[Fireside Chat] Google Cloud × Startup Island TAIWAN SV Hub: Best Fit for AI Harness

​✨ Summary

​There’s no single architecture that works for every AI startup. With more models, tools, and infrastructure options available than ever, the real question is: what makes sense for your product, your stage, and your budget?

​Join Google Cloud and Startup Island TAIWAN – Silicon Valley Hub for a fireside chat focused on the decisions AI founders and developers face as they build.

​Drawing on startup and investor perspectives, we’ll explore how to approach architecture choices across different use cases—with performance and cost as key considerations. We’ll also discuss how startups can use Google Cloud across the AI stack, from tapping into its broader ecosystem to adopting individual components alongside existing tools.

​With insights from Google Cloud, the conversation will connect technical choices with the practical realities of building an AI business.

​Bring your questions for the Q&A session following the fireside chat, and stay to connect with fellow founders and builders.

​⚠️ This is an invite-only event. All registrations are subject to approval.

​🗓 Agenda

​Tentative schedule; subject to change.

​5:30–6:00 PM｜Check-in & Light Refreshments
6:00–6:10 PM｜Opening Remarks by Alex Cheng (Google Cloud)
6:10–7:00 PM｜Fireside Chat & Group Photo
7:00–8:00 PM｜Networking
Continue the conversation and make new connections!

​👥 Meet the Panelists

​Alex Cheng
Senior Sales Account Executive, Google Cloud Startup Team

​Alex Cheng brings experience in AI infrastructure, cloud services, and startup business development. Before joining Google Cloud, he led Sales and Business Development at Visionbay.ai and spent five years supporting startups at AWS. He brings a practical perspective on how founders can navigate technology choices, balance performance and cost, and connect cloud resources with their business needs.

​Arjun Rai
Executive Director, Applied AI Society

​Arjun Rai is a product leader, entrepreneur, and community builder focused on artificial intelligence, open source software, and emerging technologies. Through Applied AI Society, he brings together founders, investors, researchers, students, and operators to explore the future of AI, open source, infrastructure, venture capital, and deep technology through events, conferences, fireside chats, and educational programming. He also works at OpenTeams.com on product and partnerships and OTIncubator.com (a Venture Studio) + Open Tech Ventures (VC Firm) on Investor Relations and Partnerships. Learn more at ArjunRai.me.

​Greg Tanaka
Founder & CEO, Prompt Driven

​Greg Tanaka is a serial entrepreneur and AI developer building tools that use natural-language prompts to generate, test, and maintain software. Before founding Prompt Driven, he founded Percolata, an AI company backed by investors including Google Ventures and Andreessen Horowitz. A former Palo Alto City Council member, Greg brings hands-on experience in machine learning, startup leadership, and turning emerging technologies into practical products.

​Moderator

​Uly Su
Director, Startup Island TAIWAN – Silicon Valley Hub

​Uly Su is the Director of Startup Island TAIWAN – Silicon Valley Hub, a Silicon Valley platform supported by Taiwan’s National Development Council (NDC) that helps Taiwanese startups connect with U.S. investors, corporates, accelerators, and startup communities. Uly is also a General Partner at Addin Ventures, focused on early-stage AI and cross-border startups, and host of《矽谷在線》(Chinese) and Startup Island Taiwan Podcast (English).

​Prior to his current roles, he built experience across brand strategy, business development, venture investment, IoT, and technology media.

​​🤝 Organized By

​Google Cloud

​Startup Island TAIWAN – Silicon Valley Hub