A closer look at how startups are turning local AI into global opportunity
Updated
March 24, 2026 6:25 PM
NVIDIA GTC 2026. PHOTO: NVIDIA
At NVIDIA GTC 2026 in Palo Alto, a group of 16 Taiwanese startups used the global AI stage to do more than showcase products—they tested how far their technologies could travel beyond domestic markets. The delegation, led by Startup Island TAIWAN Silicon Valley Hub with support from Taiwan’s National Development Council, reflected a broader shift in the country’s role within the AI ecosystem.
The startups represented a mix of emerging areas including digital twins, robotics, AI agents and healthcare, aligning closely with enterprise AI adoption trends. Some gained formal visibility within NVIDIA’s ecosystem, with companies such as MetAI and Spingence featured in the Inception Program, while six others presented their work in the conference’s poster gallery. These formats allowed them to engage directly with developers, enterprise users and potential partners rather than simply exhibiting technology.
A defining feature of Taiwan’s presence this year was how closely startups operated alongside established hardware companies such as ASUS, AAEON and Compal. This setup reflected a vertically integrated model where infrastructure and applications are developed together, offering a clearer path from product development to deployment. It also underscored Taiwan’s gradual shift from being primarily a hardware supplier to participating more actively across the full AI stack.
Activity around the conference extended well beyond the exhibition floor. A Taiwan Demo Day held during the week drew more than 1,000 registrations and nearly 600 in-person attendees, bringing startups into contact with close to 200 international investors. The event focused on structured introductions and deal flow, positioning startups in front of venture firms and corporate innovation teams looking for AI applications.
Alongside these formal sessions, Taiwan Startup Night provided a more informal but equally strategic setting. With over 100 curated participants, including founders, investors and corporate representatives, the gathering created space for early-stage conversations that could evolve into partnerships or market entry opportunities. These interactions, while less visible than on-stage presentations, are often where initial collaboration takes shape.
Taken together, the events around GTC point to a more coordinated approach to international expansion. Through platforms like Startup Island TAIWAN, the emphasis is not just on visibility but on building continuity—connecting startups with investors, partners and customers across multiple touchpoints in a single week. As AI development increasingly spans chips, systems and applications, Taiwan’s presence at GTC suggests a more integrated role, where the focus is as much on enabling global deployment as it is on developing the technology itself.
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Tencent’s latest solution simplifies cross-border payments for Weixin users and merchants.
Updated
January 8, 2026 6:33 PM
Tencent's large penguin statue in front of a building. PHOTO: UNSPLASH
In a world where digital borders are fading faster than ever, Tencent is betting on familiarity. With the launch of TenPay Global Checkout, the company wants to make paying across countries feel as seamless as paying at home.
The new service, unveiled today, allows Weixin Mini Program merchants outside mainland China to accept a variety of local payment methods. That includes digital wallets, real-time payment networks and credit and debit cards, all through a single integration. The launch starts in Singapore and Macao SAR, where merchants can now take payments via PayNow, BOCPAY(MO), and major cards. Japan, Australia and New Zealand are next, with more regions to follow soon.
This rollout builds on the growing reach of Weixin Mini Programs, known internationally through WeChat. These small apps are built right into the platform, letting users' shop, book services and make payments without downloading separate apps. Today, there are over one million monthly active users in key overseas markets, with Mini Programs available across 92 countries and regions.
Yet, for many users abroad, paying within Mini Programs hasn’t always been simple. Foreign card restrictions, currency conversions and limited local options often made checkout a frustrating step. TenPay Global Checkout aims to change that.
“TenPay Global Checkout marks an important step in enhancing the local consumer experience. By enabling overseas Weixin Mini Program merchants to accept trusted and diversified local payment methods through one unified solution, users benefit from a more convenient and efficient payment experience. This helps merchants improve payment conversion rates, expand their user base and scale their businesses to serve a broader range of customers”, said Wenhui Yang, CEO of TenPay Global (Singapore).
What makes this move interesting isn’t just its technical simplicity—it’s the cultural bridge it builds. For users in Singapore or Japan, paying with PayNow or a local card inside Weixin feels less like an international transaction and more like an everyday purchase.
For merchants, it’s an invitation into a market that values convenience and trust. Payment familiarity, after all, often decides whether a user completes a purchase or abandons it at checkout.
The company remains focused on creating secure, connected and user-friendly payment experiences that help merchants grow and allow consumers to pay with confidence, wherever they are.
If successful, TenPay Global Checkout could quietly redefine how cross-border commerce feels—not like a transaction across regions, but a familiar tap, scan or click. In an increasingly global marketplace, that kind of familiarity might just be the next frontier in digital trust.