In January 2026, three prominent Seoul-based startups—Studio Lab, NationA, and Uniuni—captured global attention at CES in Las Vegas by winning multiple Innovation Awards. These companies led a massive Korean delegation that secured 206 total awards, with Seoul-based entities specifically claiming 27 honors including three prestigious Best of Innovation titles. Consequently, this performance highlights the successful synergy between private technical prowess and the strategic support frameworks provided by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. This milestone signals a transformative shift in the global AI and robotics landscape for the coming year.
Studio Lab operates as an AI-driven style-tech company that originated from Samsung Electronics’ C-Lab venture program in 2021. The company currently maintains its headquarters in Gangnam, Seoul, focusing on autonomous photography systems. Notably, the firm received the CES 2026 Best of Innovation Award in the XR and Spatial Computing category for its Zency Studio platform. This recognition marks the third consecutive year the startup has been honored at this global stage.
The startup secured 3.3 billion KRW in Pre-Series A funding during February 2025 from a group led by SBI Investment. Furthermore, this investment round included participation from Naver D2SF, D-Camp, and the Seoul Business Agency. When combined with 1.7 billion KRW from the government-backed TIPS program, the company’s total financial resources exceed 5 billion KRW. These funds specifically support the expansion of their GENCY PB and GENCY Studio systems into the Amazon-led global market.
Studio Lab continues to develop sustainable fashion solutions like Seller Canvas for automated image design and Deep Scan for fabric analysis. In addition, the firm recently opened a specialized showroom for GENCY Studio to accelerate its expansion into the retail and entertainment sectors. Their technology effectively integrates AI, robotics, and extended reality to modernize traditional brand marketing workflows. As a result, they remain a top candidate for future corporate mergers and acquisitions.
NationA stands as a generative AI specialist founded in 2022 that focuses on democratizing the creation of 3D and 4D digital content. The company offers two core software-as-a-service platforms known as Neuroid and Hey.D to global business clients. Remarkably, the startup secured three honors at CES 2026, including the Best of Innovation Award within the Content and Entertainment category. Their technology allows users to generate complex 3D animations from simple text, voice, or video inputs.
The company concluded a 2B KRW Pre-Series A funding round in December 2023 with a diverse group of institutional investors. Specifically, this round included Mirae Holdings, Hana Securities, Magna Investment, and Infobank. NationA targets the B2B market by solving significant cost and labor hurdles traditionally associated with high-end character modeling. Consequently, their Neuroid platform has gained rapid traction among virtual human creators and XR developers.
The startup grew through the Seoul R&D lifecycle support program, which helped refine its deep-tech capabilities before its global debut. Meanwhile, the company maintains a strategic silence regarding its latest undisclosed funding rounds to maintain a competitive edge. Their focus remains on dominating the AI media market by providing a one-stop shop for digital asset generation. This approach positions them as a key player in the evolving metaverse and spatial computing industries.
Uniuni specializes in privacy-focused artificial intelligence by developing spatial awareness solutions that do not rely on traditional cameras. Their flagship product, Savvy, utilizes deep learning to detect falls, medical emergencies, or suspicious behaviors without capturing identifiable images. For this reason, the company earned a CES 2026 Innovation Award, marking its second consecutive win at the event. The system is particularly effective in sensitive areas like hospitals, public restrooms, and senior care facilities.
The startup has been building its financial foundation through multiple seed and Pre-Series A rounds since 2022. According to recent disclosures, the company reached a cumulative investment total exceeding 700 million KRW by October 2025. Specifically, these investments came from a mix of foundations, accelerators, and banking institutions over the past three years. While the exact figures of the latest round remain private, the upward trajectory of their valuation is evident.
Uniuni is currently expanding its global footprint by exporting its technology to Israel and Switzerland. Additionally, the firm is conducting proof-of-concept projects across Japan and Southeast Asia to enter new smart city markets. By focusing on ESG-driven public safety, the company addresses the growing global demand for ethical AI applications. Consequently, their non-vision approach offers a unique solution to the conflict between security needs and individual privacy rights.
The collective success of these three companies reflects a broader trend in the 2026 venture capital market in South Korea. The government recently expanded the national fund-of-funds to 2 trillion KRW to stimulate high-tech sectors like physical AI and robotics. Specifically, the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s initiatives, such as Campus Town and the AI Hub, played a critical role in nurturing these award winners. Business meetings at the Seoul Pavilion during CES 2026 tripled compared to the previous year.
Investment interest in these deep-tech startups remains high as they demonstrate clear paths to commercialization and global scale. Moreover, the Samsung C-Lab heritage of firms like Studio Lab often attracts significant interest from major electronics conglomerates. The 2026 deal landscape suggests a high probability of strategic partnerships and M&A activity within the robotics and AI sectors. Investors are looking beyond mere software to companies that bridge the gap between digital intelligence and physical application.
The achievements of Studio Lab, NationA, and Uniuni at CES 2026 underscore Seoul’s emergence as a premier global hub for deep-tech innovation. These startups moved beyond conceptual prototypes to deliver market-ready solutions in robotics, generative 3D media, and privacy-focused safety. Their ability to secure major funding rounds and international awards simultaneously proves the maturity of the Korean startup ecosystem. As these companies scale globally, they set a new standard for how AI can solve complex physical and ethical challenges.
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