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TTA is Taiwan's flagship startup ecosystem building program launched by National Science and Technology Council in 2018.
Taiwan has been keen to promote its startups and innovations. Every year, the Taiwan Tech Arena will showcase its largest-ever delegation.

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IN THE NEWS
Wednesday 31 December 2025
Renouvo launches AI-driven low-carbon materials platform
Driven by the worldwide push for net-zero emissions and the rise of the circular economy, sustainability has become a central priority across the technology sector. The introduction of a dedicated sustainability zone at recent CES events further underscores how green materials and environmental innovation technologies have emerged as focal points at global tech exhibitions. Renouvo, a company with more than two decades of experience in biomaterials, is among the key players gaining increased attention in this industry shift.At CES 2026, Renouvo will unveil its new Low-Carbon Materials Platform, which integrates its proprietary negative-carbon technology with AI. The platform is designed to help global brands make measurable progress toward carbon-neutrality commitments, while expanding Renouvo's reach into the US consumer electronics supply chain.Founder and CEO Chris Huang noted that the company is honored to have been selected by TTA to participate in CES. He observed that major US consumer electronics brands are accelerating their ESG initiatives, actively seeking new materials with negative-carbon or low-carbon attributes - whether for device enclosures or protective packaging components. In recent years, several international brands have approached Renouvo for collaboration, aiming to reduce carbon emissions at the material source and achieve verifiable sustainability outcomes.Unique hydrogen-bonding patent and third-party verification strengthen material reliabilityRenouvo has long focused on plant-based materials, with a core mission of converting agricultural residues and biomass waste into market-ready low-carbon materials and plastic-free solutions. Beyond its own line of eco-friendly tableware, the company develops low-carbon and carbon-neutral materials for brand partners in the EU, Australia, and other regions, facilitating real-world adoption of circular-economy practices.According to Huang, although the number of companies offering recycled or "eco-friendly" materials has grown rapidly, truly durable, safe, and internationally deployable low-carbon materials remain scarce. Renouvo distinguishes itself by using agricultural waste - such as bagasse and spent coffee grounds - as primary feedstock, enhanced by its proprietary hydrogen-bonding technology. This innovation addresses the common limitations of plant-based materials, including softening and insufficient durability, while simultaneously delivering carbon-capture and carbon-sequestration benefits that reduce emissions at the source.To strengthen material credibility, Renouvo partners extensively with third-party verification bodies to establish comprehensive carbon footprint (CFP) reports, quantifying emissions across the entire product life cycle - from raw materials to manufacturing and final shipment. These transparent, verifiable datasets enable Renouvo's materials to be adopted in international supply chains and serve as a reliable foundation for brands evaluating ESG performance. Huang emphasized that the ability to provide clear, measurable carbon-reduction data is one of Renouvo’s most significant differentiators in the global materials marketplace.Negative-carbon materials integrated with AI strengthen adoption efficiency, with a focus on the US marketA major highlight of Renouvo's return to CES in 2026 is the debut of a new platform that integrates its carbon-negative material technology with AI. The platform analyzes key parameters - including material composition, process-level carbon emissions, durability, and cost structure - providing brands with comprehensive evaluation data prior to adoption. This significantly shortens material verification cycles and accelerates the transition from testing to mass production.Renouvo has participated in the TTA competition for two consecutive years and continues to seek CES exhibition opportunities, driven by the US market's increasingly stringent sustainability requirements for materials. Major US brands now demand verifiable evidence of carbon-neutral commitments and transparent supply-chain metrics. By leveraging visibility from CES and TTA, Renouvo aims to expand collaboration with leading US technology and consumer electronics companies, accelerate global adoption of negative-carbon materials, and position itself as a key partner in supporting multinational brands' sustainability strategies.Looking ahead, Renouvo plans to continue enhancing its AI-enabled materials platform, expand its carbon-footprint database, and strengthen customized service capabilities. The company's objective is to become a strategic partner for North America's top green-materials supply chains within the next three years. Huang emphasized that sustainability cannot remain at the level of slogans or declarations - it must be verifiable and quantifiable. Only when brands can clearly track and measure carbon-reduction outcomes will sustainable materials become mainstream, which is the core message Renouvo aims to deliver worldwide.Renouvo's diverse product portfolio. Credit: Renouvo
Monday 29 December 2025
MetAI to debut MetGen at CES 2026, targeting the US market
