Got the 'Next' Big VR Idea? Samsung Might Be Able to Help

Samsung Side by side, the electronics giant's innovation arm, rebranded in Jan in an endeavour to jumpstart the worlds of mixed, virtual, and augmented reality.

Next provides cash and partnership opportunities, as well equally much-needed guidance through rigorous product evolution. It has a $150 million fund and 60+ companies in its portfolio, including Maureen Fan's Baobab Studios, and VRB, which PCMag visited in NYC terminal year and Samsung simply fully acquired. PCMag spoke to Samsung Side by side Ventures Director Ajay Singh, on the line from Silicon Valley, to observe out more.

Firstly, tell us what Samsung Next'south remit is.
I'm specifically part of the investment group—Samsung Next Ventures. We interface with entrepreneurs where they are, around the world—from pocket-sized, two-person teams, upward to companies that needs a deep partnership at the larger Samsung parent level. It's not just nigh funding, we're active: we'll be a business concern development partner, span the gaps and provide industry connections. We are actually looking for ventures that will be important for Samsung not just today, but tomorrow.

In your opinion, is existence part of Samsung Next'southward portfolio a style to get early stage brownie for hiring and useful developed supervision oversight?
You're absolutely right. Sometimes, when I'm interacting with very early-stage founders, who possibly have a very technical background, they may come at information technology with a "hammer" and I need to consider "Practise they accept the ability to take information technology all the style?"

Yous mean not implode/explode?
(Laughs) Right.

So how practice you choice a winner? What are the questions you ask yourself before investing?
There are quite a few. Practise they have the stamina to run into this idea/company through? Volition they pay consistent attention to what matters? Will they be able to hire people at the right time? Tin they create a corking culture? Simply put: Tin they go the distance and accomplish the adjacent level?

Samsung Next

Backing up a bit, you came to the Us after studying at the Indian Plant of Technology Delhi, and joined Samsung in 2022. Is there anything from your groundwork that informs your philosophy as an investor today?
In India, it was always well-nigh survival in so many means. It'southward a country of limited resources and many, many, many people. But that'due south skillful, in that yous're almost ever thinking "Well, why should I not practise this?"

Because the odds are so stacked against y'all—why not risk information technology and reach for the moon?
Yes. Necessity is the mother of all invention. In India, one is about opportunistic all the time, maxim "How do I improve myself and my circumstances? Because, if I merely sit here, I won't get anywhere." And that's what I encounter in the actually worthwhile early stage investment prospects—a driven sense of: "Why non do this?" Plus, in India, people try to help each other—friends, family, everyone is there to help you lot elevate yourself all the time. And so, as an investor, I know that creating a culture of liberty, and back up, is paramount.

I'm certain it's still a competitive environment, but less of the cut-pharynx madness, considering you've got early on stage investments within your ecosystem, sometimes physically, as in the coworking spaces?
Information technology'south still very competitive, just most of the fourth dimension yous're competing confronting yourself—trying to achieve your vision and get farther than you went the solar day before. That'southward only startup civilisation. That culture is very much a function of Samsung Side by side's Dna. That's the way information technology is within our team every bit well.

You must see and then many cool ideas, and people, in your line of piece of work.
Good inventors are unlike: they have a spark in them, something else moves them, powers them, they take this hunger to learn knowledge and education. I see this especially with those creating early stage companies in AI and AR/VR—the fusion of these areas is very interesting. That'due south where you run into swell inventions happen.

Which brings us to LA.
I dear LA.

Which isn't always the response we become from someone based upward n.
(Laughs) I was there for the outset time in 2022, I stayed in Santa Monica for the summer—it was gorgeous. I really liked the laid back, very creative, vibe, [which is] really quite dissimilar from anywhere else I'd lived earlier in the Usa.

You've now got a few key LA-based VR/MR/AR companies in your portfolio, including 8i and Wevr, both of which PCMag accept visited. Apart from the fact that 8i is on a fabled Hollywood studio lot and Wevr works with Jon Favreau, can you tell us why LA is a focus for you right at present?
LA is middle-stage correct now. VR/AR/MR are bringing the city to the forefront when information technology comes to content and applied science in those core areas. It's like to Hollywood during the 1920s when its motion picture industry emerged. Creators in LA empathise what information technology means to create heightened emotive experiences through immersion. Movies drive emotion, as do games—both [are] immersion industries. Today information technology's around movies and games. Adjacent it'll be all about emergent VR/AR/MR.

Finally, what's side by side for you in terms of LA investments?
Well, I'll be in town for [the] SIGGRAPH [Briefing on Calculator Graphics and Interactive Techniques], so looking out for new and exciting immersion mode VR/AR/MR early phase companies.