Samsung Next TLV

Growth-Negative

Samsung Next, the corporate venture arm of Samsung, is closing its office in Israel. The US investor team will take over the relationships with partners and portfolio companies previously managed out of Israel. The decision comes amid the ongoing war in Gaza and calls for an embargo on Israel over human rights concerns, which have led to a decline in confidence in the Israeli economy. Despite the closure, Israel remains an attractive market for Samsung Next, which has invested in over 70 early-stage startups in the country.

growth-negative

Samsung Next, the investment arm of tech giant Samsung, is closing its operations in Israel. The fund, which invests in start-ups, will change its working model and move all of its Israeli operations overseas. The CEO, Eyal Miller, stated that Samsung Next has made necessary organizational changes in the Tel Aviv office to streamline its operations. Despite the closure, Israel remains an attractive market for Samsung Next and existing relationships with partners and portfolio companies will remain unchanged.

growth-positive

The article discusses the potential of synthetic media, or deepfakes, in business applications. It highlights the use of synthetic media in creating cost-effective content and services, overcoming traditional resource-heavy requirements. Companies like Tel Aviv-based Hour One AI Ltd. are already using synthetic media to create characters for commercials and ads. Synthetic media can also improve customer service experiences, with Paris-based startup Alta Voce shaping speech and voice in real-time for virtual support agents. The article also discusses the potential of synthetic media in ensuring privacy while collecting valuable customer data, with Tel Aviv-based D-ID creating technology that anonymizes video content.

growth-positive

Telecom service providers are investing in 5G infrastructure and transforming their systems architecture to offer Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) to business customers and content providers. They are looking to replace specialized equipment at base stations with cheaper, off-the-shelf servers through network function virtualization (NFV). This transformation will reduce costs and enable new services. Telcos will need the support of experienced cloud service vendors to successfully implement these changes. They are seeking partners who have expertise in automating, orchestrating, and securing NFV-based base stations. By partnering with cloud computing providers, telcos can offer similar support and services as existing cloud providers, attracting customers to their edge computing offerings.

growth-positive

The article discusses the role of David Eun, the chief innovation officer of Samsung Electronics and president of Samsung NEXT, in driving innovation and future growth opportunities for the company. Eun emphasizes the importance of embracing change and seeking innovative solutions. Samsung NEXT has made 15 investments in Israeli start-ups, prioritizing the country for its cutting-edge technology. The article also highlights the integration of hardware and software in Samsungs products and the shift towards subscription-based business models. Eun identifies changes in consumer behavior, focusing on the desire for experiences over material possessions. He sees parallels between South Korea and Israel in terms of their success through education and hard work.