In recent years, digital twin technology has quickly gained traction across industries. With the rapid maturation of AI and big data analytics, enterprises can now build highly accurate, real-time synchronized virtual models, enabling predictive maintenance, process optimization, and other benefits that were once difficult to realize. MetAI, invited by Taiwan Tech Arena (TTA) to join CES 2026, will showcase its proprietary AI - and 3D-driven MetGen digital twin platform, formally signaling its intent to capture opportunities in the US smart warehousing sector.MetAI co-founder and CEO Daniel  Yu noted that the US is home to some of the world's largest warehousing market, driven by digitalization efforts from major retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, and Costco. As such, the US has become MetAI's primary target for overseas expansion. "We are honored to receive TTA's invitation to exhibit at CES 2026," Yu said, expressing appreciation for TTA's comprehensive support - from pre-show preparation and customer matchmaking to presentation guidance - which has strengthened the company's confidence in entering the US market.AI fused with 3D technology : Digital twins generated in minutesFounded in 2023, MetAI focuses on developing MetGen, the first AI-native, domain-specific generative platform designed for real-to-sim and sim-to-real integration. By leveraging its proprietary AI and 3D synthesis architecture, MetGen automatically converts traditional CAD and 2D design files into SimReady (simulation-ready) 3D digital twin environments. The platform also incorporates AI, 3D simulation, physics modeling, and automation control logic, enabling users in warehousing, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, and automation equipment to design, validate, and simulate workflows in a virtual environment before real-world deployment.MetAI further supports the creation of large-scale, high-fidelity synthetic datasets within the digital twin environment, giving AI models access to virtually unlimited training material. This capability accelerates production-line design and product development, while enabling enterprises to derive optimized strategies in simulation before applying them in real operations.By integrating NVIDIA Omniverse with MetAI's proprietary generative models, complex digital twin environments that once required months or even years to build can now be automatically generated in minutes, effectively resolving one of the industry's most persistent adoption barriers: excessively long deployment timelines. The company currently focuses on three key application areas - smart warehousing, semiconductors, and data centers - and completed a US$4 million seed round in 2025, backed by leading investors including Kenmec Mechanical and NVIDIA, making it one of the few Taiwan startups to receive a direct strategic investment from NVIDIA.According to Yu, traditional digital twin development relies heavily on manual data processing, resulting in implementation cycles that may stretch across several months or even longer than a year. Even with newer solutions emerging, model inaccuracies often lead to costly revisions. "MetAI combines AI with 3D generation to directly interpret 2D blueprints such as CAD or BIM files and automatically construct complete 3D twin environments," Yu explained.This approach reduces the typical modeling workload - from hundreds or thousands of hours - to just a few minutes, while delivering high consistency and zero structural error. It enables companies to rapidly plan production lines, build virtual sandboxes for robot training or logistics flow optimization, and significantly boost deployment efficiency.Establishing a US headquarters to capture smart warehousing and advanced manufacturing opportunitiesDespite being a relatively young company, MetAI has quickly secured partnerships with several high-profile enterprises, thanks to the uniqueness and technical depth of its solutions. In addition to working with TSMC, MetAI is collaborating with Kenmec to fully reconstruct the Chief Global Logistics's smart logistics center  into a virtual environment, creating a highly realistic digital twin featuring physics-accurate modeling, executable control logic, and AI-driven optimization capabilities.According to Yu, the rise of AI has prompted Taiwanese startups to shift their mindset - no longer focusing solely on the domestic market but aiming directly at the world's largest and most innovation-driven arenas. "The US has exceptionally strong demand for smart warehousing solutions. We are actively preparing to establish our US team and headquarters, which will include a local team, customer support, and a technical service center. This will place us closer to key customers and significantly enhance our ability to execute in the North American market," Yu said.Yu added that MetAI will continue to strengthen its real-to-sim and sim-to-real capabilities, while expanding integration with a broader ecosystem of automation hardware. The company aims to build an end-to-end twin platform that spans design, simulation, and deployment. Ultimately, MetAI seeks to enable enterprises to advance smart warehousing and smart factory transformations at minimal cost and with maximum speed.MetAI partners with Kenmec to build a high-fidelity virtual smart logistics center. Credit: MetAI
Wednesday 9 July 2025
AI apprentice available online; Profet AI facilitates manufacturing transformation and resolves industry challenges
The emergence of AI has initiated a new era of intelligent revolution in smart manufacturing. In this context, Jerry Huang, founder and CEO of Profet AI, highlighted that the global manufacturing industry lacks application engineers who understand production processes and can effectively implement AI, rather than data scientists.Huang noted that during his early career, he helped various industrial firms deploy ERP and MES systems while working for IBM, SAP, and other worldwide software giants. He concluded that implementing AI applications, even with the most advanced algorithms, would be difficult unless accompanied by professional skills and actual experience. As a result, Huang's goal was to create a system that enables engineers to quickly master AI applications without requiring a deep understanding of the methods, as well as to handle practical challenges such as recipe optimization and yield analysis. Finally, this concept evolved into a set of solutions for Profet AI.Profet AI's technology consists of three key components that work together to produce a full AI solution for the manufacturing sector. The AutoML no-code platform enables engineers with no AI expertise to gain knowledge through real experience. They can significantly lower the hurdles to AI implementation by creating high-quality predictive models for applications like industrial yield forecasting and equipment predictive maintenance.The AI Lifecycle Management (AILM) platform is a management platform that is specifically designed for enterprise AI models. It is capable of standardizing and