From Silicon Valley to Shanghai: Why AI Needs a Body
SVTR, AWS, and AWE join forces to find the top 15 AI startups ready to bridge the gap between “Silicon Valley Brains” and the “World’s Factory.”
Dear Founders,
Living in Palo Alto, we have all witnessed the explosion of GenAI. We’ve seen the models get smarter, faster, and more efficient. But there is a shift happening that is impossible to ignore: AI is trying to leave the screen.
Whether it’s embodied intelligence, humanoid robotics, or next-gen smart terminals, the next wave of AI isn’t just about code—it’s about the physical world. And the moment your software needs a body, every software company eventually becomes a “supply chain company.”
This transition brings three massive walls that every founder hits:
Compute Costs: The burn rate to train and run models is crushing.
Hardware Realities: Prototyping is easy; mass production at unit economics is hell.
Capital Matching: Finding investors who understand both deep tech and hardware cycles.
The Solution: Bridging the Gap
I founded Silicon Valley Technology Review (SVTR) to solve exactly this. We believe the future belongs to those who can connect the “Brain” (Silicon Valley innovation) with the “Body” (Global Supply Chain).
That is why I am proud to announce the official launch of the 2026 SVTR AI Venture Bootcamp (Spring Cohort: AWE Edition).
In partnership with AWS and AWE (one of the world’s top 3 consumer electronics expos), we are looking for 15 high-potential Global AI Startups to join us on a 5-day deep-loop business journey in Shanghai this March.
This isn’t just a trade show. It’s a “fast-track” to land your technology in the world’s most robust manufacturing ecosystem.
Why You Should Join Us
We have secured resources that are typically out of reach for early-stage teams:
☁️ Premier Compute Support (Powered by AWS): We are offering a Grand Prize of $100,000 in AWS Credits, with guaranteed tiered support ($10k-$25k) for all selected participants.
🛂 Visa & Entry “Green Channel”: China travel can be complex. We provide government-level invitation letters and assist with Visa Fast-Track or Port Visas to ensure you and your team land smoothly.
🏭 The Supply Chain “Deep Dive”: We aren’t just sitting in a conference hall. We will take you deep into the Yangtze River Delta to visit “Lights-out Factories” and top ODM manufacturers, letting you evaluate mass-production costs on-site.
💰 “Silicon Valley Night” Capital Match: Private 1-on-1 roadshows with top global VC firms and CVCs who are actively deploying capital in this space.
Choose Your Track
We know founders are at different stages, so we have designed three distinct paths:
🔴 Track A (Exhibitor): For teams with physical demos. You get a free core booth at AWE (reaching 200k+ attendees) to find global orders.
🔵 Track B (Delegation): For executives who need to inspect the supply chain and network, but don’t need to exhibit.
⚪ Track C (Virtual): For pure Cloud/SaaS teams. You stay in the loop for the $100k AWS Credits and fundraising matching without leaving your desk.
The Clock is Ticking
We are stationed in the brand-new “Eastern Hub · Advanced Tech Zone” at AWE, competing alongside global leaders in Embodied AI and chips. But logistics for an international cohort take time.
Important Dates (Beijing Time):
Feb 5: Priority Deadline for China Trip (Tracks A/B).
Feb 15: Final Selection & Invitation Letters Issued.
Mar 12-15: AWE Exhibition & Deep Networking in Shanghai.
We are limiting this cohort to 15 spots to ensure every founder gets personalized attention from our partners and investors.
If you are ready to give your AI a body, or if you simply need the compute power to build the next big thing, we want to see what you’re building.
Apply below before the Feb 5th priority deadline.
See you in Shanghai,
Min Liu
Founder, SVTR
Partner, PK Capital