This article was originally published by the Central News Agency and written by CNA reporter Hsin-Yu Chang. Edited by Sheng-Yang Tang (1140516).

Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) partnered with 34 startup teams to participate in the SelectUSA Investment Summit and its tech competition, SelectUSA Tech. Following the event, many of the teams traveled to Silicon Valley to explore deeper connections, laying the groundwork for future market expansion into the United States. (Photo by Zhang Xin-Yu, CNA, San Francisco, May 16, 2025)

(By CNA reporter Zhang Xin-Yu in San Francisco, May 15) – Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs led 34 startup teams to the SelectUSA Investment Summit, where they competed in the SelectUSA Tech pitch event. Several of these teams then traveled to Silicon Valley for follow-up engagements. Among them was DeepRad.AI, which secured a spot in the global Top 3 during its debut at the competition. Co-CEO Jill Lin described the trip as highly fruitful and a vital step toward entering the U.S. healthcare market.

Nearly 20 Taiwanese startups also participated in a startup forum held in San Francisco today, hosted by renowned entrepreneur and “Silicon Valley Aya” Ya-Tzu Cheng. Speaking at the event, Jill Lin, Co-CEO of DeepRad.AI, shared that this was the company’s first time attending the SelectUSA Summit. During the event, the team connected with numerous U.S.-based healthcare institutions, sparking promising discussions for potential U.S. expansion.

The SelectUSA Investment Summit, held May 11–14 in Washington, D.C., brought together global investors and U.S. state and local economic development organizations. Taiwan’s delegation featured 34 startups, and three were recognized among the top three globally in their respective tracks: DeepRad.AI, Tensor Tech, and Precise Big Data.

DeepRad.AI impressed judges with its AI medical imaging technology, which enables multi-disease risk assessment through a single screening. Its capabilities include pulmonary nodule detection, coronary artery calcium (CAC) risk analysis, osteoporosis risk assessment, and early indicators for dementia. Competing in the Open Tech category, the company earned a spot among the global Top 3.

Jill Lin noted that the summit proved to be a valuable experience. The team held promising talks with institutions such as the Mayo Clinic, which operates a medical innovation hub in Arizona—considered a potential landing point for DeepRad’s U.S. expansion. After the summit, the team visited Silicon Valley to gain further insights and explore future collaboration opportunities.

According to Lin, the decision to pursue U.S. market entry is driven not only by government support but also by the nature of their product—a software-based medical device designed to assist physicians. Given that the U.S. is the world’s largest market in this domain, DeepRad.AI set its sights on the U.S. from day one.

While acknowledging that the U.S. has many competitors in the AI healthcare space, Lin emphasized the agility of Taiwanese startups:

“We tailor our solutions to match local user habits and clinical workflows, ensuring our product meets the expectations of U.S. physicians.”

She added that while many AI systems may eventually reach similar levels of diagnostic accuracy, user experience remains a key differentiator.

“Taiwanese startups are highly adaptive and responsive. We’re confident in our ability to deliver a superior user experience.”

The other two startups recognized in the global Top 3 were:

Tensor Tech, an aerospace company developing spherical reaction wheel motors and related systems to accelerate its entry into the space industry; and

Precise Big Data, which is developing real-time cardiac sensors capable of accurately identifying vascular hotspots to support long-term ECG diagnostics in hospitals. (Edited by Tang Sheng-Yang) Published on May 16, 2025