The startup world is competitive, chance to pitch clients with a unique differentiator is priceless. The "Startup Island TAIWAN", initiated by the National Development Council (NDC) of Taiwan, showed the commitment of the Taiwan government supporting startup and as the unified brand for all Taiwanese startups to promote oversea and to create a better social impact for the ecosystem. 

Photo: Mei-Ling Chen (middle at the first row with the Startup Island TAIWAN banner), Minister of National Development Council (NDC), attended the brand launch event for Startup Island TAIWAN today (December 18th) along with over 100 entrepreneurs, including those from AppWorks, Garage+, and AAMA. Startup Island TAIWAN, representing as the communal brand for the startup community in Taiwan, is also supported by Minister without Portfolio Audrey Tang, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Financial Supervisory Commission, Overseas Community Affairs Council, Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Science and Technology, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Photo: Minister Chen on the stage for keynote speech of the event

“For two years in a row”, said Minister Chen, “Taiwan was selected as one of the four super innovators by World Economic Forum, along with Germany, USA and Switzerland. According to Global Entrepreneurship Monitor: 2018/19 Global Report by Babson College and London Business School, Taiwan was ranked 4th in National Entrepreneurship Context Index. It indicated that we have great innovation capabilities, and we should be more confident of ourselves”. National startup brand is a key policy in Action Plan for Enhancing Taiwan’s Startup Ecosystem. As an outstanding example of public-private partnership, Startup Island TAIWAN is the result after extensive discussions with startup communities. “This brand is from startup, with startup, and for startup,” said Minister Chen. “It belongs to all Taiwanese startups, and we welcome all startups in Taiwan to carry this brand in their global expansions.”

The four colors of Startup Island TAIWAN represents those characteristics that Taiwan is known for: diverse culture, daring innovation, cutting-edge tech, and endless creativity. And the logo itself, shaped like a DNA, symbolizes that the spirit of innovation is embedded in the genes of all Taiwanese.

Dr. I. C. Jan shared his insights as the Ambassador of Startup Genome in Taiwan. Based on his abundant experiences in participating in international startup exhibitions and conferences, he emphasized the importance of a unified and consistent identity for marketing Taiwan. He believed Startup Island TAIWAN could reflect the uniqueness and diversity of Taiwan with emotional connections and resonance. He expected the brand would help Taiwan have a voice in the global startup communities in the future. He also urged full supports from both public and private sectors. As former brand consultant of 2017 Summer Universiade, Backer-Founder CEO Tahan Lin pointed out that Taiwan needed storytelling capabilities and consensus from diverse opinions. 

However, we all hoped the country to change for the better. With the brand, Startup Island TAIWAN, we could introduce more about dynamics of Taiwan startups to the world.

This event was well recognized by startup communities and attended by more than 100 startup representatives from AppWorks, Garage+, Meet Startup @ TW, AAMA, Taiwan Startup Stadium, DIT Startup, TechOrange, BE Accelerator, Anchor Taiwan, Startboard, TAVAR, StarFab, Zashare, Taiwan Tech Arena, and Startup Terrace.

To explore the DNA of the innovation and entrepreneurship in Taiwan, National Development Council has held over 10 meetings and workshops since last October. It invited over 100 startups and opinion leaders in Taiwan, and consulted with officials from Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Economic Affairs, and Taiwan Tech Arena. After one year of extensive communications, government and startups concluded with the brand, Startup Island TAIWAN. It will be presented for the first time in Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2020. In the future, NDC will, in collaboration with various ministries and startups, continue to promote Taiwan startups to the world under the brand, Startup Island TAIWAN.