Taiwan x Phoenix Tech Connect - @ CES 2026
Co-Innovating in Silicon & AI: How Startups and Corporates Shape Tomorrow
About the Event
Join the City of Phoenix, Taiwan’s Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), Startup Island Taiwan and Tesoro Venture Capital for an exclusive evening during CES 2026 celebrating global innovation and cross-border collaboration.
This reception will feature the strategic partnership between Phoenix and Taiwan for deep-tech and AI innovation, a panel on international startup ecosystems, and networking with leaders from Arizona, Taiwan, and beyond.
Special thanks to our Event Sponsor - Wells Fargo!
Agenda
🕠 6:00 PM – Registration & Welcome Reception
🎤 6:40 PM – Opening Remarks
💬 7:00 PM – Fireside Chat: “Turning Deep Tech Into Real Businesses”
🤝 7:40 PM – Networking Reception
Turning Deep Tech Into Real Businesses
This 30-minute fireside chat brings together Andy Lombard, Founder & Managing Partner of Tesoro VC, and Haomiao Huang, Founding Partner of Matter Venture Partners, for a grounded discussion on how deep-technology breakthroughs become durable, scalable businesses.
The conversation will begin with the founding story of Matter Venture Partners and the gap it was created to address: why many exceptional deep-tech innovations struggle to translate into real companies. From there, the discussion will explore the practical realities of building HardTech businesses — including customer adoption, business model design, execution risk, and the challenges of scaling technologies that operate in the physical world.
Drawing on experience as researchers, founders, and investors, Andy and Haomiao will share insights on what differentiates deep-tech companies that scale from those that stall, and offer practical guidance for founders building at the intersection of AI, hardware, robotics, and advanced manufacturing. The session will close with a forward-looking perspective on what will truly matter over the next decade as physical-economy innovation moves from promise to impact.
Why Attend?
Celebrate a new international innovation partnership
Hear from leaders in government, venture capital, and tech
Meet the CES 2026 Taiwan startup delegation
Explore opportunities for collaboration and investment