​​We're back for the 14th San Jose Hardware Meetup! This time we're exploring the synergies between Silicon Valley innovation and Taiwan's world-class semiconductor ecosystem.

​This gathering supports the IC Taiwan Grand Challenge (ICTGC) — a Taiwanese government sponsored initiative offering prizes, mentorship, and industry guidance to help global startups leverage Taiwan’s powerful semiconductor and related industries, turning bold ideas into market-ready innovations.

​Non dilutive funding starts at $30k and scales up to $3M in support in the Taiwanese ecosystem.

​🤖 We have select spots for open mic: Apply here.

​Whether you're building AI hardware, semiconductor solutions, or just want to understand how Taiwan can help you go from prototype to production, this event is your gateway.

​We have a great lineup of speakers:

• ​Laura Swan - Silicon Catalyst, connecting startups with the semiconductor ecosystem

• ​Andy Lombard - Tesoro Venture Capital, investing at the intersection of hardware and deep tech

• ​Janis Skriveris - Plug and Play Ventures, bridging global innovation networks

• ​Sam Fok - CEO at femtoAI and winner of ICTGC Batch 3, scaling AI at the edge

​Agenda

• ​5:30-6:00p - Arrival, mingle, grab refreshments

• ​6:00-6:05p - Welcome and introduction

• ​6:05-7:00p - Guest talks and panel Q&A on Taiwan-Silicon Valley collaboration

• ​7:00-7:30p - Community open mic
  Anyone will have the chance for a 2min pitch to demo a prototype or talk about what they're working on.

• ​7:30-8:00p - Mix + mingle

​About IC Taiwan Grand Challenge (ICTGC)

​This event also highlights the IC Taiwan Grand Challenge—a Taiwanese government-sponsored initiative offering prizes, mentorship, and industry guidance to help global startups leverage Taiwan's powerful semiconductor infrastructure. Turn bold ideas into market-ready innovations with Taiwan as your manufacturing partner.

​Thank you to our co-hosts!

​Sparknify is a future-focused PR and marketing company that blends creativity with technology to shape the evolving relationship between humanity and AI. From immersive brand experiences and AI-powered campaigns to experiential storytelling and community-driven initiatives, we help brands, innovators, and global organizations craft narratives that inspire action and shift culture. We specialize in helping startups grow, scale, and establish a strong presence in Silicon Valley and the broader U.S. market. For more information, visit https://sparknify.com

​Thank you to our community partners

​informal is a freelance collective for the most talented independent professionals in hardware. Whether you're looking for a single contractor, a full-time employee, or an entire team of professionals to work on everything from product development to go-to-market strategy, the informal collective has the perfect collection of people for the job. Learn more.

​​See you soon!

​If you want to support future meetups, reach out to [email protected].