May 22 – 23, 2025: The 1st AAN Global Startup Awards brought together 12 exceptional startups from Taiwan, Japan, India, Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore for a dynamic two-day event that celebrated entrepreneurship, innovation, and regional collaboration. Organised by the Asia Pacific Accelerator Network (AAN) and supported by a strong coalition of ecosystem partners, the event provided a vibrant platform for these promising startups to pitch, connect, and grow across Asia’s fast-evolving innovation landscape.
The event kicked off with a lively Startup Meetup at The Ideal Space and an engaging AAN Welcome Party, setting the stage for new connections and fresh ideas.
Figure: Startup meetup
Figure: A group photo at AAN Welcome Party
Figure: AAN ecosystem members
The following day, the Global Innovation Hub (GIH) Forum took centre stage, delving into the theme of “Innovation for a Better Future: Forging Synergies with AI Applications.” It sparked insightful discussions and knowledge-sharing among leaders across the Asia-Pacific innovation ecosystem.
Figure: Opening remarks at Global Innovation Hub (GIH) Forum by Ms Chia-Hui Lin
Figure: Opening remarks at Global Innovation Hub (GIH) Forum by Dr Hank Huang
One of the forum’s highlights was the panel discussion titled “AI and the Future of Socioeconomic Transformation: Challenges and Insights from Global Innovation Ecosystems,” featuring distinguished thought leaders and practitioners. Moderated by Dr Hank Huang, Vice President of the Office of Industry Academia Co-creation at NYCU, the panel included Dr Michael Lin (Center of Industry Accelerator and Patent Strategy), Ms Sansanee Huabsomboon (National Nanotechnology Center), Mr Rajendra Jagdale (SCITECH Park), Mr ST Rubaneswaran (BEYOND4), Mr Toshihiro Kishihara (Startup GoGo), and Ms Jeslin Bay (Group CEO, BlackStorm Group). Speakers underscored the importance of tapping into the resources and ecosystems of each market to drive meaningful growth and collaboration.
Figure: Panel discussion on the topic of “AI and the Future of Socioeconomic Transformation: Challenges and Insights from Global Innovation Ecosystems”
Other engaging panel discussions included “AIoT Empowering Enterprises to Practice ESG for a Green Future,” where Mr Edward Huang (Chief Investment Officer, Ennoconn Technologies) and Mr Jerry Chen (Founder & CEO, Dexatek Technology) shared how AIoT is reshaping ESG efforts for sustainability.
Figure: Panel discussion on the topic of “AIoT Empowering Enterprises to Practice ESG for a Green Future”
The “Precision Health Life with AI Application” panel featured Mr Rex Cherng (CEO, TelePlus Healthcare) and Ms Jenny Lee (US Representative & Product Manager, NUWA Robotics), who offered insights into how AI is revolutionising the healthcare landscape.
Figure: Panel discussion on the topic of “Precision Health Life with AI Application”
Throughout the event, startups had the chance to share their cutting-edge solutions during lively pitch sessions and showcase their vision to an engaged audience of investors and ecosystem leaders. The excitement culminated in a keynote by Prof. Vincent S. Tseng, Chair Professor at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, who shared how medical AI can move from innovative ideas to real-world impact.
The finalists, carefully selected by AAN partners through a rigorous nomination process, engaged directly with investors, ecosystem leaders, and potential collaborators. Their presentations and showcases exemplified the best of Asia’s innovation potential.
Figure: Group photo at AAN Award Pitch Competition at InnoVEX
Finalists by Country
Taiwan
- FiduciaEdge Technologies: A trusted edge computing cybersecurity company dedicated to protecting data integrity and privacy from the source.
- Taiwan Perovskite Solar: A high-tech company focused on developing and producing third-generation perovskite solar cells to meet the rising global demand for renewable energy.
Thailand
- ViaBus (AAN Grand Award winner; BlackStorm Group, Startup GoGo, & IAPS NYCU Accelerator Global Award winner): A transport deep tech startup providing a real-time based end-to-end transit solution for developing regions.
- Nano Coating Tech (BlackStorm Group Global Award winner): A deep tech startup specialising in eco-friendly nano-coating solutions for solar panels and building surfaces.
India
- Vitalis Technologies (BEYOND4 Global Award winner): A medtech company specialising in innovative cancer treatments with their flagship electrochemotherapy device, Permeos.
- Areete Business Solutions: A dairy customer-focused company developing AI-based data-driven insights to support decision-making and enhance performance.
Malaysia
- Revolab (IAPS NYCU Accelerator Global Award winner): Creator of Revocall, an AI-powered call agent solution transforming customer service by handling high call volumes 24/7 with human-like quality.
- Longe Medikal: A pioneering medtech company redefining pre-planning and complex interventional haptic training through EVsim in-situ simulation.
Japan
- HelloWorld (IAPS NYCU Accelerator Global Award winner): A Japanese ed-tech startup providing international exchange opportunities to create a society where it’s normal to have one friend in each country.
- F.MED (Science and Technology Park, Pune Global Award winner): Specialises in developing robotic microsurgery-assisting robots to replicate the surgeon’s gestures with precision and safety.
Singapore
- TheShareCo: Connects mental health clients, practitioners, and course providers on its award-winning online, on-demand counselling platform called Share.
- Lunchbox – Smart Point of Sales (POS) Solution (NSTDA Global Award winner): Singapore’s fastest-growing award-winning Android POS, serving 2,500+ outlets in 3 years with a full suite of 300+ features for any F&B format.
A special applause to ViaBus, which emerged as the AAN Grand Award winner, underscoring the regional innovation potential nurtured through collaboration and mentorship.
Figure: AAN Grand Winner – Viabus from Thailand
The event concluded with a gala dinner, fostering an atmosphere of camaraderie and renewed enthusiasm for future collaborations in the region.
Figure: A group photo at Gala dinner
Thank you to all the ecosystem partners, speakers, and participants for making this milestone event a resounding success. We look forward to more collaborations and knowledge-sharing to drive Asia’s innovation agenda forward.
About Asia Pacific Accelerator Network (AAN)
AAN (https://aanasia.org/) is a collaborative network that unites accelerators and innovation hubs across the Asia Pacific, bridging local ecosystems and empowering startups to scale globally.
About BlackStorm Consulting
BlackStorm Consulting (https://blackstormco.asia/) empowers businesses in Southeast Asia by closing strategic gaps in corporate strategy, market entry, and growth through a people, product, and process approach.
About IAPS NYCU Accelerator
IAPS (https://iaps.ym.edu.tw/) is a globally recognized accelerator based in Taiwan, supporting startups through a robust network of mentors, partners, and investors.
About Startup GoGo Inc.
Startup GoGo Inc. (https://startup-gogo.com/) supports startups in Japan through mentorship, funding, and global exposure.
About BEYOND4
BEYOND4 (https://beyond4.tech/) drives sustainable business growth in Malaysia and the region by leveraging innovation, AI, and strategic partnerships.
About National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA)
NSTDA (https://www.nstda.or.th/) is Thailand’s leading agency dedicated to fostering innovation-driven growth and sustainability.
About Science and Technology Park, Pune
The Science and Technology Park, Pune (https://www.scitechpark.org.in/) is India’s first science and technology park, pioneering industry-academia collaboration and supporting innovative startups.
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