By KHT Staff. Images courtesy of Cactus Startup Service (仙人掌創業服務).
KAOHSIUNG — Yo-Kai Express (優豈股份有限公司) will advance from the Kaohsiung regional competition to the Startup World Cup global finals in Silicon Valley this November, where it will compete for a US$1 million investment prize.
The food technology and smart automation company took first place at the Taiwan Startup World Cup Kaohsiung regional competition, which concluded July 24.
Taiwan Lung Meng Advanced Materials (台灣龍盟複合材料股份有限公司) placed second. The company develops stone-paper and mineral-based composite materials, including packaging and consumer products that use mineral powder instead of traditional wood-pulp paper.
iDaka (璽樂科技股份有限公司) placed third. The company specializes in construction technology, utilizing AI and Internet of Things systems to enhance worksite safety, equipment monitoring, and project management.
The July 23-24 event marked the first time the Startup World Cup held a formal regional competition in Kaohsiung.
The competition was organized by U.S.-based Pegasus Tech Ventures and carried out by Cactus Startup Service (仙人掌創業服務), with support from the Kaohsiung Economic Development Bureau (高雄市經發局).
The event used the theme “From Demo to Deal,” meaning the focus was not just on whether a product works, but whether a startup can turn that product into investment, commercial partnerships, and overseas sales. That is often the part where Taiwan’s startups struggle the most.
Organizers said the event brought investors and corporate representatives from the U.S., Japan, Europe, and Southeast Asia to Kaohsiung.
On the first day, 21 venture capitalists and industry specialists met with the top 50 shortlisted teams through a one-on-one matching session.
On the second day, 11 main judges and a 30-member jury evaluated the top 15 teams. The program also included a panel discussion on how startups in Taiwan can build companies for global markets.
Kaohsiung City Youth Bureau (青年局) Director Lin Kai-hsuan (林楷軒) attended the event, which comes as the city continues to promote industries including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, smart manufacturing, and digital technology.
Cactus Startup Service said it hopes to connect Taiwanese startups with international innovation networks, including those in Silicon Valley, Arizona, Japan, and Southeast Asia.
A Taipei regional competition is scheduled for Aug. 26-27 ahead of the global finals in November.
