Why Foreign Gen Z Founders are Looking at Taiwan

What makes a Gen Z founder skip the traditional career path and instead build a deep-tech startup? In this episode, we sit down with Chai Chang Yao, co-founder of Buildables, a Singapore startup developing AI-powered engineering models that help manufacturers inspect products, optimize R&D, and coordinate machines, humanoids, and workers from a single command center.

Chai shares why he started Buildables at such a young age, why Taiwan caught his attention as a market for expansion, and what he learned after joining AI TAIWAN. If you're curious about Taiwan's manufacturing ecosystem, the next generation of startup founders, or what it takes to build a global deep-tech company from Singapore, this conversation is for you.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What Buildables is building and how it is transforming manufacturing engineering
• Why Chai chose the startup path at such a young age
• Why Taiwan stood out as a place to expand and build partnerships
• What he learned from AI TAIWAN and Taiwan's startup ecosystem
• Advice for founders looking to take their startup beyond their home market
  
  

是什麼原因讓一位 Z 世代創辦人跳脫傳統升遷管道，直接投入深科技的創業領域？本集節目邀請到新加坡新創公司 Buildables 的共同創辦人 Chai Chang Yao。他們專門研發製造工程專用的 AI 系統模型，協助產線進行智慧品管檢驗、加速研發時程，並透過單一控制中心串接傳統機台、人形機器人與第一線作業員。

Chai 在節目中暢談年紀輕輕就創立 Buildables 的初衷、選擇臺灣作為海外拓展關鍵市場的原因，以及參與 AI TAIWAN 後的實際觀察。若想深入了解臺灣製造產業鏈的實力、新世代創業思維，或如何從新加坡打造放眼全球的深度科技企業，絕對不能錯過這集精采訪談。

本集重點內容：

• Buildables 的核心技術，以及團隊如何翻轉製造工程與產線運作
• Chai 選擇此時投身創業的關鍵動機
• 臺灣在市場拓展與供應鏈合作上吸引海外新創的優勢
• 參與 AI TAIWAN 獲得的第一手產業洞察與在地生態圈觀察
• 給予有意跨出本土市場、布局國際的新創創辦人的實務建議

📍 About Host: Paolo Joseph Lising
Senior Global Community Builder, Business Next Media Corp. 巨思媒體集團
#GlobalFounders #TaiwanStartup #StartupEcosystem
🌏 Helping foreign founders navigate Taiwan’s startup ecosystem by bringing together founders, investors, and innovators to share practical insights and support more global startups in Taiwan.
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paolojoseph/

📚 Learn more about Taiwan’s startup ecosystem 👉🏼 https://meetstartup.pse.is/4jhd5u

🚀 Stay connected with Taiwan–Silicon Valley innovation via the Startup Island TAIWAN Silicon Valley Hub
Website: https://sv.startupisland.tw/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-island-taiwan-sv/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Startup-Island-Taiwan-Silicon-Valley-Hub/61586221303202/

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The Gold in Taiwan’s Gold Card

In this episode, we sit down with Vivien Roggero, founder and CEO of Viorant, who shares his journey of building an AI startup in Taiwan through the Taiwan Employment Gold Card program. Drawing from his firsthand experience, Vivien explains why he chose Taiwan over other startup hubs, how the Gold Card became more than just a visa, and the lessons he learned while growing a company within Taiwan's innovation ecosystem. Whether you're considering relocating to Taiwan or simply curious about what it takes to launch a startup here, this episode offers practical advice and firsthand insights you won't find in an application guide.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why Vivien chose Taiwan as the home for Viorant
• How the Taiwan Employment Gold Card became a business advantage
• What international founders often misunderstand about building a startup in Taiwan
• The opportunities and challenges of growing a company in Taiwan's startup ecosystem
• Practical advice for founders considering Taiwan as their next destination

本集節目邀請到 Viorant 創辦人暨執行長 Vivien Roggero，分享他如何透過台灣就業金卡（Taiwan Employment Gold Card）在台灣打造一家 AI 新創的歷程。Vivien 以親身經驗說明，他為何在眾多創業聚落中選擇台灣、金卡如何從一張簽證延伸為實質的事業助力，以及在台灣創新生態系中成長所學到的功課。無論你正考慮移居台灣，或只是好奇在這裡創業究竟需要什麼，本集都將提供申請指南上看不到的實務建議與第一手觀察。