organizing a multitude of AI models, all while establishing a cohesive knowledge base system. Huang clarified that AILM serves as a virtual consultant, helping companies organize and repurpose developed AI assets to prevent redundant development. Additionally, it ensures seamless integration with generative AI technologies and large language models.Domain Twin is a platform that Profet AI will promote this year and can be viewed as an essential tool for digital professional development. Huang compared Domain Twin to an AI apprentice capable of integrating senior engineers' experiential knowledge and decision-making logic, allowing novices or other facilities around the world to replicate the same expertise. This tackles the industry's difficulties of labor dispatch and rapid expertise transfer, while also protecting vital technologies during the company's global growth.The Ready to Go Apps platform, which Profet AI has developed, integrates the practical expertise of over 300 enterprises and a multitude of application cases to help organizations overcome the challenge of "desiring to implement AI but lacking a starting point." Users can identify the ideal AI application solution in three straightforward steps within five minutes, effectively assess relevant issues in the domain, and markedly speed up the integration process via the AutoML platform, enabling non-technical individuals to proficiently utilize AI technology to address real-world challenges.Profet AI expands into new manufacturing areas, and TTA supports its international deploymentHuang stated that Profet AI's products have utilized English interfaces since inception, and the company has developed internationally standardized products as well as services SOP. Furthermore, 80% of the personnel possess international commercial expertise, so creating a strong worldwide foundation. The global viewpoint is rapidly reflected in the product R&D approach. Profet AI's technology originates from significant collaboration with prominent industrial organizations.Wiwynn, a global pioneer in cloud servers and storage solutions, has incorporated numerous AutoML models to address various practical difficulties, such as design verification and process optimization.Huang stated that the primary reason manufacturers of diverse sizes favor Profet AI solutions is that all advancements in technology are motivated by actual business needs. This "practical experience" product development method renders its solutions highly pragmatic. Moreover, client feedback is instantly reflected in the trajectory of product development, creating a beneficial loop propelled by both technology and demand.Profet AI's global expansion is advancing swiftly, with Kumamoto, Japan, and Malaysia as the next focal points. The company has successfully participated in international accelerators, discovered potential clients, and connected governmental resources through TTA. Huang underscored the necessity of this help. Profet AI will further improve platform capabilities and AI model efficiencies to alter the global manufacturing sector, positioning Taiwan's smart manufacturing solutions prominently in the international industrial arena.
Tuesday 8 July 2025
Focusing on Taiwan and Southeast Asia, Seasalt.ai crafts AI assistants for local needs
Various generative AI tools and services have gradually permeated everyday life and the workplace, driving rapid market growth and attracting startup teams to enter the field. Founded in Seattle in 2020, Seasalt.ai is one of the rising stars that began developing intelligent voice solutions even before the current generative AI boom.With a focus on the linguistically diverse and densely populated Southeast Asian market, the company has established Taiwan as its development and support center, offering AI-powered customer service agents and meeting assistant tools that excel in accurately recognizing local accents and understanding nuanced semantics.Co-founded by CEO Xuchen Yao and CTO Guoguo Chen, Seasalt.ai marks their second entrepreneurial collaboration. Instead of competing in dominant markets like the U.S. and China, the duo chose to focus on Southeast Asia - a region often overlooked by major tech giants."Our company name, Seasalt AI, not only comes from our roots in Seattle but also reflects our target market - Southeast Asia (SEA)," said Yao. He noted that most AI voice tools on the market tend to overlook the less widely spoken languages in the Southeast Asian region. "But these underrepresented areas are home to large populations and many businesses in need of support. Filling in the gaps left by the tech giants has become a unique opportunity for us."Seasalt.ai offers an AI meeting assistant, SeaMeet Copilot, which provides real-time meeting transcripts, structured summaries, and action items for each meeting. It seamlessly integrates with Google Meet - popular among local users - and is specifically optimized to recognize Taiwanese accents, accurately understanding complex sentences that mix both Chinese and English.Cloud-Based and Subscription: Ensuring Security and Product FlexibilitySeasalt.ai also offers the SeaX platform - an all-in-one omnichannel solution for businesses. It integrates voice and text to support AI-powered messaging and phone-based voice calls, with a focus on outbound marketing. The platform enables natural language Q&A summaries, bilingual Chinese-English interaction, and smooth integration with existing workflows.According to Seasalt.ai, SeaX empowers companies to book appointments via AI voice assistants, engage in two-way conversations, track marketing campaigns across SMS, WhatsApp, and phone, discover customer buying intent, analyze user behavior, and conduct surveys - bringing automation and personalization into one seamless system.Another key advantage is the speed of deployment. According to Yao, in the case of assisting the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) with building a customer-facing chatbot with GenAI, Seasalt.ai successfully launched it in just three months, compared to competing solutions with last-generation technology (such as Natural Language Understanding) that would have taken up to two years.Chen highlighted the usability of Seasalt.ai's tools, stating: "Approximately 70% to 80% of users are able to set up and maintain their AI