New Delhi: Samsung is offering funding to Indian startups without taking equity. The company has opened applications for the 2026 edition of its Samsung Mobile Advance (SMA) programme, targeting startups building AI and next-gen mobile technologies.
The programme will provide selected startups with grants of up to $50,000 to build proof-of-concept (PoC) solutions. Unlike most corporate accelerators in India, Samsung will not take any ownership stake, making it one of the few no-equity funding opportunities currently open to startups.
The focus is on startups working in artificial intelligence (AI), extended reality (XR), cybersecurity, health tech, imaging, audio, and wearable devices. The goal is to develop solutions that can integrate into Samsung’s mobile ecosystem used globally.
Applications are open till June 30, followed by a multi-stage selection process including evaluations and pitch rounds. The incubation is scheduled to begin in October.
At a time when funding has slowed for early-stage startups, grant-based programmes are gaining attention. Samsung has been running SMA in India since 2023, using it to identify technologies that can be scaled across its devices.
Selected startups will get access to Samsung’s R&D ecosystem in Bengaluru and Noida, along with mentorship and potential commercial partnerships. The programme will conclude with a demo event where startups present solutions for possible integration.
The latest edition reflects a broader shift where global tech companies are increasingly sourcing innovation from startups instead of building everything in-house.
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