本集你將了解：

• Vivien 為何選擇台灣作為 Viorant 的落腳處
• 台灣就業金卡如何轉化為經營上的優勢
• 國際創辦人在台灣創業時，最常見的誤解是什麼
• 在台灣新創生態系中成長的機會與挑戰
• 給正在評估以台灣為下一站的創辦人的實用建議

📍 About Host: Paolo Joseph Lising
Senior Global Community Builder, Business Next Media Corp. 巨思媒體集團
#GlobalFounders #TaiwanStartup #StartupEcosystem
🌏 Helping foreign founders navigate Taiwan’s startup ecosystem by bringing together founders, investors, and innovators to share practical insights and support more global startups in Taiwan.
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paolojoseph/

📚 Learn more about Taiwan’s startup ecosystem 👉🏼 https://meetstartup.pse.is/4jhd5u

🚀 Stay connected with Taiwan–Silicon Valley innovation via the Startup Island TAIWAN Silicon Valley Hub
Website: https://sv.startupisland.tw/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-island-taiwan-sv/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Startup-Island-Taiwan-Silicon-Valley-Hub/61586221303202/

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AI Education, Gen Z, and the Future of Learning: Why This Generation Is Never Bored
Guest: Michael Cheng — Founder & CEO, Kikichat, and Ex-Managing Director, Drum Tower Ventures

In this episode, we speak with Kikichat founder & CEO and former Drum Tower Ventures Managing Director Michael Cheng, who spent two decades witnessing the rise of China’s startup ecosystem. He compares China’s survival-driven execution with Silicon Valley’s mission-driven innovation—and explains why Taiwan must expand beyond semiconductors into software ecosystems. Michael also explores why Gen Z may be the first generation to never experience boredom, how video became their default learning medium, and why constant digital stimulation can increase isolation. Finally, we discuss AI-powered education, the future role of teachers, and why successful startups must offer dramatically more value—not merely a 20% improvement.

• China vs. Silicon Valley: Survival-driven execution, rapid iteration, and breakthrough innovation in the AI era
• From Alibaba, TikTok to new platforms: How Chinese startups capture human behavior, connection, entertainment, and boredom
• Taiwan’s next competitive advantage: Moving from semiconductor dominance to software ecosystems
• Gen Z’s video-first learning behavior: Constant stimulation, social isolation, co-watching, and collaborative learning
• AI-powered education startups: Video discovery, personalized learning, the future of teachers, and building products that are 10X better

AI 教育、Z 世代與學習的未來：為何這個世代不再感到無聊？

在本集節目中，我們邀請到 Kikichat 創辦人兼執行長、前鼓樓創投（Drum Tower Ventures）董事總經理鄭偉立（Michael Cheng）。擁有二十年親歷中國新創生態系崛起歷程的經驗，他在節目中深入對比中國市場「生存導向」的極致執行力與矽谷「使命驅動」的突破性創新，並精準剖析臺灣為何必須跳脫半導體的單一優勢，跨足打造軟體生態系。Michael 亦分享了 Z 世代為何成為史上第一個與無聊絕緣的群體、影音內容如何躍升為他們首選的學習媒介，以及持續性的數位刺激又為何引發孤獨感。最後，我們探討了 AI 驅動的教育轉型、教師未來的全新角色，以及新創企業若想脫穎而出，為何必須提供跨越式的價值，而非僅僅兩成的邊際改善。

• 中國與矽谷之爭：AI 時代下的生存導向執行力、快速迭代理念與突破性創新
• 從阿里巴巴、TikTok 到新一代平台：中國新創企業如何精準掌握人類行為、社群連結、娛樂需求與解悶心理
• 臺灣的下一個競爭優勢：從半導體製造龍頭轉型走向軟體生態系
• Z 世代以影音為核心的學習行為：持續性的數位刺激、社交孤立現象、共賞文化與協同學習模式
• AI 驅動的教育新創：影音探索、個人化學習體驗、教師的角色演變，以及打造優於現有產品十倍的破局之道

📍 About Host: Uly Su
General Partner, Addins Venture
#CrossBorderMentor #StartupExpansion #TaiwanToSiliconValley
🌏 A cross-border mentor who supports startups in entering global markets, with deep experience in fundraising, talent strategy, and international operations across the U.S. and Taiwan.
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ulysu/

📚 Learn more about Taiwan’s startup ecosystem 👉🏼 https://meetstartup.pse.is/4jhd5u

🚀 Stay connected with Taiwan–Silicon Valley innovation via the Startup Island TAIWAN Silicon Valley Hub
Website: https://sv.startupisland.tw/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-island-taiwan-sv/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Startup-Island-Taiwan-Silicon-Valley-Hub/61586221303202/

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Taiwan Meets Japan: How Founders Can Win in Each Other's Markets

Japan and Taiwan are neighbours with overlapping supply chains — yet founders crossing between them keep making the same avoidable mistakes.

