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Meet Greater South 2025 Wraps Up in Kaohsiung: Over 12,000 Attendees and 2.5× Growth in Business Matchmaking Signal a Thriving Innovation Hub
The fifth edition of Meet Greater South successfully concluded on August 23. Co-hosted by Business Next and Meet Startup, in partnership with the Kaohsiung City Government, the event welcomed more than 300 startup teams from nine countries, including the United States, Japan, and South Korea. Over two days, the exhibition drew more than 12,000 visitors. Business matchmaking sessions also hit a record high, with over 350 meetings, nearly 2.5 times more than last year.
Kaohsiung is becoming a new strategic hub for semiconductors and digital innovation
As global supply chains shift, Kaohsiung is rising as a key city for the semiconductor and digital industries. Government and international representatives attended the event in person, including Kaohsiung Mayor Chen Chi-mai, Neil Gibson from the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), and Taiwan's Minister of Economic Affairs, Kuo Jyh-huei. Together they highlighted the region’s growing strengths in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and green technology.
Central government participation played an important role this year. The Ministry of Economic Affairs gathered over 10 national research institutes to showcase 30 real-world AI applications. These projects showed how AI is helping traditional industries like petrochemicals and materials evolve. The Kaohsiung City Government also created a dedicated sustainability zone that brought together 25 local startups. Through a “big company supports small startup” model, the city shared its vision for building a smart and sustainable port.
More international presence and deeper industry engagement
The event’s international visibility continued to grow. This year, 31 startup teams from abroad joined the exhibition. Business matchmaking also reached new heights, with more than 350 formal meetings between startups, investors, and corporate partners. Companies are no longer just observing, they are actively looking for partnerships and solutions.
Neil Gibson of AIT confirmed that the United States plans to continue supporting exchanges between startups in both countries.
This year’s main forum, the AI & Semiconductor Economy Forum, focused on two real challenges companies face when upgrading with AI: fragmented data and lack of knowledge transfer.
The forum featured international speakers such as Konrad Young , former R&D head at TSMC, and South Korean AI chip startup DEEPX. Together, they offered a clear roadmap for how AI is being integrated into southern Taiwan’s industries.
Startup GoEdge.ai shared how it uses AI models to preserve and digitize the production knowledge of experienced engineers. This helps semiconductor R&D teams reduce trial and error and accelerate development. The company also introduced a compact 3x3 cm sensor that monitors equipment health on the factory floor. With its unique "decay rate" indicator, the sensor makes it easy for frontline operators to detect aging machinery early. This innovation addresses one of the key challenges in AIoT adoption—real-time data collection.
Food and tech: what restaurants can teach us about customer loyalty
The F&B Entrepreneurship Salon, now in its third year, remained one of the most popular sessions. This year’s theme centered around a surprising idea: in a world where tech handles everything, the winning edge still comes from human connection between brands and their customers.
Speakers from well-known Taiwanese brands like Milksha, Matthew’s Choice, Enjoy Warmth, and Ocard shared how they built long-term customer trust.
Nina W. Chou from Milksha said that brand loyalty is not built on one success, but on repeating trust a thousand times until it becomes part of your brand.
Matthew Wang, founder of Matthew’s Choice, shared how his brand’s long-standing bottle recycling program and in-store experiences helped drive over nine million purchases.
Qilin Li from Enjoy Warmth explained how they turned a traditional karaoke business into a cozy space for three generations of families to enjoy meals together.
Finally, Ocard founder Vinek Chen showed how their AI tools help predict customer return cycles, helping brands build relationships rather than rely on discounts.
New collaborations and talent help build the full ecosystem
To add more diversity to the local startup scene, Meet Greater South introduced new crossover programs this year. One highlight was a lifestyle market co-hosted with Kaohsiung’s Milun Community. With over 20 handmade craft and local culture vendors, the market brought a creative energy to the tech event.
The event also hosted a talent zone for the first time, with on-site recruitment from major employers like ASE Group and Amazon Global Selling. The goal was to connect technical innovation with real hiring needs and professional talent in Kaohsiung’s growing tech corridor.
Kaohsiung’s innovation scene continues to grow
Now in its fifth year, Meet Greater South has welcomed more than 60,000 visitors and supported hundreds of business matchmaking meetings since its launch. This year, there was a noticeable rise in startup teams focused on AI and semiconductors, reflecting current market trends and the direction of Kaohsiung’s industry development.
Mayor Chen Chi-mai said that in the past five years, startups and large companies have worked side by side to build a strong innovation ecosystem. Global tech leaders like NVIDIA and Foxconn have already invested in Kaohsiung. The city is now ready to take its place on the global innovation stage.
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