TiBOOST Extends Deadline to Oct. 5 as Overseas AI Startups Top Half of Entries

Taiwan's Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) and National Development Council (NDC) have extended the TiBOOST submission deadline to October 5, as overseas entries now account for more than half of all applications to the AI startup competition.

The deadline extension gives founders additional time to submit applications. The fact that international applicants outnumber domestic ones signals that the program has drawn attention well beyond Taiwan's borders.

What is TiBOOST?

TiBOOST is a joint initiative by the FSC and NDC designed to boost AI startups. The program pairs Taiwan's financial regulators with its top economic planning agency, giving participants direct access to the institutions that shape the island's regulatory and funding environment.

The collaboration between the FSC and NDC reflects a coordinated government approach: one agency oversees financial markets, the other steers national development strategy. Startups admitted to the program work within that dual framework.

Why did the deadline move to October 5?

Organizers pushed the submission deadline to October 5, according to the announcement. Strong overseas interest appears to be a driving factor behind the decision, with entries from outside Taiwan crossing the 50% mark of total submissions.

For international founders, the extension provides extra runway to prepare materials. For the agencies, it widens the funnel of qualified AI candidates.

What does the overseas turnout signal?

More than half of TiBOOST entries coming from abroad marks a notable result for a Taiwan-government-backed startup program. It indicates that AI founders globally see value in Taiwan's combination of regulatory engagement and development support.

The FSC-NDC partnership also positions Taiwan as a credible destination for AI ventures seeking a foothold in Asia's financial technology ecosystem.

What happens next?

Startups now have until October 5 to file their submissions. The composition of the final cohort — majority international, by current entry figures — will shape the program's first cycle and, with it, the template for how Taiwan's regulators and development planners court AI companies going forward.