This episode features Kazumi Otani, a Japanese entrepreneur, investor, and Taiwan Gold Card holder who has invested in and supported startups across both ecosystems. She covers why founders should look beyond their home market, where each side goes wrong, and what actually works when expanding in either direction.

In this episode:

• Why Japanese founders should look at Taiwan, and Taiwanese founders at Japan
• The biggest mistake founders make entering each other's markets
• The best first step for expanding in either direction
• What each ecosystem can learn from the other
• The largest Taiwan–Japan opportunities over the next five years

台日創業對話：如何在彼此的市場裡站穩腳步

日本與台灣是鄰居，供應鏈高度交疊，但兩地創業者跨境時，卻總是重複犯下同樣能避免的錯誤。

本集邀請日本創業家、投資人、台灣就業金卡持有者 Kazumi Otani。她長期投資並協助兩地新創，分享創業者為何不該只守著母國市場、雙方各自錯在哪裡，以及雙向擴張真正有效的做法。

本集重點

• 日本創業者為何該看台灣，台灣創業者為何該看日本
• 進入對方市場最大的一個錯誤
• 雙向擴張最有效的第一步
• 台日新創能向彼此學到什麼
• 未來五年台日合作最大的機會

📍 About Host: Paolo Joseph Lising
Senior Global Community Builder, Business Next Media Corp. 巨思媒體集團
#GlobalFounders #TaiwanStartup #StartupEcosystem
🌏 Helping foreign founders navigate Taiwan’s startup ecosystem by bringing together founders, investors, and innovators to share practical insights and support more global startups in Taiwan.
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paolojoseph/

📚 Learn more about Taiwan’s startup ecosystem 👉🏼 https://meetstartup.pse.is/4jhd5u

🚀 Stay connected with Taiwan–Silicon Valley innovation via the Startup Island TAIWAN Silicon Valley Hub
Website: https://sv.startupisland.tw/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-island-taiwan-sv/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Startup-Island-Taiwan-Silicon-Valley-Hub/61586221303202/

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The Last Programming Language: Why Prompts Could Replace Code
Guest: Greg Tanaka — CEO & Founder, Prompt Driven

Writing code may no longer be the developer's primary job. Greg Tanaka argues that natural language is becoming the next — and perhaps final — programming language, drawing a parallel to semiconductor design's shift from hand-drawn schematics to Verilog: engineers didn't lose their craft, they moved up a level of abstraction. Tools like Claude Code, Cursor, and Codex are moving the developer's centre of gravity from authoring code to expressing intent and validating output.

And if code is cheap to generate, it should be cheap to discard — hence Greg's case for "regenerate, don't patch," treating source as a disposable artifact and the prompt as the durable specification. The conversation covers how Vibe Coding and Prompt-Driven Development elevate human intent, how regeneration reshapes technical debt, and what the Verilog transition suggests about the junior engineer's path in an AI-driven industry.

最後一種程式語言：為什麼提示詞可能取代程式碼
來賓：Prompt Driven 創辦人暨執行長 Greg Tanaka

寫程式碼，可能不再是開發者最主要的工作。Greg Tanaka 提出，自然語言正成為下一種、或許也是最後一種程式語言。他以半導體業從手繪電路圖轉向 Verilog 的歷史作為對照：工程師並未失去專業，而是往上跨了一個抽象層級。Claude Code、Cursor、Codex 這類工具，正把開發者的重心從「撰寫程式碼」移轉到「表達意圖」與「驗證產出」。

而如果生成程式碼的成本極低，丟棄它的成本也應該很低——這正是「重新生成，而非修補」（regenerate, don't patch）的核心：原始碼是可拋棄的產物，提示詞才是需要長期維護的規格。本集也談到 Vibe Coding 與提示詞驅動開發如何把人類意圖放到最上位、重新生成如何改變技術債的處理方式，以及 Verilog 的歷史轉折對 AI 時代初階工程師的啟示。

