Taoyuan Mayor Chang San-Cheng visited Zhongli District on the afternoon of November 21 to attend the "Taoyuan FuturePeak (TFP) Youth Startup Expo." Mayor Chang said that the meaning of "Taoyuan FuturePeak" is the hope that the participating youth startup teams will become the future peak of Taiwan. The Taoyuan Youth Startup Expo brings together 100 teams from seven cities and counties in northern Taiwan, including Keelung City, Taipei City, New Taipei City, Taoyuan City, Hsinchu County, Hsinchu City, and Miaoli County. It showcases their creative achievements, with the expectation that "Taoyuan FuturePeak" will soon become "Taiwan FuturePeak." Mayor Chang emphasized that promoting youth startup is not something that can be achieved by the efforts of a single local government. It requires the cooperation of various city and county governments and international connections to accumulate more energy. This collaboration is essential for Taiwan's youth entrepreneurial teams to make their mark on the international stage.
Mayor Chang pointed out that youth startup teams often face several bottlenecks. First, there is the question of where their initial capital will come from. Most teams choose to take out bank loans, so the city government has implemented a policy to subsidize the interest on youth startup loans, helping young people overcome the most challenging financial issues during the startup phase. Second, domestic and international connections are needed; and finally, exposure and visibility are crucial. So this year, the city government has expanded beyond Taoyuan, inviting many youth from northern cities and counties to join this grand event. They have also invited industry leaders and successful Silicon Valley entrepreneurs to participate. This not only showcases the creativity of the youth entrepreneurial teams but also creates networking opportunities for them.
Mayor Chang mentioned that he hopes this year's model can be continued and shared. No matter where it is held, as long as all the cities and counties work together to highlight our youth entrepreneurial teams and make them visible to the outside world, there will be opportunities for them to shine and thrive, not only in Taiwan but also on the international stage.
Department of Youth Affairs Director Hou Jia-Ling said that the department, in cooperation with the Taoyuan City Government's Department of Economic Development, Hutoushan Innovation Hub, Taoyuan Aerotropolis Corporation, the Asia Silicon Valley Development Agency under the National Development Council, National Central University, and Shinkong Synthetic Fibers Corporation, has connected 100 startup teams from the seven cities and counties of Keelung City, Taipei City, New Taipei City, Taoyuan City, Hsinchu County, Hsinchu City, and Miaoli. The City Government has also gathered 20 domestic and international incubators, venture capitalists, and accelerators to jointly curate the event. The event features "Startup Lectures" and "International Forums" to share the latest entrepreneurial perspectives and industry trends, facilitate cross-county exchanges, and connect international elements to showcase the potential of startups in northern Taiwan.