Beyond the Pitch: GAIC Taiwan Connects Agrifood Startups from 8 Countries with Global Market Opportunities
The inaugural Global Agrifood Innovation Championship – Taiwan Edition (GAIC) concluded at Taiwan Smart Agriweek 2026, bringing together 38 startup teams from eight countries across the AgriTech and FoodTech sectors.
Co-organized by MY Exhibition, Singapore-based agrifood accelerator Innovate 360, and Foodland Ventures, the first edition welcomed startups from Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, India and the United States.Taiwan’s HYARKS was named AgriTech Champion, while South Korea’s Delivery Lab took the FoodTech Champion title.
But for GAIC, the competition was only the beginning.Several participating startups have already moved beyond the pitch stage into overseas market validation, distribution discussions, investment conversations and commercial partnerships — demonstrating GAIC’s ambition to connect innovation directly with industry and real-world market opportunities.
More Than a Startup Competition
GAIC was created within the Taiwan Smart Agriweek ecosystem to bring together four essential forces: startups, industry, capital and international markets.
Rather than presenting innovation in isolation, participating teams were able to engage directly with industry leaders, international buyers, investors and potential business partners attending Taiwan Smart Agriweek.
Solutions presented across the competition addressed challenges ranging from AI and precision agriculture to smart machinery, sustainable feed, circular agriculture, food distribution and supply-chain efficiency.
The goal was clear: help promising technologies move beyond the pitch deck and into real applications.
Taiwan and Korea Take the First GAIC Titles
AgriTech Champion HYARKS, from Taiwan, presented marine technology solutions combining unmanned surface vessels and tethered drones for applications including tuna search and ocean data collection. By transforming data gathered at sea into actionable marine intelligence, the company aims to support smarter and more efficient fisheries operations. HYARKS is currently seeking seed-round investment.
FoodTech Champion Delivery Lab, from South Korea, is building an integrated B2B food supply and logistics network through its OrderHero platform. Its model combines mobile fulfillment centers (MFCs), digital automation systems (DAS) and AI-powered transportation management systems (TMS) to improve urban food distribution efficiency.
Its business momentum continued after GAIC, with Delivery Lab moving forward with a second-phase Singapore project through a cooperation agreement with Solmart.
From Taiwan to International Markets
Commercial progress was not limited to the two champions.
Nanofertech is advancing discussions with an agricultural association in Florida, United States, for large-scale field trials of its amino-acid metal molecular technology targeting major crop diseases, while also exploring distribution opportunities generated through the event.
LOCOL is developing technology to transform cocoa by-products into livestock feed, targeting both cost reduction and lower methane emissions. The company is using Taiwan as a bridge for further expansion into the Japanese market.
In smart agricultural machinery, Elin Tech Co. Ltd. attracted inquiries from buyers in Singapore and Thailand with its remotely operated air-blast sprayer, designed to reduce farmers’ direct exposure to agricultural chemicals.
Other participating startups also used GAIC and Taiwan Smart Agriweek to initiate conversations with investors, distributors and potential industry partners.
These developments reflect a broader purpose behind the competition: a startup does not need to win the championship to win an opportunity.
Taiwan as a Gateway for Agrifood Innovation
Climate pressure, labor shortages, food security and the need for more resilient supply chains are accelerating demand for practical innovation throughout the global agrifood sector.
GAIC brought those challenges closer to the technologies being developed to address them.
Kai-Xuan Lin, Director-General of the Youth Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government, highlighted the growing need for technologies that can respond to real production challenges and ultimately reach international markets.
Clark Lu, Partner at Foodland Ventures and a member of the GAIC jury, also emphasized the innovation and entrepreneurial energy demonstrated by participating teams, noting that the impact of the competition extends beyond the companies that ultimately receive awards.
With support from industry and public-sector partners, GAIC aims to build a platform where promising technologies can be seen, tested, connected and commercialized.
Beyond the Pitch
The first GAIC Taiwan Edition may have concluded, but the business journey for its participating startups continues.
Building on the international network of Taiwan Smart Agriweek, GAIC will continue connecting AgriTech and FoodTech innovators with industry partners, investors, buyers and market opportunities across Asia and beyond.
From Pitch to Field. From Field to Market.
GAIC is designed to help innovation move beyond the competition stage — from ideas to applications, from Taiwan to the world.
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Organizers
MY Exhibition | Innovate 360 | Foodland Ventures
Supporting Partners
Youth Bureau of Kaohsiung City Government | National Science and Technology Council | Mercuries F&B
Media Contact
MY Exhibition Co., Ltd.
Arden Lin | Marketing Specialist
Tel: +886-2-2598-2630 ext. 122
Email: arden_lin@myexhibition.com.tw
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Taiwan Smart Agriweek 2026 concluded on September 10 after three days of international sourcing, technology exchange and business networking.
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