📍 About Host: Uly Su
General Partner, Addins Venture
#CrossBorderMentor #StartupExpansion #TaiwanToSiliconValley
🌏 A cross-border mentor who supports startups in entering global markets, with deep experience in fundraising, talent strategy, and international operations across the U.S. and Taiwan.
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ulysu/

📚 Learn more about Taiwan’s startup ecosystem 👉🏼 https://meetstartup.pse.is/4jhd5u

🚀 Stay connected with Taiwan–Silicon Valley innovation via the Startup Island TAIWAN Silicon Valley Hub
Website: https://sv.startupisland.tw/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-island-taiwan-sv/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Startup-Island-Taiwan-Silicon-Valley-Hub/61586221303202/

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In this episode, we sit down with Cher Sion, Quan, Chairman and Advisor of 3D/CP-GENAI, to discuss why he chose Taiwan as the launchpad for AI-powered 3D-printed construction. Beyond the technology, Quan shares his vision for Taiwan's role in the future of construction, the opportunities he believes many international founders overlook, and the connections that helped him establish his business here. For global entrepreneurs considering Taiwan, this episode offers practical insights into building the right network and navigating the local startup ecosystem.

• Why Taiwan is an ideal market for AI-powered 3D printed construction
• Opportunities in Taiwan that many foreign founders overlook
• Taiwan's place in the future of construction innovation
• The key organizations and connections that helped launch 3DCPGENAI
• Practical advice for international entrepreneurs looking to build a business in Taiwan

📍 About Host: Paolo Joseph Lising
Senior Global Community Builder, Business Next Media Corp. 巨思媒體集團
#GlobalFounders #TaiwanStartup #StartupEcosystem
🌏 Helping foreign founders navigate Taiwan’s startup ecosystem by bringing together founders, investors, and innovators to share practical insights and support more global startups in Taiwan.
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paolojoseph/

📚 Learn more about Taiwan’s startup ecosystem 👉🏼 https://meetstartup.pse.is/4jhd5u

🚀 Stay connected with Taiwan–Silicon Valley innovation via the Startup Island TAIWAN Silicon Valley Hub
Website: https://sv.startupisland.tw/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/startup-island-taiwan-sv/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Startup-Island-Taiwan-Silicon-Valley-Hub/61586221303202/

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Did you know the chips in your iPhone might come from a desert full of cacti? In this episode, we explore Arizona's incredible transformation from a traditional economy based on copper, cattle, and cotton to the booming "Silicon Desert".

We will uncover how the state managed its water resources over the past century, the electronic industry foundations laid by Motorola and Intel, and why Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) chose Phoenix for its massive $165 billion investment. Discover how this tech boom is reshaping the local community into a "Little Taipei" and ask the ultimate question: Will Arizona become the Hsinchu of the desert?

你知道你手上 iPhone 裡的晶片，可能來自一片長滿仙人掌的沙漠嗎？在本集節目中，我們將帶您探索亞利桑那州如何從依賴銅礦、牛隻與棉花等傳統「5C」產業的農礦之州，蛻變為現今的「矽沙漠」。

我們將從百年前沙漠引水的故事說起，回顧 Motorola 與 Intel 奠定的 70 年電子業基礎，並深入剖析台積電（TSMC）為何選擇落腳鳳凰城。這項高達 1,650 億美元的驚人投資，不僅帶動了當地的高科技產業，更在北鳳凰城催生出充滿活力的「小台北」社群。亞利桑那究竟會不會成為沙漠裡的新竹？快按下播放鍵與我們一起尋找答案！

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Step into the high-stakes intersection of heritage and hardware at Viva Tech 2026. This episode dissects how luxury titans like LVMH and L'Oréal are moving beyond mere "Proof of Concepts" (PoCs) into full-scale AI execution. We dive deep into the technical infrastructure of luxury, exploring LVMH's internal MaIA platform, Celine’s CelIA agent, and Louis Vuitton’s strategic use of Digital Twins to augment traditional leather craftsmanship.

We also analyze the landmark L'Oréal-OpenAI alliance, the shift toward "Agentic Commerce," and the use of the GPT-Rosalind model for skin microbiome analysis. Furthermore, we highlight the "immediate business readiness" of Taiwanese startups like Perfect Corp and Stytrix, which are redefining virtual try-ons and apparel prototyping. Finally, we reflect on the rising demand for Sovereign AI in Europe and the emergence of tools like Bluefish that monitor brand visibility in the age of generative search.

