DECEMBERASIA BUSINESS OUTLOOK8NEWSROOMGoogle has contributed to Taiwan's growing status as a worldwide tech and semiconductor powerhouse, by setting up its largest AI infrastructure hardware engineering center outside the US in TaipeiThe new center will be a hub for cutting-edge engineering work that can be leveraged by Google's worldwide data centers. Work on AI servers, power systems, cooling technologies, and optical interconnects will be prominent here.At the ribbon-cutting event, a statement from Google Cloud, VP, Aamer Mahmood pointed out that innovations made in Taipei are promptly implemented in the data centers that Google operates in different parts of the world.The engineering centre is one of the many moves by Google to deepen its roots in Taiwan where it has launched the first Asia Pacific data center, made significant investments in subsea cable infrastructure, and grown its local workforce twentyfold over the past decade.· Google opens new AI engineering hub in Taiwan.· Center strengthens partnerships with local tech giants.· Boosts demand for Taiwan's AI hardware ecosystem.Taiwan President Lai Ching-te complimented such new facility as an eye-opening sign of Google's unending commitment to Taiwan's tech future.Raymond Greene, the US de facto ambassador, also recognized the relocation as proof of robust US-Taiwan economic and technological relationships.The expansion, as per industry sources, might generate a substantial and possibly nine-figure volume of orders for locally-produced AI server components in Taiwan. Such components would include liquid cooling systems, power delivery modules, PCBs, and high-speed optical networking solutionsBesides, Google's Taiwan locations are an example of how to incorporate sustainability into the data center model, as they are equipped with solar installations, use low-emission refrigerants, and have water-saving systems--thus, they set a standard for the world in green AI data centers. Kaaj, an emerging AI-fintech startup specializing in credit intelligence for small and medium-sized borrowers, has raised $3.8 million in seed funding led by Kindred Ventures, alongside Better Tomorrow Ventures and additional investors.With this new capital, the company plans to accelerate product development, expand its module suite, and grow its customer base of lenders and brokers serving the SME financing market.Kaaj enters the market with a platform designed to automate underwriting workflows for lenders managing small business loans.According to published information, its technology can extract, verify, and organise borrower documents and financial data within minutes--significantly reducing timelines that traditionally take days.The platform integrates seamlessly with existing loan origination systems and CRM tools, enabling lenders to streamline operations without major infrastructure changes.· Kaaj raises $3.8M to scale AI-driven underwriting for SME lenders.· Its platform processes documents in minutes and integrates with LOS & CRM systems.· Over $5B in loan applications already processed, proving strong market traction.The company reports that its system has already processed over $5 billion in loan applications, demonstrating strong market readiness and adoption.The cost of underwriting smaller loans has historically been too high for lenders to maintain profitability, creating structural challenges within SME lending. By automating tedious and resource-heavy workflows, Kaaj aims to shift this dynamic and enable lenders to underwrite efficiently at scale.Through its focus on AI-powered underwriting, SME lending automation, and credit intelligence platforms, Kaaj is positioning itself as a key enabler in the future of digital lending. Its innovation aligns with broader industry demand for fintech automation tools, AI lending solutions, and small business finance technology, helping reshape the economics of underwriting for modern lenders. GOOGLE OPENS NEW AI ENGINEERING CENTER IN TAIWAN KAAJ SECURES $3.8M TO TRANSFORM SME LENDING WITH AI AUTOMATION
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