
MetAI, a Taiwanese AI startup specializing in rapid digital twin generation, has secured $4 million in seed funding, marking NVIDIA's first investment in Taiwan's startup ecosystem. The round also attracted strategic backers including Kenmec Mechanical Engineering, Solomon Technology, and several venture capital firms.
Key Points:
- MetAI's technology converts CAD files into functional 3D environments in minutes, compared to traditional methods that take months
- The startup's recent collaboration with Kenmec reduced warehouse simulation time from thousands of hours to three minutes
- The company expects to generate $3 million from a single project this year, showing early market validation
Digital twins have long been a bottleneck in industrial AI adoption, often requiring months or years of development before companies can begin training autonomous systems. MetAI is tackling this challenge head-on with its MetSynthesizer Generative Algorithm, which combines AI and 3D technology to create simulation-ready environments almost instantly.
"Digital twins have long been seen as a barrier to entry for physical AI due to the months or even years of effort required for development," MetAI CEO and co-founder Daniel Yu said. The startup's approach focuses specifically on advanced semiconductor fabs, smart warehouses, and automation systems - sectors where accurate simulation can significantly reduce deployment risks and costs.
The investment aligns with NVIDIA's broader push into industrial AI applications through its Omniverse platform. "MetAI's integration with NVIDIA Omniverse represents a transformative step forward for industrial digital twins and physical AI in simulations," says Nico Caprez, corporate development manager at NVIDIA. "Their ability to create scalable environments for AI training will potentially set a new standard for industries ranging from manufacturing to robotics."
The startup's founding team brings together complementary expertise. CTO Renton Hsu, an NVIDIA Jetson AI ambassador, brings deep technical knowledge in 3D engineering and AI. Yu contributes experience in digital transformation projects, while COO Dave Liu adds 17 years of investment expertise.
MetAI faces competition from established players like Siemens Digital Industries and Dassault Systemes, as well as newer entrants like Duality AI and Intangles. However, the company believes its focus on AI-driven layouts and synthetic data generation sets it apart. Rather than creating isolated datasets, MetAI builds what Yu calls "world simulators" - dynamic virtual environments that mirror real-world physics and operations.
The fresh funding will support R&D expansion and accelerate go-to-market strategies. MetAI also plans to establish a U.S. office and relocate its headquarters there in late 2025, targeting the American market's growing demand for simulation-driven solutions.
"Taiwan serves as our testing ground, where we collaborate with Taiwanese industry leaders to integrate deep vertical knowledge into our models," says Liu. The company's expansion strategy includes both point solutions and end-to-end offerings, with SaaS products and vertical AI agents designed for rapid real-world implementation.
As manufacturing and logistics operations grow more complex, the need for accurate, rapid simulation becomes increasingly critical. MetAI's approach to accelerating digital twin creation could remove a significant barrier to industrial AI adoption, particularly in sectors where real-world testing carries high costs and risks.