chatbots independently using our documentation and examples. Only about 10% to 20% of large enterprise clients necessitate custom development."Regarding deployment strategy, it is important to keep product features up to date due to the rapid advancement of generative AI. Therefore, a cloud-first approach is often recommended, supplemented by customized private cloud solutions for clients with stricter data security requirements.Rapid Tech Growth: Pros and Cons for AI StartupsSeasalt.ai was born during the global outbreak of COVID-19. At that time, Taiwan's strict pandemic control measures and its startup-friendly environment made it an ideal springboard for the company's expansion into the Southeast Asian market.As one of the standout alumni of SparkLabs Taiwan, Seasalt.ai also benefited greatly from its collaboration with Taiwan Tech Arena (TTA), gaining valuable resources for growth. In December 2024, the company announced the completion of its seed funding round, raising NT$130 million. Investors included Z Venture Capital (ZVC), the corporate venture arm of LINE.In view of the rapid advancements in AI technology and the fast-evolving market landscape, Chen stated, "We began early and possess extensive knowledge of the field, allowing us to swiftly integrate new technologies. However, much of our initial work needs to be revised." He added that the plethora of new technological resources has also empowered Seasalt.ai to quickly update product features and improve user experience, thereby maintaining market competitiveness.Chen observed that the rapid advancement of generative AI technology has reduced development barriers, enabling startup teams to create prototypes and test the market at lower costs and within shorter timeframes. However, the reduced entry barriers have resulted in an increase in competitors, making it more challenging for new players to distinguish themselves in the market.Looking forward, Yao articulated that Seasalt.ai aspires to establish itself as the market leader in Taiwan while simultaneously innovating new products. One such product is SeaHealth, an AI-powered assistant intended as a front office solution for hospitals and clinics to facilitate proactive healthcare messages and communications for patients with chronic illnesses or elderly individuals living alone. The company's vision is to provide more convenient and accessible AI tools to a broader range of users.SeaMeet Copilot supports multilingual meetings and audio uploads. Credit: Company
Monday 7 July 2025
Taiwan's SUPER 8 Studio pushes agentic AI to forefront of enterprise digitization
As enterprises increasingly shift customer engagement to messaging apps and social platforms, Taiwan-based SUPER 8 Studio is positioning itself as a key player in the race to digitize with artificial intelligence.The company offers a unified, AI-powered platform that integrates customer service, marketing, and sales across popular channels like LINE, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Designed with scalability in mind, SUPER 8 Studio's software aims to lower the barrier for digital transformation, particularly for large SMEs and enterprises, by offering modular AI solutions via a flexible subscription model."At its core, we're building intelligent, agentic systems that let businesses automate interactions, target the right customers, and reduce development overhead," said CEO and founder Brian Chen in an interview.Chen, a veteran of IBM and Adobe, returned to Taiwan in 2018 after a decade managing mobile platforms with hundreds of millions of users across China and South Korea. He launched SUPER 8 Studio to focus on messaging infrastructure for app developers. That platform has since evolved into a broader SaaS and AaaS (Agentic AI-as-a-Service) play, reflecting the growing demand for AI-native customer engagement.Comprehensive AI Solution to Boost Safety and EfficiencySUPER 8 Studio's flagship offerings include InsightArk, a conversation CRM system; MessageHero, an AI agent platform for automated service and sales; and SUPER 8 Copilot, a backend assistant that helps teams manage data and workflows in real time. These products are pre-integrated with e-commerce ecosystems like Shopify and Shopline and are built to serve both public cloud and virtual private cloud (VPC) deployments.The company has also partnered with Amazon Web Services to deliver VPC-based solutions tailored to industries with strict compliance needs, such as healthcare and pharma. That offering has gained traction among enterprises seeking cloud flexibility without compromising on data sovereignty."We're giving companies the option to own their infrastructure while still enjoying the speed, privacy, and adaptability of SaaS," Chen said.SUPER 8's platform currently supports more than 1,000 businesses and has processed over five billion customer interactions. Clients include UNIQLO, which leveraged the InsightArk platform to drive gamified campaigns on LINE and reduced account bans by up to 30%; Panasonic, which uses MessageHero for customer service on home appliance products; and Topologie, a Japanese fashion brand that introduced an AI sales assistant to boost personalization - leading to the opening of five new retail locations in 2024.From Taiwan to GlobalTo support its expansion, the company recently launched operations in Japan through a white-label partnership model with local telecom and distribution giants. Its full product suite is now listed on AWS Marketplace for global one-click deployment, with plans to enter the South Korean and Southeast Asian markets next.Chen also highlighted the shifting startup landscape in Taiwan, noting increased investor interest in AI and SaaS. "Investors here are starting to look beyond hardware," he said. "But we need policy to catch up - especially when it comes to streamlining subsidies and lowering the barrier to international expansion."Through programs like AVA Angels and Taiwan Tech Arena (TTA), SUPER 8 Studio has tapped into AWS's global ecosystem and accelerated cross-border market entry. Chen believes that replicable success stories like SUPER 8's will help boost Taiwan's credibility in global AI circles.He recently represented the company at Japan IT Week 2025, underscoring SUPER 8's ambition to be a leading Agentic AI platform from Asia to the world.