本集節目帶領聽眾深入 Viva Tech 2026 的現場，剖析傳承工藝與前沿硬體的高端交鋒。我們將深入探討 LVMH 與萊雅（L'Oréal）等奢侈品巨頭如何跨越「概念驗證（PoC）」階段，全面進入純粹的 AI 執行力競爭。內容重點聚焦於精品業的技術底層建設，包括 LVMH 的內部 MaIA 平台、Celine 的 CelIA 代理人，以及路易威登（Louis Vuitton）如何利用數位孿生（Digital Twins）技術與電腦視覺來昇華傳統皮革工藝。

此外，我們將分析萊雅與 OpenAI 的戰略結盟、「代理人商務（Agentic Commerce）」的崛起，以及利用 模型進行皮膚微生態分析的科研突破。同時，本集特別點出台灣新創如玩美移動（Perfect Corp）與 如何以具備「即戰力」的演算法壓縮全球供應鏈時程。最後，我們將反思歐洲對「主權 AI（Sovereign AI）」**的追求，以及在生成式搜尋時代監控品牌曝光度的關鍵工具 Bluefish。

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Welcome to this episode!

Today, we dive into the "hundred-year flood" currently hitting the global tech industry: the AI-driven memory supercycle. We explore the pivotal 36 hours in June 2026 when Micron reported record-breaking earnings and Apple took the unprecedented step of hiking prices across its entire hardware lineup without updating any specs.

We’ll break down why the traditional memory cycle has failed, the "structural reset" turning RAM into a strategic asset, and the massive impact of High-Bandwidth Memory (HBM) on everyday consumer electronics. Finally, we examine Taiwan's unique position as both a major winner and a vulnerable player in this new silicon landscape.

歡迎收聽本集節目！

今天我們將深入探討正席捲全球科技產業的「百年一遇洪水」：由人工智慧驅動的記憶體超級週期。我們將回顧 2026 年 6 月那關鍵的 36 小時——當時美光（Micron）創下破紀錄營收，而蘋果則罕見地在未升級規格的情況下，全面調漲硬體售價。

本集將為您解析傳統記憶體週期為何失效、為何「結構性重組」正將隨機存取記憶體（RAM）轉變為戰略資產，以及高頻寬記憶體（HBM）如何衝擊一般消費性電子產品。最後，我們也將分析台灣在這場矽島洪流中，如何同時扮演獲益者與受災者的雙重角色。

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The commercial space age just went public. SpaceX's $75 billion IPO isn't just a financial record — it's a signal that satellite infrastructure has moved from moonshot to mainstream, and that the companies positioned inside that supply chain are sitting on one of the decade's most durable growth stories. We break down how SpaceX got here: the failed launches, the near-bankruptcy, the engineering bets on reusability that the entire industry said couldn't work — and why it matters that they did.

Then we bring it home. Taiwan's role in the new space economy is larger than most people realize — and growing fast. From precision avionics components to a deepening legislative partnership with the United States, Taiwan is building toward a future where its expertise in high-reliability manufacturing becomes as essential to the space industry as it already is to the semiconductor world. If you've been watching Taiwan's tech story and wondering what comes after chips, this episode is your answer.

商業太空時代正式登上公開市場。SpaceX 750 億美元的 IPO 不只是一項財務紀錄——它是一個信號，說明衛星基礎建設已從遙不可及的願景走入主流經濟，而那些提前卡位這條供應鏈的企業，正坐擁這十年間最具韌性的成長機會之一。我們將拆解 SpaceX 的崛起之路：那些失敗的發射、瀕臨破產的至暗時刻、以及整個產業都說不可能實現的可重複使用火箭押注——還有這一切為什麼真的成功了。

接著，我們把視角拉回台灣。台灣在新太空經濟中扮演的角色，比多數人意識到的更舉足輕重，而且還在快速擴大。從精密航電元件的製造，到與美國持續深化的立法合作框架，台灣正朝著一個明確的未來前進：在高可靠度製造領域積累的專業能力，將成為太空產業不可或缺的核心競爭力——一如它在半導體世界早已證明的地位。如果你一直在關注台灣的科技發展，並且想知道晶片之後的下一章是什麼，這集就是你的答案。

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