ITIC Award 2026
ITIC Award 2026
The ITIC Award 2026 is a flagship initiative hosted by Taiwan Tech Summit in partnership with ITIC (Innovation Technical Investment Corp.), the venture capital arm of ITRI.
This program empowers high-potential AI startups with $18,000 USD in cash prizes, direct institutional investment access, and connection to a global ecosystem. It is designed for top-tier AI startups seeking to scale globally, secure institutional funding, and plug directly into Silicon Valley’s innovation network. This isn't just a competition—it's an accelerator designed to elevate your company onto the global stage.
$18000 in Cash Prizes + Direct Access to ITIC’s Global Ecosystem
Awards & Exclusive Benefits
What Winning Teams Receive
💰 $18,000 USD Total Cash Prizes
🥇 1st Place: $10,000 USD
🥈 2nd Place: $5,000 USD
🥉 3rd Place: $3,000 USD
🚀 Fast-Track Investment Opportunities
Direct exposure to the ITIC investment team for priority evaluation and potential venture funding.
🌏 Global Ecosystem Access
Unlock ITIC’s extensive international industry network across the US, Taiwan, Japan, UK, and France, unlocking supply chain partners, strategic corporate alliances, and global advisors.
📰 High-Impact Media Coverage
Gain prominent features in international tech media and joint promotion across official Taiwan Next Foundation social channels to amplify your global brand presence.
CRITERIA for
PARTICIPATING STARTUPS
Must have raised at least $200,000.
Must be seeking to actively raise $1M-$5M within 6 months of the event.
Must have demonstrated traction through funding raised, revenue, customer growth, etc.
Must be confident in presenting in English.
Taiwan Next is now accepting applications for the Taiwan Demo Day, where we will spotlight 10–12 exceptional startups building at the forefront of AI innovation.
Whether you’re building AI-powered applications, autonomous and agentic systems, AI infrastructure, embodied or physical AI, or innovations transforming healthcare and biotech, we welcome founders pushing the boundaries of intelligent systems.
If you’re turning cutting-edge AI research into impactful products with real-world traction and global ambition, we invite you to apply and take the stage alongside our community of founders, operators, and investors.
Timeline & Deadlines
Application Deadline: August 15, 2026
Evaluation Process: Rolling Selection — Early applications are strongly encouraged as slots are filled on a first-reviewed basis.
Finalist Announcement: August 31, 2026
Live Pitching & Award Ceremony: Taiwan Demo Day 2026 (Santa Clara Convention Center, CA)
About ITIC
Building Industry Leaders Since 1979 ITIC (Innovation Technical Investment Corp.) is one of Taiwan’s pioneer venture capital firms. As the venture capital arm of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI)—Taiwan’s flagship technology research institution—ITIC has invested over US$400 million globally to cultivate tech innovators and market leaders.
Key Strengths & Value Proposition
Unrivaled Tech Depth: Leveraging ITRI's vast ecosystem of 6,000+ technical experts, 24,000+ alumni leaders, and 25,000+ patents across robotics, advanced materials, biotech, and semiconductors, ITIC brings deep technical domain expertise to deal sourcing, due diligence, and portfolio growth.
Global Strategic Network: ITIC has built an extensive global ecosystem connecting early-stage companies with world-class manufacturers (such as UMC and AUO) and premier international investment partners (including Mitsubishi UFJ Capital).
Cross-Border Growth & Ecosystem Access: Through specialized funds—including the Golden Asia Fund (Taiwan-Japan cross-border synergies) and the Digital Economy Fund (AI, IoT, and emerging technologies)—ITIC actively bridges startups with supply chain integration, corporate partners, and international markets across Taiwan, the US, Japan, and Europe.
TOP 5 REASONS YOU SHOULD ATTEND
What to Expect
High Impact Pitch: Present your solution live to over 250+ top Silicon Valley venture capitalists, angel investors, and corporate innovation leaders..
Global Perspectives: Engage with founders bridging the US–Taiwan innovation corridor across AI, computing, and deep tech.
Networking: Connect directly with founders, investors, and industry leaders in a curated, high-signal environment.
Taiwan Ecosystem
Collaborating
Funding
Branding
Networking
500K+
Worldwide Live Streaming
600+
Media Exposures
100+
Taiwanese Professional Communities
12500+
In-Person Professional Attendees
10+
US + TW Cities
120+
Influential Leaders
Disclaimer
This event is organized for informational, educational, and community exchange purposes only. Participation in this Demo Day does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. The organizer does not provide investment advice, does not recommend or endorse any participating company, and does not act as a broker, dealer, or placement agent.