Plug and Play Ventures’ Janis Skriveris shares what investors look for—and how founders leverage ecosystems, corporate partners, and Taiwan–Silicon Valley collaboration to move faster.
👉 Watch: https://www.sparknify.com/post/20260125-janisskriveris-en
⏰ ICTGC Batch 4 deadline coming up—mentorship, manufacturing access & global exposure.
Apply: https://ictaiwanchallenge.org
#DeepTech #Semiconductors #AIHardware #StartupScaling #ICTGC #TaiwanTech #SiliconValley #Sparknify
2025 was a big year for Sparknify 🚀
From launching the first-ever Human vs. AI Film Festival, to screening A Chip Odyssey in Silicon Valley with 1,200+ attendees, to connecting founders and investors at Taiwan Demo Day—this year was all about community, creativity, and collaboration.
We’re kicking off 2026 with Bridging Silicon Valley & Taiwan: Semiconductor & AI Synergies
📍 Palo Alto | 🗓 Jan 13, 2026
👉 https://www.sparknify.com/bridging-svt
Your first hardware hire might be setting you up to fail.
Most startups don’t stall on tech—they stall because the team is built to perfect the demo, not survive reality.
Hiring ML or firmware first feels right.
Without systems & manufacturing thinking, great demos break fast.
Read: https://www.sparknify.com/post/20251228-your-first-hardware-hire-en
#HardwareStartups #DeepTech #ManufacturingMatters #EdgeAI #ICTGC
Most hardware startups don’t fail on tech—they fail after the demo.
Prototype works. Pitch lands. Then: costs spike, suppliers misalign, heat shows up, certification drags, runway leaks.
That’s the Prototype Trap—stuck between proof and production.
Read: https://www.sparknify.com/post/20251226-prototype-trap-en
💡 Demos get attention. 🏭 Products survive reality.
#HardwareStartups #PrototypeTrap #DeepTech #EdgeAI #Robotics #ManufacturingMatters #TaiwanTech #ICTGC
🚀 Come find out how Taiwan can help early-stage startup founders.
From prototyping and manufacturing to semiconductors, AI, and global scale—learn how founders can actually tap into Taiwan’s startup ecosystem.
📍 Palo Alto
📅 Jan 13, 2026
👉 https://www.sparknify.com/bridging-svt
#StartupFounders #EarlyStageStartups #TaiwanTech #ICTGC #AIHardware #Sparknify
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