Samsung Electronics has invested in a cloud-based mobile enterprise company called Cloudant. Cloudant is a database-as-a-serve company that was even backed by the U.S. CIA agency as a customer and investor. Other investors in Cloudant includes Y Combinator and Avalon Ventures. Cloudant was a Y Combinator class in 2008.
Samsung is spending $1.1 billion on a new Samsung Strategy and Innovation Center (SSIC). The SSIC will be a “global engine to accelerate innovation and to drive new business creation.” The company will have three offices worldwide and will give the opportunity for the company to interface with entrepreneurs outside of the company. Samsung will also provide mentorship for new businesses.
Bitcasa is a cloud storage company that lets you store all of your data including entire external drives while maintaining security through encryption. You can access Bitcasa through any device from the cloud. The service is now officially in open beta. Bitcasa has recently raised $7 million in a round of funding led by existing investor Pelion Venture Partners. New investor Horizons Ventures joined in this round and it also included Andreessen Horowitz, First Round Capital, CrunchFund, and Samsung Ventures. Bitcasa plans to use the funding to shorten their time-to-market for upcoming products and to expand their sales/marketing team.
Samsung Ventures is investing $15 million into MasterImage 3D, a company that makes stereoscopic 3D display technology for mobile devices. It is likely that Samsung will use MasterImage’s 3D technology for their own smartphones and mobile devices eventually.
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