Friday 4 July 2025
Yo-Kai reinvents late-night Asian food with smart vending machines
Numerous restaurants in American cities have already closed their doors as twilight descends. Typically, the only options available to you if you are currently famished are microwave meals or fast food. This life pain point led Andy Lin, founder of Yo-Kai Express, to start a business and design a smart vending machine capable of delivering high-quality hot cuisine at any time and from any location.Lin, who worked for a leading technology company during his early career and lived in Silicon Valley for an extended duration, frequently conducted meetings with Asia clients late at night in the US. He was so hungry that he searched the entire Internet one early morning, but he was unable to find a venue that served a steaming bowl of Asian cuisine. Yo-Kai was established as a result of this experience.Lin initially drew inspiration from Japan's pioneering ramen dispensing machines; however, he ultimately determined that the user experience was inadequate. He utilized his technological proficiency to reengineer the mechanism and process, resulting in the creation of a smart heated food vending machine that is "delectable, sanitary, and prepared for consumption."Expand product lines and explore instant food blue oceanYo-Kai's first product is a ramen machine that uses high-pressure heating and quick cooking technologies to deliver restaurant-quality dishes. All components, including the broth, noodles, and seasonings, are crafted from premium ingredients that are rapidly frozen and pre-prepared in a central kitchen to guarantee uniform quality.Lin recalled that in his pursuit of the ideal noodle flavor, he once produced 3,000kg of noodles in a single day, only to meticulously control the variance of a few seconds. Yo-Kai's product selection now includes Korean, Thai, xiaolongbao, chicken noodle soup, and several other items, and has collaborated with companies such as Ippudo, MoonMoonFood, Chimei, and Wowprime to deliver joint products.Yo-Kai's smart vending machines are capable of both cognitive processes and food preparation. Sophisticated tasks, such as image recognition, virtual assistance, and sensor monitoring, are facilitated by the industrial computer module, which was developed in partnership with Qualcomm and Pegatron. The device is equipped with more than 100 integrated sensors that accurately measure parameters such as pressure, temperature, and humidity, thereby guaranteeing consistent food preparation.What is even more remarkable is that Yo-Kai utilizes edge AI processors to virtualize customer service and operation tutorials, which are then managed in real time on the spot. Users can obtain assistance without the need to make a phone call or connect to the cloud, which will further enhance the security and convenience of their information.Yo-Kai was the first-place winner of the Qualcomm QITC AI competition in 2024 and was chosen by Nvidia to participate in the Inception Program in 2025. It intends to become the Amazon of the catering industry by integrating upstream and downstream using AI systems.Alongside hot meals, Yo-Kai has lately diversified into cold beverages with better gross profit margins and has adopted an innovative approach by introducing a smart pearl milk tea machine. This is the sole vending machine globally capable of autonomously boiling tapioca pearls. It addresses the challenge of cold chain logistics for conventional tea beverages. The items can be maintained at ambient temperature, facilitating the improvement of delivery networks.Lin forecast that the tea beverage market in Europe and the US will reach US$40 billion by 2030, with an annual compound growth rate of 13%. Although vending machines have the potential for significant future expansion, their current prevalence is negligible. He intends to employ this as a secondary growth generator for Yo-Kai revenue.Yo-Kai has acquired operational experience and data over the past eight years by employing a direct sales model. The global franchise plan will be officially promoted beginning in 2025. For instance, each machine in the US is priced at a mere US$2,000-2,500. In order to operate a smart restaurant, the franchisee is only required to be responsible for replenishing stocks and cleaning, rather than preparing and opening the store. Lin disclosed that the global franchise is making progress ahead of schedule. Nearly 500 smart pearl milk tea machines have been signed in the first four months, and the company has expanded to the US, Japan, the UK, Singapore, Thailand, the Netherlands, and France, among other countries.TTA facilitates international connections, enabling Yo-Kai to expand globallyThe first smart food vending machine is being deployed worldwide. During the business process, Lin regularly returned to Taiwan to interact with various Taiwanese companies. He noted that in recent years, Taiwan's start-ups have increasingly ventured beyond the local domain, significantly enhancing their international presence. Multiple teams have actively established facilities in Singapore, Japan, and other regions to expand their global outlook. Lin contends that TTA (Taiwan Tech Arena) has played a crucial part in this transformation. Yo-Kai demonstrates exceptional industry engagement by utilizing global resources through TTA, connecting Taiwan with foreign assets, and participating in CES exhibitions on many occasions.Beginning with the resolution of the minor issue of "lack of hot food during late hours," Yo-Kai has gradually developed an advanced vending machine system that combines food, technology, and supply chain logistics. Lin revolutionizes the catering sector with technology innovation and reimagines ready-to-eat meals with uniqueness and execution. In the future, we may be able to have a cup of hot ramen soup from Yo-Kai in a variety of locations throughout the world, including airports, hospitals, and campuses, while feeling the comforting flavor offered by technology.
