Silicon to Steel: A Physical AI Stack Mixer
Beyond the Model
Infrastructure for the Agentic and Physical AI Era
The next AI breakthrough won’t come from a bigger model alone. It will depend on whether the infrastructure can move, access, and process real-world data fast enough—and whether companies can take AI from simulation into production.
Join SparkLabs Taiwan and Startup Island TAIWAN – Silicon Valley Hub for an intimate gathering of semiconductor leaders, AI founders, investors, and operators exploring what it takes to build and deploy the next generation of Agentic and Physical AI.
The program will feature an industry spotlight from Dr. Wei Lin, CTO of Phison Electronics, followed by two candid fireside conversations with leaders from Phison, Applied Materials, and five emerging AI and deep-tech companies from Taiwan.
This is not a traditional pitch night. The conversations will focus on the infrastructure, deployment challenges, and cross-border partnerships needed to move emerging technologies into the real world.
Industry Spotlight : Beyond the Model
Infrastructure for the Agentic and Physical AI Era
Dr. Wei Lin — Chief Technology Officer, Phison Electronics
Dr. Wei Lin is CTO of Phison Electronics, where he is building the memory and data infrastructure needed to move AI from simulation into real-world deployment. He holds more than 200 NAND flash patents, with over three billion controller chips produced worldwide using his inventions.
Dr. Lin will explore how memory, heterogeneous computing, data orchestration, and system-level architecture must evolve to support increasingly complex Agentic and Physical AI workloads.
Fireside 01 Memory Rebuilt From the Atom Up
As AI moves beyond the cloud and into physical systems, memory can no longer be treated as a passive component. This conversation will explore how next-generation storage, semiconductor security, and data infrastructure must evolve to support AI at the edge and in the real world.
Speakers
David Lin — AVP of Global AI Strategy, Phison Electronics
John Chang — Founder & CEO, Jmem Tek
Sharon Ku — Head of Business Development, NeuroShine
Moderator: Uly Su — Director, Startup Island TAIWAN – Silicon Valley Hub
Fireside 02 : The Simulation-to-Shop-Floor Gap
Building an impressive AI demo is one thing. Deploying it inside a real factory—across legacy systems, complex workflows, and production constraints—is another.
This conversation will examine how digital twins, AI agents, and semiconductor innovation can close the gap between simulation and the shop floor, moving Physical AI from pilot programs into scalable production.
Speakers
Colette Wu — Applied Materials
Daniel Yu — Co-Founder & CEO, metAI
Phill Kao — Co-Founder & CEO, Morale AI
Ian Chen — U.S. General Manager, APMIC
Moderator: Edgar Chiu — Managing Partner, SparkLabs Taiwan
What We’ll Explore
Why the model is only one layer of the Physical AI stack
How memory and data infrastructure shape real-world AI performance
What it takes to move from simulation and pilots into production
How AI agents can operate within industrial environments
Where Taiwan and Silicon Valley can build deeper technology and commercial partnerships
Who This Is For
Investors exploring AI, semiconductors, deep tech, and industrial technology
Corporate leaders seeking emerging technologies and strategic partners
Founders building AI infrastructure, digital twins, agents, robotics, and intelligent systems
Operators and ecosystem leaders working across Taiwan and the United States
This is a curated gathering designed for substantive conversations, relevant introductions, and meaningful follow-up.
Program
3:45 PM — Guest arrival and welcome networking
4:00 PM — Opening remarks
4:15 PM — Industry Spotlight: Beyond the Model
4:30 PM — Fireside 01: Memory Rebuilt From the Atom Up
4:50 PM — Fireside 02: The Simulation-to-Shop-Floor Gap
5:15 PM — Open networking, food, and drinks
6:30 PM — Event close
About SparkLabs Taiwan
Co-Host: SparkLabs Taiwan is part of a global investment network connecting the United States, Taiwan, South Korea, and the Middle East.
Guided by the philosophy of “entrepreneurs backing entrepreneurs,” SparkLabs Taiwan has supported more than 80 AI and deep-tech founders since 2018. Its current focus includes Physical AI and Agentic AI, with a portfolio spanning semiconductors, enterprise AI, robotics, digital twins, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing—including an edge AI chip unicorn and NVIDIA’s first direct startup investment in Taiwan.
Explore SparkLabs Taiwan Demo Day 11:
https://sparklabs-tw-batch11.lovable.app/
About Startup Island TAIWAN – Silicon Valley Hub
Partner: Startup Island TAIWAN – Silicon Valley Hub serves as a strategic bridge between Taiwan’s technology ecosystem and Silicon Valley.
Established in 2025 with the support of Taiwan’s National Development Council, the Palo Alto-based Hub helps Taiwanese startups enter and grow in the U.S. through market resources, investor and corporate connections, community programs, and cross-border business opportunities.
Event Details
Date: September 28, 2026
Location: Palo Alto, California
Language: English
Format: Industry spotlight, fireside conversations, food, drinks, and curated networking
Space is limited, and registration is subject to approval.