【Meet Taipei 2024】 Seizing AI Opportunities to Shine Globally: TAIWAN +1! The Grand Opening of the 2024 Meet Taipei Startup Festival

The 2024 Meet Taipei Startup Festival, Asia's largest startup event, officially kicked off today (21st) with great fanfare. Distinguished guests, including Executive Yuan Secretary-General Ming-Shin Kung, Taipei Mayor Wayne Chiang, AIT Deputy Director Jeremy Cornforth, Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Deputy Representative Takashi Hattori, and Business Next Honorary Publisher Fei-Peng Ho, joined over 460 startups from 18 countries in celebrating this major event. Spanning three days, the exhibition underscores Taiwan’s critical role as a hub for global innovation.

This year’s theme, “TAIWAN +1”, highlights Taiwan’s ability to lead in AI applications, deep technology, and global expansion. The "+1" concept represents the infusion of resources and collaborative efforts to strengthen the startup ecosystem while fostering cross-border partnerships. With Taiwan's strong semiconductor industry and abundant tech talent, the event has attracted a record-breaking number of international teams, accounting for more than a quarter of exhibitors. Government agencies, including the National Development Council, the SME Administration, the Ministry of Digital Affairs, and the Taiwan Stock Exchange, alongside 31 enterprises and 9 accelerators, have also joined this grand gathering, illustrating Meet Taipei’s role as Asia’s leading platform for startup collaboration.

Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an also attended the exhibition and experienced the process of creating an AI digital twin. 
Image Credits: Photographed by Vincent Tseng

Taiwan’s Global Momentum in the AI Era: Keynote Highlights

Executive Yuan Secretary-General Ming-Shin Kung emphasized Taiwan’s strengths in ICT supply chains and talent, stating, "Over 100 international teams are participating this year, which is a truly remarkable milestone." He pointed out that Meet Taipei serves as an ideal platform for showcasing innovative ideas and cutting-edge technologies. The "+1" concept underscores that Taiwanese startups are well-prepared to integrate with global industries, with this year’s record international participation reaffirming Taiwan’s increasing significance on the world stage.

Executive Yuan Secretary-General Kung Ming-hsin stated that this year's exhibition is grand in scale and expressed hope for more international 
collaborations in the future. / Image Credits: Photographed by Vincent Tseng

Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Deputy Representative Takashi Hattori noted Taiwan’s rising importance, stating, "With the development of AI and the growing demand for semiconductors, Taiwan’s significance is increasing rapidly. Startups play a crucial role in providing solutions. The number of Japanese startups participating this year is three times that of previous years, reflecting our close ties and collaborative efforts."

Hattori Takashi, Deputy Representative of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office, stated that Japan is actively developing its 
startup ecosystem and looks forward to more exchanges with Taiwan. / Image Credits: Photographed by Vincent Tseng

AIT Deputy Director Jeremy Cornforth highlighted the enduring Taiwan-U.S. startup collaboration. He stated, "Taiwan and the United States have a long history of startup exchange. Taiwanese startups consistently impress, such as the nine startups that achieved excellent results at last year’s SelectUSA competition. We look forward to more collaboration in areas like sustainability and cybersecurity."

Jeremy Cornforth, Deputy Director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), mentioned that Taiwan's innovative energy is truly impressive. 
Image Credits: Photographed by Vincent Tseng

Business Next Honorary Publisher Fei-Peng Ho underscored the event's significance with three keywords: internationalization, local participation, and AI. He remarked, "This exhibition highlights teams from countries you can and cannot imagine, while our Taiwanese teams are also expanding overseas. Cities such as Kaohsiung and Hualien are participating, showcasing years of efforts to foster regional startup ecosystems. AI is a must-have technology; it shapes how the world progresses."

Ho Fei-Peng, Honorary Publisher of Business Next, stated that AI is the key theme of the year. / Image Credits: Photographed by Vincent Tseng

To highlight AI’s transformative potential, Meet Taipei’s opening ceremony announced several key alliances. Business Next, CCIA (a venture capital fund), and Taiwania Cloud (an AI supercomputing provider) partnered to empower startups by accelerating their AI adoption and applications. On the global front, Business Next established collaborations with the Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC), a global startup hub with offices in Tokyo, as well as the Cross-Strait Innovation Fund (CCBI), which supports startups entering the Japanese market. Additionally, the festival partnered with Thailand’s Techsauce to create a vibrant ecosystem for resource sharing and multi-market connectivity.