Thursday 3 July 2025
A-TOP Health Biotech unveils JOUVENCE thread lift, expands footprint in global medical aesthetics market
The self-funded medical beauty market has gradually integrated into consumers' daily life, combining the pursuit of outer aesthetics with inner self-confidence, resulting in significant growth in the worldwide medical beauty business.According to a June 2024 survey conducted by the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), plastic surgeons worldwide conducted over 15.8 million surgical procedures in 2023, in addition to the 19.1 million non-surgical procedures. Among them, non-surgical skin tightening treatments were ranked fourth in market demand.To capitalize on the substantial business potential within this sector, A-TOP Health Biotech, possessing robust R&D capabilities, introduced its proprietary product "JOUVENCE" to address the shortcomings of current thread materials. The product will soon be submitted for review by the U.S. FDA, with certification expected in the fourth quarter of 2025.As emphasized by Olivia Tseng, founder and chairperson of A-TOP Health Biotech, ongoing advancements in medical aesthetics technology have made major surgical procedures unnecessary for achieving skin firmness. Instead, lifting threads can now be inserted into targeted areas to achieve the desired results. Conventional lifting threads feature a "sharp barb" or "hooked" design that pierces the skin tissue, granting anchorage to facilitate skin lifting; however, this design often causes discomfort, and in some cases, patients may experience excessive inflammation requiring additional surgery.JOUVENCE lifting threads adopt a unique bionic cross-sectional design to avoid the discomfort caused by conventional barbed threads, thereby offering consumers a more comfortable and effective treatment experience.Tseng stated, "JOUVENCE will challenge the traditional paradigm of round thread materials, redefine the technical concept of thread lifting, seamlessly integrate technology and aesthetics to usher in a new era of innovation, and establish itself as a pivotal and trusted brand in the global medical beauty sector."3D Beauty-AI software enables innovation in lifting threadsA-TOP Health Biotech, founded in 2021, is driven by the mission of "Technology and Beauty, Touching the World". The company focuses on developing medical aesthetic and reconstructive surgical materials that are both clinically proven and highly safe, aiming to solve clinical challenges and enhance the quality and efficiency of aesthetic medicine.Its flagship product, JOUVENCE, is a world-first innovation developed using patented non-cutting molding and twisting technology, overcoming the limitations of traditional PDO lifting threads and offering four major advantages. First, its continuous structure provides stable support, reducing the risk of thread slippage and displacement. Second, it eliminates the breakage issues caused by stress concentration in cut threads, resulting in smoother surgical procedures. Third, the absence of sharp structures minimizes the sensation of foreign objects and reduces tissue irritation, significantly lowering inflammation and fibrosis. Fourth, it complies with standardized certification protocols, demonstrating rigorous biocompatibility and excellent product performance.In addition to product innovation, A-TOP Health Biotech addresses clinical pain points by introducing its "3D Beauty-AI Software" to assist physicians. By processing just 15 facial images, the software completes a 3D visual reconstruction, helping non-specialist doctors quickly grasp the key techniques for thread lifting and shortening the learning curve. The AI-generated 3D images also facilitate doctor-patient communication, enhancing transparency and trust in treatment, and further improving the overall medical aesthetic experience.Enhancing worldwide patent deployment: Focus on Taiwan, Thailand, and the USDespite Tseng's extensive practical experience in the medical devices and biotechnology sectors, A-TOP Health Biotech may continue to face multifaceted challenges in areas such as R&D, marketing, and fundraising as the company expands.By joining the Taiwan Tech Arena (TTA), the company gained valuable resources and received comprehensive support from the FlyingVest Accelerator, gradually overcoming key early-stage startup obstacles. The company also successfully secured a spot in the MEDICA Taiwan team organized by Taiwan's National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) in 2024, demonstrating both its technological strength and market potential.In the context of global strategy, Tseng stated that A-TOP Health Biotech will prioritize Thailand, Taiwan, and the US as target markets, combining its JOUVENCE lifting threat technology with 3D Beauty-AI software to provide medical beauty clinics with comprehensive non-surgical skin tightening solutions.A-TOP Health Biotech aspires to establish itself as a globally influential medical aesthetics brand through innovative R&D and international patent strategy, realizing the brand vision of "Technology and Beauty, Touching the World."
Tuesday 1 July 2025
Using AI to address chronic disease care challenges: AIM opens door to precision care for all
In an aging society, the care of chronic diseases has become a major social burden and has imposed significant impacts on the healthcare system. Elderly patients often face complicated medical procedures, unclear disease progression, and overcrowded settings in large hospitals. In 2010, Eric Lee returned to Taiwan from abroad to care for his mother, who had long suffered from chronic diseases related to bone and heart health, and went through firsthand the complexities of the healthcare system-ranging from resource bottlenecks to delayed diagnoses. Motivated by his personal journey, Lee co-founded AIM with physician Dr. Michael Yen in 2018. The company officially launched its product development activities in late 2020, focusing on solving pain points in chronic disease care for the elderly population through state-of-the-art AI diagnostic imaging technology.With Taiwan on the brink of becoming a super-aged society, diseases such as osteoporosis and degenerative arthritis are increasingly prevalent. However, early symptoms are often unnoticed or ignored, causing many patients to miss optimal treatment windows. Traditional diagnosis modalities like DXA bone densitometry or costly CT/MRI scans are time-consuming to schedule and not widely available, making large-scale community screening difficult. Furthermore, cardiac function assessment relies heavily on cardiologists operating advanced ultrasound systems, creating a bottleneck in primary care and public health services.Making Precision Care Accessible: The AI Revolution in X-ray and UltrasoundAccording to Lee, AIM's core technology leverages patented proprietary deep learning algorithms to analyze medical images from standard X-ray and ultrasound