Samsung Next Invests in Startale Labs, Partner in Sony’s Soneium Blockchain Development

Samsung Next, the venture capital arm of South Korean tech giant Samsung, announced a strategic investment in Startale Labs, a growing Web3 firm known for its innovative contributions to decentralized technologies. 

This investment aligns Samsung Next with the ongoing development of Sony's Layer 2 blockchain, Soneium, through the Soneium Spark program. 

These two tech giants' collaboration marks an important step forward for decentralized Web3 technology.

Startale Labs: Pioneering the Future of Web3

Founded in 2023 by Sota Watanabe, Startale Labs established itself as a key player in the Web3 space. Initially an independent entity, Startale Labs soon formed a joint venture with Sony Network Communications.

The company is closely aligned with Astar Network, supporting its development and expansion within the decentralized landscape.

Startale Labs' offerings include Astar Network, Soneium, and Startale Cloud Services, all designed to simplify the creation and deployment of decentralized applications (dApps) and smart contracts. These tools are important in overcoming the challenges of high entry costs, interoperability issues, and technical complexities, which have traditionally hindered the widespread adoption of Web3 technologies.

Startale Labs has already attracted investment from major corporations, including a $3.5 million extension round in February 2024, led by Samsung Next and UOB Venture Management. This funding added to the company's existing seed round, bringing the total to $7 million, following a previous $3.5 million investment from Sony in September 2023.

Samsung's Vision for a Decentralized Future

In its official press release, Samsung Next highlighted the limitations of traditional centralized systems, such as security vulnerabilities and transparency issues. The company sees potential in decentralized technologies to create an open, secure, and equitable digital infrastructure.

However, Samsung also acknowledged the challenges that come with these advanced technologies, particularly in making them accessible for widespread adoption. Startale Labs reportedly plays an essential role in supporting the growth and development of Web3, as they provide the necessary tools and infrastructure.

The Significance of Soneium 

One of the key components of Startale Labs' collaboration with Sony is the development of Soneium, an Ethereum Layer-2 blockchain designed to make Web3 more accessible to users. 

Soneium leverages optimistic rollups built using the Optimism OP stack and integrates Startale’s Astar zkEVM infrastructure. This combination of technologies is expected to provide various meaningful use cases for the decentralized future.