TOP 5 STARTUP WHEEL 2026 – INTERNATIONAL TRACK: HOW IS INNOVATION ADDRESSING GLOBAL CHALLENGES?
From Malaysia and Thailand to Taiwan and beyond, the Top 5 Startup Wheel 2026 – International Category brings together innovation stories shaped by different markets and contexts.
What connects these five startups is not their industries, but the way each team responds to a specific need. From aquaculture, sustainable construction, and elderly care to digital identity and multilingual communication, they are exploring new approaches through technology.
AquFish – Using AI to Shape the Future of Sustainable Aquaculture
AquFish, a startup from Malaysia, addresses aquaculture through a very specific challenge: optimizing fish feeding. The team initially developed an automated feeding machine. They then recognized a broader need to help farmers make decisions based on real-time pond data. This led to the development of AquMonitor – Aquaculture Intelligence Platform. The platform uses databases and AI to support precision feeding. It helps farmers monitor, analyze, and optimize farm operations.
Rather than replacing farmers’ expertise, AquFish positions technology as a decision-support tool. By combining AI, data, and practical experience, the startup aims to make aquaculture more efficient and sustainable. At Startup Wheel 2026 – International Category, AquFish went through more than five months of selection and connection to become the Champion of Startup Wheel 2026 – International Category. The achievement also brings the story of AI-powered aquaculture from Malaysia to the region’s innovation ecosystem.
Agreka Build – Turning Agricultural Waste into Building Materials for a Net-Zero Future
While AquFish applies AI to aquaculture, Agreka Build explores innovation at the intersection of agriculture and construction. The startup develops wheat straw composite from agricultural waste. The bio-based insulation material is designed for the construction industry. It addresses two challenges at the same time: reusing agricultural by-products and reducing the environmental impact of building materials.
Agreka Build follows a circular economy approach. Waste from one industry can become a source of materials for another. This model aims to reduce waste, create additional value for agriculture, and support the transition toward a Net-Zero economy. As part of the Top 5 Startup Wheel 2026 – International Category, Agreka Build brings the story of bio-based materials and sustainable construction to a platform connecting startups from different markets.
Tech Care System – Building a Smart Elderly Care Ecosystem
Inspired by an issue within the founder’s own family, Tech Care System develops technology for a growing need in an aging society. The startup focuses on how to keep older adults safe and connected when their loved ones cannot be by their side. Its flagship product, Th.ai Stick, is a smart cane equipped with GPS, an SOS button, and fall detection. The device also supports the monitoring of health indicators such as heart rate, blood pressure, SpO₂, and body temperature.
Th.ai Stick goes beyond a standalone hardware device. It connects with a Web App and Mobile App. The system allows families to monitor health information, location, historical data, and emergency alerts. Through this ecosystem, Tech Care System aims to connect older adults, families, caregivers, and technology. At Startup Wheel 2026 – International Category, the startup was named among the Top 5. It brings a HealthTech story rooted in real human needs.
Crosshub – Connecting Digital Identity and Global Payments
As people increasingly travel and conduct transactions across borders, Crosshub addresses the fragmentation between identity, verification, and payments. The company develops Identity-Driven Transaction Architecture. The solution connects onboarding, identity verification, and payment within a single journey. Crosshub’s ecosystem includes Travel Pass, IDBlock, B·Pay, and V·Pay. These solutions aim to create a more seamless transaction experience across different markets.
At Startup Wheel 2026, Crosshub introduced Smart ID. The solution focuses on integrating digital identity, verification, and payments into a unified system. Its place in the Top 5 Startup Wheel 2026 – International Category highlights Crosshub’s approach to an increasingly important challenge in the digital economy: building infrastructure that can connect people, identities, and transactions across borders.
VMFi – Turning Every Voice into Value with AI
VMFi was founded in Taiwan in 2020. The startup began by addressing language barriers through AI speech translation. Building on its experience in low-latency technology, VMFi aims to enable real-time multilingual communication. VMFi’s technology platform is built around its AI Voice Engine. The technology supports real-time two-way communication, with latency targeted at below 0.5 seconds. Products such as TranSpeech and TransDisplay are designed for a range of environments. These include international conferences, airports, hotels, service points, and government agencies.
VMFi goes beyond language translation with its Voice – to – Value – V2V concept. The goal is to turn conversational data into valuable insights that can help businesses understand customers and optimize their services. At Startup Wheel 2026 – International Category, VMFi was named among the Top 5. The startup is expanding its journey from AI Translation to Voice Intelligence, working toward a world where every voice can be understood and every interaction can create value.
Top 5 Startup Wheel 2026 – A Diverse Landscape of International Startups
From AI and HealthTech to ClimateTech, sustainable materials, digital identity, and Voice AI, the Top 5 Startup Wheel 2026 – International Category reflects the diversity of innovation emerging across international markets. These stories also show how startups are moving beyond the scope of a single product. They are connecting different fields, applying technology to real-world challenges, building ecosystems, and exploring opportunities to scale across markets.
The five startups take different approaches, but they share a common spirit. Innovation is not only about creating new technology. It is also about identifying real-world challenges and finding new ways to create value. From smart aquaculture and Net-Zero building materials to elderly care, cross-border identity and payments, and Voice AI, each startup brings its own story. Together, they contribute to a broader picture of the international startup ecosystem and the solutions shaping the future.
| The Top 5 Startup Wheel 2026 – International Category is therefore more than a list of standout startups from this year’s competition. It offers a snapshot of the approaches being developed to address economic, social, and environmental challenges. |