equipment. Its flagship solution, DeepXray, delivers automated bone density and joint degeneration analysis in under 30 seconds, generating clinically relevant reports. Validated by leading medical institutions including Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taipei Medical University Shuang-Ho Hospital and Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, DeepXray achieves over 0.9 correlation with gold-standard DXA scans and maintains a world-class absolute error below 0.05 g/cm2.The company's second core product, DeepSono, focuses on automated cardiac ultrasound analysis. Using portable ultrasound devices, DeepSono autonomously outlines myocardial contours and calculates ejection fraction (EF) and global longitudinal strain (GLS)-traditionally requiring manual assessment by cardiologists.AIM's solutions have earned Class II medical device certification from authorities including the US FDA, Taiwan's TFDA, Japan's PMDA, and Vietnam's IMDA, and are expanding to other targeted countries-making it one of the few Taiwanese medical AI startups with comprehensive international certifications.Scalable Business Model and Global ExpansionTo accelerate adoption, AIM offers medical institutions a printer and cartridge business model, including a one-time software license fee at 10% of the full cost to lower entry barriers, followed by a SaaS-based monthly subscription or usage-based billing. Since its 2024 certification, AIM's solutions have been deployed in over 50 clinics and hospitals across Taiwan and Vietnam, with entry into the Japanese market underway."In a competitive global medical AI market, AIM's edge lies in delivering quantitative diagnostic data-not just risk classification," said Lee. While most medical AI solutions on the market only classify patients into high-, medium-, or low-risk categories, AIM goes beyond simply identifying risk levels and provides actionable and clinically relevant number-based metrics. AIM also prioritizes algorithm optimization and platform-based, fully automated diagnostic workflows, significantly enhancing clinical efficiency. Its long-term mission is to democratize precision care by pairing affordable devices with advanced AI technology so that the general public around the world will all be taken care of.Future Roadmap: Elderly Mobility and Cardiac CareLee stated that AIM will continue to expand its product portfolio centered around elderly mobility and cardiac care by leveraging widely available X-ray and ultrasound devices in primary care settings. Upcoming features include sarcopenia risk prediction, enhanced integration of handheld ultrasound with AI, and new developments in abdominal ultrasound, AI-assisted chest disease detection, and preoperative anesthesia risk analysis.Lee also underscored the evolution of Taiwan's startup ecosystem, which in recent years has matured significantly, especially in terms of global outreach. Taiwan Tech Arena (TTA) has actively facilitated overseas market connections and aligned investment resources, supporting AIM in its global expansion. In addition to tapping into international markets, Lee recommends that the government and hospitals provide more PoC/PoB habitats to accelerate the development and global reach of Taiwan's medical AI sector, increase clinical deployment opportunities for startups, and bring precision care to communities around the world.
Tuesday 1 July 2025
Bytelingo's professional services redefine AI translation, attracting engagement from publicly traded companies
Despite the increasing prevalence of AI applications, the majority of free translation solutions are incapable of satisfying the specific translation needs of enterprises in professional sectors, as they are designed to address generic situational requirements. Organizations that depend on free AI translation frequently must allocate substantial human resources to review and proofread, a process that is both labor-intensive and time-consuming. This holds true when using standard financial statements or product manuals as examples.Bytelingo has acknowledged this challenge and has implemented generative AI to offer translation solutions that are exceedingly precise, particularly for professional publications like annual reports and ESG reports. As of now, Bytelingo's services have been adopted by more than 150 publicly traded companies, with a renewal rate of 90%, indicating a significant level of market confidence.Ringo Chang, founder and CEO of Bytelingo, observed that common AI translation services, including ChatGPT, often produce "highest probability" assumptions based on model algorithms when faced with numerous proper nouns and terminologies (such as full names and abbreviations of products, subsidiaries, affiliated entities, government agencies, etc.), resulting in a considerable incidence of translation errors.Conversely, Bytelingo utilizes a different technique. It initially collects and classifies clients' historical translation papers and official website data, then integrates this information with existing professional databases, including accounting subjects and global standards, to improve translation accuracy and consistency.Exclusive technology outperforms peers with annual report translation taking only 3 hoursChang, with considerable expertise in AI algorithms, acknowledged the Financial Supervisory Commission's mandate for listed companies to submit English financial statements and ESG reports, resulting in the establishment of Bytelingo in June 2022 to tackle the challenges of professional translation for corporations.Initially, Bytelingo relied on proprietary AI models. At the end of 2022, as generative AI and large language model technologies progressed rapidly, the firm modified its product development strategy, concentrating on the development of an AI translation platform based on efficient large language models accessible in the market.Currently, Bytelingo maintains comprehensive databases comprising over 30,000 entries in accounting and sustainability, along with proprietary optimization methods that provide swift access to clients' company-specific information. After completing data preparation, the capabilities of generative AI are effectively governed through its advanced RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) technique, yielding more accurate and consistent translation outputs."Our service requires only one morning to finalize the data configuration, followed by merely three hours to translate the entire annual report," Chang emphasized that this efficiency substantially surpasses that of conventional manual translation, which frequently requires a month. Moreover, Bytelingo's pricing is only 50% to 70% of that of traditional translation agencies, enabling faster customer acquisition. He claimed that Bytelingo's publicly traded clients are expected to surpass 200 by the end of 2025.Full TTA support boosts global prominenceSince its inception, Bytelingo has garnered multiple