Business Next has established partnerships with CCIA, a venture capital fund, Taiwania Cloud, a provider of AI supercomputing power, the 
internationally renowned startup hub CIC, which originated in the United States and has an office in Tokyo, the Cross-Strait Innovation Fund
 (CCBI), which supports startups entering the Japanese market, and Techsauce from Thailand. / Image Credits: Photographed by Vincent Tseng

Showcasing Innovation: The “Meet Neo Star Demo Show”

One of the event’s highlights is the “Meet Neo Star Demo Show,” which features 30 leading startups selected from 250 interviewed over the past two years. These startups present innovative solutions across fields such as AI, sustainability (ESG), health technology, IoT, and 5G communications. On opening day, the semifinal round narrows the pool to 10 finalists who will compete in Friday’s grand finale. Winners will receive awards, including NT$1.2 million in promotional resources, special corporate prizes, and enhanced opportunities for global exposure.

The first day of the festival also included the "Innovation & Entrepreneurship Trend Forum," which featured a diverse lineup of speakers offering global and regional perspectives on innovation. Among the speakers were James Kalani Lee, General Manager of Google Startups & AI, Jun-Cheng Liu, Co-founder of Xelerate Venture, John Sechrest, Founder of Seattle Angel Conference, and Timothy Rowe, Founder and CEO of CIC. These industry leaders explored topics such as AI soft power, technological competitiveness, investment strategies, and cross-border collaboration. They provided entrepreneurs with valuable insights on navigating opportunities and challenges in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Taiwan's most iconic annual startup showcase, the "Meet Neo Star Demo Show," held its semifinals on the opening day and will host the final 
competition on November 22. / Image Credits: Photographed by Vincent Tseng

Diverse International Programs Enrich the Exhibition

The event’s robust lineup of international programs added depth to the festival’s global outlook. The Taiwan-Japan Exchange Forum explored opportunities in Japan’s dynamic market, while the Sustainable Impact Investment Forum, a collaboration with the Seattle Angel Conference, focused on investment opportunities in sustainability. Another highlight was the Unlocking Southeast Asia’s Digital Economy and AI Opportunities forum, which delved into emerging markets in Southeast Asia. Additionally, the Dragons' Chamber Taiwan: 9th Annual Pitch Event provided a platform for international startups to gain visibility and support in Taiwan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

This year, the event's exhibition area spans the entire Expo Dome and Expo Plaza, featuring the Startup BigTop Pavilion. Both the number and 
quality of participating startups have surpassed previous years, with international teams making up 25% of the total. / Image Credits: 
Photographed by Vincent Tseng

The exhibition will conclude on November 23 with the "Sustainable Innovation Lecture: Green Futures Through Technology." This session will address the high energy consumption challenges posed by AI advancements and discuss how Taiwan, as a critical global AI supply chain hub, can leverage innovative technologies to promote sustainability. The closing day will also feature the "WEB3+ Special Event," where Wei-Chi Chu, Secretary-General of the Bitcoin and Virtual Currency Development Association, and John Cho, CMO of KaiaDLT Foundation, will offer insights into Web3's transformative potential for the global economy.

Held at the Taipei Expo Dome and Plaza, this year’s exhibition features 11 themed zones, including AI, health technology, green sustainability, and blockchain/Web3. The event has reached new milestones, with the largest number of international participants to date, highlighting Taiwan’s importance in the AI era. First-time participants, including Keelung City and Hsinchu County, reflect the event's expanding reach. Longtime participants, such as the Taiwan Stock Exchange and TPEx, continue to provide guidance and resources for startups aiming to enter public markets.

As Meet Taipei celebrates its second decade, it continues to grow in scale, diversity, and global influence, exploring Taiwan's role and opportunities in the AI-driven global economy.