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Nvidia supports MetaI, a Taiwanese startup that creates AI-powered digital twins


Nvidia has been increasingly interested in robotics and other industrial AI applications, and its implementation. Omniverse platform, and soon Megathe Omniverse Blueprint plan to create a digital twin to run these apps. It is also launching digital twin startups to make it happen.

About Taiwan a year has created a model that can quickly create “SimReady” (simulation-ready) digital twins using AI and 3D technology, by converting CAD files into 3D workspaces within minutes.

Now Nvidia is backing MetAI with its first round of funding, a $4 million investment that is the chip giant’s first investment in a Taiwanese startup. Some of the rounds are mixed with other financial and investment players, including Kenmec Mechanical Engineering, Solomon Technology, SparkLabs Taiwan, Addin Ventures, and Upstream Ventures.

The next wave of AI, known as generative physical AI, relies on precision simulation environments to train and validate robots that are used on autonomous devices, to create functional AI before deployment. MetaI argues that the digital twin that helps to create will be essential in the process.

“Digital twins have long been seen as a barrier to entry for physical AI due to the months or years of effort required to bring development to fruition,” said Daniel Yu, CEO and co-founder of MetaI, in an interview.

MetaI focuses on AI-powered digital twins built on advanced semiconductor fabrics, smart warehouses and automation. It also generates artificial intelligence data within an AI-powered digital twin.

Renton Hsu, Yu’s co-founder and CTO of MetaI, has a background in 3D technology and AI, and started working with digital twins while building AI software for companies: they were used as a way to work when customers weren’t there. enough data to train their systems. He then realized that he could apply the same to 3D systems, combining 3D and AI technology to create AI and 3D solutions, and teamed up with Yu (who comes to the startup with experience in the digital transformation industry) and a third co-founder, Dave. Liu (COO), to start MetaI.

The achievement was enough to win first place in the aa competition run by Nvidia, making Hsu the country’s “Jetson AI ambassador”.

MetAI’s competitors are large and small companies that have developed hand-held digital technologies in manufacturing. They include Siemens Digital Industries, Dassault Systemes, Hexagon AB, Duality AI, and Intagles. In the artificial intelligence sector, there are many companies, including Sky Engine and Scale AI.

MetaI believes it has a unique approach compared to all of these.

“Unlike competitors who prioritize operational efficiency or IoT integration, MetaI uses artificial intelligence models and AI-powered designs to create digital twins that are designed for AI learning and implemented in real-world situations,” said Yu. “This method not only advances the development of digital twins but also ensures that they can be used directly in advanced systems such as robotics, bridging the gap between simulation and reality.”

MetaI differentiates itself by creating creative insights within its AI-powered digital twin. Yu also said that it helps users to create information designed for operations, improve AI training and validation. “Instead of creating remote data sets, MetAI creates virtual worlds (ie, simulated worlds) – virtual environments that function like the real world,” he said.

The two-year-old startup – whose products range from artificial intelligence to digital twins – has a few customers and is already making money by partnering with manufacturing and automation businesses, and this year hopes to bring in $3. million from a single project, Yu said. . Funding comes from project revenue, product registration, and licensing fees from ongoing projects, he added.

“The integration of MetAI and NVIDIA Omniverse represents the evolution of digital twin and physical AI in simulation,” Nico Caprez, director of corporate development at Nvidia, said in a statement. “Their ability to create an AI learning environment could set a new standard for industries from manufacturing to robotics.”

In 2023, MetAI partnered with Kenmec to develop digital twins for automated storage. MetAI technology is said to have significantly reduced the time required to match digital twins from thousands of hours to just three minutes, resulting in significant savings in the verification process.

With the latest investment, MetaI plans to expand its R&D team for rapid development and to optimize its marketing strategy to meet the growing demand. On top of that, the Taiwanese startup plans to set up a US office and relocate its headquarters in the second half of 2025, Yu told TechCrunch.

“Taiwan is our testing ground, where we work closely with Taiwanese leaders to integrate deep knowledge into our models, ensuring our solutions are robust and scalable,” said Liu. “Given the scale and demand for managed simulation solutions, we are expanding the US market due to high operating costs and operational complexity. Our growth strategy is focused on providing end-to-end solutions, including SaaS offerings and standalone AI agents designed to achieve real-world experiences in these industries.”



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