2025 U.S. Taiwan Startup Day: Applied Intelligence

2025 US-Taiwan Startup Day – Applied Intelligence

 🌟 A stepwise journey through the AI startup lifecycle

In today’s AI-saturated world, building real value requires more than hype and models—it demands intention, iteration, and insight.

Applied Intelligence takes you through the full arc of a startup’s evolution:

1. Making the First Move – Explore early-stage tradeoffs like open-source transparency vs. defensibility

2. Building What Matters – Learn how real founders shape products that stick

3. Becoming a Startup – Get honest takes on the messy journey from prototype to business

4. Designing for Humans – See how teams create intuitive, human-centered AI interactions

5. Thinking Long-Term – Hear from top investors on what lasting impact really looks like

Event Details

Date & Time:

• Check-in & Registration: 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM

• Program: 1:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Location:
Startup Island Silicon Valley Hub
299 California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306, USA

RSVP is required – walk-ins cannot be accommodated.

Agenda Highlights

🌟 12:30 – 13:00 Check-in & Registration

🔑 1:05 – 1:30 : Keynote – The Fork in the Road

The journey begins at a pivotal crossroads, should a startup go open source or focus on defensible benefits? Founders and VCs debate how each path aligns with long-term value and venture expectations.
Speakers:

• Alex Yeh, CEO, GMI Cloud 

• Denis Teng, Investor, Gradient Ventures

🤖 1:30 – 2:15 PM: AI Product – From Vision to Version 1.0
Once funded, startups face the reality of shaping their product vision into marketable value, while building credibility from scratch.
Speakers:

• Kevin Hsieh, Founder & CEO, MirWork 

• Jonas Mueller, Chief Scientist & Co-Founder, Cleanlab 
  Moderator: TBD

🚀 2:15 – 3:00 PM: Startup Journey – Beyond the First Win
With traction comes complexity, startups confront internal growing pains, evolving team dynamics, and strategic recalibration.
Speakers:

• Liang-Bin (HLB), Co-Founder, MeetAndy 

• Penny Chen, Co-Founder & CEO, Pax AI 

• Alvis Huang, Founder & CEO, EMTAR 
  Moderator: Yi-Chieh Liu, Applied Scientist, Amazon AGI

☕ 3:00 – 3:30 PM: Break

🧠 3:30 – 4:15 PM: Human-AI Interaction – Designing with the User
After user adoption, iteration begins: how startups adapt products based on feedback and design human-centric AI experiences.
Speakers:

• Albert Wang, Senior Product Design Director, Observe.AI 

• Wei Cheng, Co-Founder &, Cheehoo 
  Moderator: Mu-Ti Huang, Staff Product Designer, Primer.ai

💼 4:15 – 5:00 PM: Investor Insights – The Long Game
The story culminates with VCs offering perspective on what sustains a startup beyond the hype, resilience, timing, and founder clarity.
Speakers:

• Denis Teng, Investor, Gradient Ventures

• Tiffine Wang, CEO, Onsen Global
  Moderator: Austin Hwang, Investment Partner, Corporate Venture Capital

🔗 5:00 – 5:30 PM: Closing & Networking
Conclude the day with an opportunity to mingle with peers, industry leaders, and potential investors. 
Refreshments including pastries and beverages will be served.

Hosted by NATEA Silicon Valley, agenda is subject to change