• MetAI’s technology reduces digital twin simulation times from thousands of hours to just three minutes, optimizing operational tasks.
  • Nvidia led a $4M seed round for MetAI, marking its first investment in a Taiwanese startup, alongside Kenmec and other investors.

Nvidia has made its first investment in a Taiwanese startup, backing MetAI in a $4 million seed round alongside strategic and financial investors, including Kenmec Mechanical Engineering, Solomon Technology, SparkLabs Taiwan, Addin Ventures, and Upstream Ventures.

This investment aligns with Nvidia’s broader focus on robotics and industrial AI, driven by its Omniverse platform and the recently launched Mega framework for creating digital twins.

MetAI’s breakthrough lies in its ability to rapidly generate “SimReady” digital twins using AI and 3D technology, converting CAD files into functional 3D environments in minutes. The startup focuses on sectors like semiconductor fabs, smart warehouses, and automation, while also generating synthetic data for AI training and validation.

“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,” said Daniel Yu, CEO and co-founder of MetAI.

The startup's approach integrates generative models and AI-driven layouts to create digital twins tailored for physical AI implementation.

MetAI's innovation has already garnered attention. In 2023, it partnered with Kenmec to develop digital twins for automated warehouses, reducing simulation times from thousands of hours to just three minutes. These advancements, combined with its integration with Nvidia’s Omniverse platform, aim to set new standards in industries like manufacturing and robotics.

Nico Caprez, corporate development manager at Nvidia, said,

“MetAI’s integration with NVIDIA Omniverse represents a transformative step forward for industrial digital twins and physical AI in simulations.”

The startup plans to expand its R&D team and establish a U.S. office by 2025.

“Taiwan serves as our testing ground... We are expanding to the U.S. market due to high labor costs and operational complexities,” said Dave Liu, COO.

With a projected $3 million in revenue from a single project this year, MetAI is poised to drive the next wave of simulation-driven AI solutions.

Edited by Harshajit Sarmah