will advance to a Pitch Day scheduled for September, where startups will present directly to Samsung leadership teams and technical evaluators.
Final selections will follow, with the incubation phase officially beginning in October.
The programme will conclude with a PoC Demo Day, where participating startups showcase their completed work and potentially explore commercial partnerships, strategic investment opportunities, or broader integration within Samsung’s ecosystem.
Beyond Funding, Samsung Offers Scale and Access
While the no-equity grant structure is likely to attract attention, the broader value proposition may be even more significant for founders.
Selected startups receive access to Samsung’s engineering expertise, mentorship from global product teams, and exposure to the company’s hardware and software ecosystem.
That kind of infrastructure access is difficult for early-stage startups to secure independently.
Samsung also highlighted the possibility of future commercialisation opportunities and long-term collaboration pathways for successful participants.
Previous editions of the programme reportedly included startups working in areas such as voice intelligence, 4D modelling, and cybersecurity technologies.
India’s Startup Ecosystem Continues Attracting Global Tech Giants
Samsung’s expansion of SMA in India reflects a broader shift happening across the global technology industry.
Large multinational firms increasingly see India not only as a consumer market but also as a major source of engineering talent, AI development, and startup innovation.
As competition intensifies around AI, mobile ecosystems, and connected devices, partnerships with agile startups are becoming strategically important for large tech companies seeking faster innovation cycles.
For Indian founders, programmes like SMA also represent a growing alternative to traditional venture capital routes, particularly because the grant comes without dilution or ownership transfer.
That structure allows startups to experiment, validate technology, and potentially scale without immediately sacrificing equity in the early stages of growth.
Source: ISN
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