honors and been selected for various startup awards and government subsidies. This includes the Taipei City Government's 2023 SITI Star investment-potential start-up team, the Ministry of Digital Affairs' Go Next Digital review award, and the endorsement from the Small and Medium Enterprise and Startup Administration of Taiwan's Ministry of Economic Affairs for entry into TAcc+.Upon becoming a TTA (Taiwan Tech Arena) team, Bytelingo received mentorship and support from the STARTUP101 accelerator, which facilitated the company's business expansion, fundraising, brand visibility, and other critical areas.Chang stated that TTA resources and initiatives have afforded Bytelingo a global perspective. During a visit by a large German media conglomerate to TTA, Bytelingo was granted the opportunity to present on stage, therefore enhancing the company's brand recognition and providing substantial benefits in following endeavors to secure venture capital funding. In the future, Bytelingo will strengthen its collaboration with TTA and accelerate its global expansion.Bytelingo is not only translating annual and ESG reports but also diversifying its applications, encompassing product catalog and technical document translation, AI conference support, and AI product introductions, to more effectively meet the complex needs of companies in cross-linguistic communications.Considering international market prospects and the mandate from Japan's financial regulatory bodies for local companies in Japan to provide English annual reports, Bytelingo will utilize its successful model from Taiwan to enter the Japanese market and exploit opportunities in the AI professional translation service industry.Bytelingo offers a variety of AI platform modules to satisfy the unique translation process requirements of businesses. Credit: Company
Friday 13 December 2024
StreamTeck's mmWave enables accurate non-contact physiological monitoring
As the world gradually enters an era of aging populations, the demand for healthcare resources is rapidly increasing. Coupled with labor shortages caused by declining birth rates, this has become a challenge faced by many countries.Founded in 2018, Taiwan-based startup StreamTeck is leveraging millimeter-wave radar technology combined with IoT solutions to develop a non-contact physiological monitoring system for chronic patients and the elderly. The goal is to alleviate the pressure on nursing staff while avoiding the inconvenience and discomfort associated with traditional monitoring devices.The company's first product, SmartCaring T60 Intelligent Remote Care System, has already received Taiwan FDA Class II medical device certification, and its market outlook is promising."The other co-founder of the company and I both experienced situations where elderly family members needed healthcare, which led us to hope for more effective technological solutions," said Ken Hsieh, Co-Founder of StreamTeck. They also heard from the nephrologists that many chronic kidney disease patients undergoing dialysis, which lasts three to four hours, resist or refuse to use traditional wired physiological monitoring devices, due to discomfort or inconvenience.Additionally, nursing staff shortages made it difficult to respond promptly to patients' emergencies. All these were the driving forces behind the founding of StreamTeck.Based on 60GHz MmWave and Proprietary AI AlgorithmsStreamTeck's solution is based on high-precision 60GHz millimeter-wave radar and infrared sensors, including the hardware, proprietary AI algorithms, and applications installed on PC or mobile devices.A wireless monitoring device installed above the hospital bed collects data on vital signs, including the patient's breathing, heart rate, and body temperature. The data is transmitted via Wi-Fi and processed by StreamTeck's AI algorithms. If any data anomaly or incidents, such as a patient fall, are detected, the system immediately triggers an alert, allowing medical staff to respond to emergencies in real-time.Hsieh said that compared to traditional monitoring devices, the non-contact monitoring method significantly enhances patients' comfort, especially in environments like dialysis centers, isolation wards, or palliative care units, where minimizing personnel contact is crucial. At the same time, this system greatly reduces the burden on medical staff.StreamTeck possesses strong technical capabilities and can provide customized solutions to meet various needs, whether in hardware or software development, terminal system deployment, or AI model optimization.TFDA Certified and Successfully Entered HealthcareHsieh previously worked in the electronics industry, where servers, laptops, and consumer devices could be mass-produced as soon as they passed the testing process. However, the medical field requires a strict certification process for product specifications and quality, it's a significant challenge for startups.Any medical device must meet stringent standards on both hardware and software, and the manufacturing process also has to get an official certification. Additionally, extensive clinical trials are required in collaboration with hospitals. For a startup team with no medical background, this poses a completely new challenge.With confidence in their technology, StreamTeck persistently submitted testing applications and, in the meantime actively worked closely with medical institutions. After a challenging process spanning a year and a half, they became the first company in Taiwan to receive TFDA certification for mmWave technology, successfully entering the medical market.Enhancing Tech Strength and Expanding Globally with PartnersObtaining the official certification of medical devices is just the first step for StreamTeck. Hsieh said that the company will continue to enhance its solutions, aiming for non-contact blood pressure monitoring and more accurate patient posture assessment.StreamTeck's system has been implemented in over ten large teaching hospitals and public regional hospitals in Taiwan, such as Tri-Service General Hospital, Mackay Memorial Hospital, and Taipei City Hospital. Additionally, through collaboration with the Industrial Technology Research Institute, the SmartCaring Intelligent Remote Care System is being introduced into long-term care facilities, with plans to expand services into the home healthcare market.By collaborating with ecosystem partners like Intel to participate in global smart healthcare exhibitions actively, StreamTeck is extending its reach into international markets. The company has established a presence in the United States, and its products are currently undergoing FDA certification.Additionally, medical institutions in Southeast Asia have expressed strong interest in the company's system. Looking ahead, StreamTeck is confident in its plans to gradually expand its market footprint and hopes its technology will benefit a wider user.StreamTeck's SmartCaring T60 Intelligent Remote Care System